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Illustrator Tutorial: Heart Shaped Balloons

By: Bao Nguyen

Follow this tutorial and have fun creating two balloons with heart shape in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll start with the main shape of the balloon using the Pen Tool, the Offset Path and a bunch of gradients. Next, you will learn how to add highlights on the balloon using the Gaussian Blur effect and the Transparency panel. Likewise, repeat the same process to create the knot of the balloon and the curling ribbon. To create the second balloon, make a copy of the first balloon. Then change the colors of the newly created balloon.

Create a New document

  1. Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 890 in the width box and 760 in the height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.

Create the Blue Balloon

2. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 302 by 274px black rectangle. Before you continue, reselect the newly created rectangle and press (Ctrl +2) to lock it. Next pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a red object like you see in the second image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select anchor points of the red object. Then click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” icon from the Properties Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the handles of the anchor points of the red object. In the end your red object should look roughly like the last image.

3. Press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock the black rectangle locked in the step 2, then remove this object. Now reselect the red object and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate… Enter a -4 degrees Angle and click OK. Remove the stroke of the resulting object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting shape selected, change the Blending Mode to Hard Light and then reduce its Opacity to 90%.

4. Select the shape created in the step 3 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -10px Offset and click OK. Then replace the existing fill color of the newly created shape with new linear gradient as shown in the second image. Still having the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK.

5. Select the shape created in the step 4 and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Enter a 75% in the Scale box and click Copy. Keep this copy selected, then open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and click on the Gaussian Blur In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, enter a 10px Radius and click OK. Then replace the existing fill color of the resulting shape with new linear gradient as shown in the last image.

Add the Highlights

6. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some highlights on some key places. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a red object like you see in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created object and fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Apply a 5px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape and then change the Blending Mode to Lighten. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes like you see in the two next-to-last images. Then apply a 4px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shapes and change the Blending Mode to Lighten.

7. Continue to add more highlights until you have something like this. Also you can see them all in the final image.

Create the Balloon Knot

8. Next comes the balloon knot. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes like you see in the images below. Next reduce their Opacity to 80%.

9. Continue create a shape like you see in the first and the second images. Once your shape is drawn, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected, swap the fill and stroke colors by clicking the bent double-headed arrow next to the Fill and Stroke color swatches in the Toolbox. Next replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with linear gradient within stroke as shown in the third image. Then apply the Width Profile 2 for the resulting object. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape like you see in the last two images.

10. With the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape like you see in the first and the second images. Once your shape is drawn, reduce its Opacity to 80% and then send the resulting shape to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this shape, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with new radial gradient as shown in the next to last image. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting shape

11. With the Pen Tool (P) create a curved path, with a 5px very light blue stroke (# 8dd8ff) and no fill. Then apply the Width Profile 1 for the newly created path and reduce its Opacity to 80%. Continue with the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes like you see in the last images.

12. Select all objects of the balloon knot and then send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). At this point your illustration should look like in the next image:

13. Pick the Pen Tool (P), create a curved path, with a 1px pure blue stroke (# 0068ff) and no fill. Apply the Width Profile 2 for the newly created path, then send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

Create the Blue Curling Ribbon

14. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a black zigzag like you see in the first image below. Focus on the second image, pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the anchor point highlighted with red, then hold mouse and drag it down. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the anchor point highlighted with blue, then hold mouse and drag it up. Likewise, repeat the same process for the remaining anchor points to adjust the shape of the black path as shown in the fourth image.

15. Now, follow the sequence of images and repeat the same process to draw a red curved path as shown below.

16. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select anchor points highlighted with blue. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the two curved paths become some shorter paths. Now select two curved paths like you see in the second image. Right click on the artboard and then select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Next right click on the artboard again, then select the Join section. The resulting object should look like the third image below. Continue select two curved paths like you see in the next to last image. Press (Ctrl +J) twice times to connect these paths, then replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with blue.

17. Follow the sequence of images and repeat the same process to create objects like you see in the images below.

18. Select the first object created in the step 16, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Now, follow the sequence of images and apply the linear gradients for the remaining objects similar to the ones from below.

19. Pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the point highlighted with red to add new anchor point. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the newly created anchor point and move it to the right. Next select three shapes like you see in the third image and send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

20. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. We are done with the blue balloon for the moment.

Create the Red Balloon

21. Select the blue balloon and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Vertical and click Copy. Then move the resulting group to new position. Before you continue, select the new balloon and press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Next select the shapes of the knot of this balloon and remove them.

22. Select the biggest shape of the new balloon. Open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), then select the left gradient stop and replace the existing color with strong red (# b82040). Next select the right gradient stop and replace the existing color with very light pink (# ff91be). Likewise, repeat the same process for the two remaining smaller shapes of the new balloon to replace the existing colors as shown in the two last images.

Change the Colors of the Knot

23. Select the biggest shape of the knot. Open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), then select the left gradient stop and replace the existing color with bright pink (# da3582). Next select the right gradient stop and replace the existing color with bright pink (# f5389c). Continue select the shape as shown in the third image. Then select the left gradient stop and replace the existing color with bright pink (# f840b1). Next select the right gradient stop and replace the existing color with dark pink (# a60c35).

24. Likewise, repeat the same process for the remaining shapes of the knot to replace the existing colors as shown in the images below.

25. At this point your balloon should look like in the first image. Next select the cord and then replace the existing stroke color with light pink (# ff66a1).

Create the Red Curling Ribbon

26. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and repeat the same process as the step 14 to draw two curved paths.

27. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select anchor points highlighted with black. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the two curved paths become some shorter paths. Now select two curved paths like you see in the second image. Right click on the artboard and then select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Next right click on the artboard again and select the Join section. Then replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with black. Continue select two curved paths like you see in the next to last image. Next press (Ctrl +J) twice times to connect these paths.

28. Follow the sequence of images and repeat the same process to create objects like you see in the images below. Next focus on the next to last image, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the point highlighted with blue to add new anchor point. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the newly created anchor point and move it to the left.

29. Select the first object created in the step 27, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Now, follow the sequence of images and apply the linear gradients for the remaining objects similar to the ones from below.

30. Select three shapes like you see in the first image and send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 21 to this time. The red balloon is ready and looks like in the last image.

31. Place the blue and the red balloons to the positions like you see in the first image. With the Selection Tool (V), double click on the red balloon. Select the biggest shape of this balloon and press (Ctrl +C) to copy it. Next double click on the anywhere outside of the red balloon and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was copied in this step. Keep the newly created shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the last image and click OK.

32. With the Selection Tool (V), double click on the blue balloon. Select the biggest shape of this balloon and press (Ctrl +C) to copy it. Next double click on the anywhere outside of the blue balloon and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was copied in this step. Keep the newly created shape selected, hold down the Shift and click on the shape with Shadow effect applied in the step 31. Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu. Finally hide the clipping set behind the red balloon.

Create the Background

33. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) and the Gradient Tool (G), create an 890 by 760px light grayish yellow rectangle. Next place the two balloons into the newly created background.

34. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a black object like you see in the first image. Once your object is drawn, remove its stroke and then fill this object with light grayish blue (# e6e7e8). Apply a 20px Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created shape and then send it behind the two balloons.

Here is what the completed design looks like.