In the dynamic world of graphic design, vector illustrations have become an indispensable tool for conveying complex concepts in a visually stimulating and easily understandable manner. Are you searching for vector illustrations that convey the concept of thinking, brainstorming, or…
By: Bao Nguyen
Follow this tutorial and learn how to create an ice cream cone illustration in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll start with the shape of the cone and the waffle pattern using some basic tools and effects. After that, you’ll create five ice cream scoops of different flavors. By the end of this tutorial, you will create a nice background. Let’s begin!
Create a New document
- Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 1000 in the width box and 800 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 Cone
2. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two objects like you see in the first and the second image. Once your objects are drawn, reselect them, then right click on the artboard and select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Next right click on the artboard again, then select the Join Remove the stroke of the resulting object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the last image.
3. Select the shape created in the step 2 and 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. Change the stroke weight of the resulting object to 4px and then replace the existing stroke color with new linear gradient as shown in the first image. Now focus on the second image, select two anchor points highlighted with blue and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the object created in this step becomes two paths. Select and remove the lower path.
4. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a soft orange shape like you see in the first and the second image. Once your shape is drawn, name it “left_cone” and then make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this object. Keep the 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. Change the stroke weight of the resulting object to 4px and apply the Width Profile 4 for it. Then replace the existing stroke color with new linear gradient as shown in the third image. Now focus on the next to last image, select two anchor points highlighted with blue and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the newly created object becomes two paths. Select and remove the lower path.
5. It’s time to create the pattern on the cone. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create some slightly curved paths like you see in the first and the second image. Once your paths are drawn, reselect them and press (Ctrl +G) to group these paths. Still having the newly created group selected, change the stroke weight to 4px and replace the existing stroke colors with the linear gradient across stroke as shown in the third image. Keep the resulting group selected and reduce their Opacity to 50%. Now select the “left_cone” shape created in the step 4 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the group created in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
6. Select the “left_cone” shape created in the step 4 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Artistic > Film Grain… Follow the data as shown in the first image and click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the clipping set created in the step 5 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set.
7. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a soft orange shape like you see in the first and the second image. Once your shape is drawn, name it “right_cone” and then make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this object. Keep the 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. Change the stroke weight of the resulting object to 4px and apply the Width Profile 4 for it. Then replace the existing stroke color with new linear gradient as shown in the third image. Now focus on the next to last image, select two anchor points highlighted with black and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the newly created object becomes two paths. Select and remove the lower path.
8. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes like you see in the images below. Once your shapes are drawn, select the left shape and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 7px Radius and click OK. Next select the remaining shape created in this step and apply a 10px Gaussian Blur effect for it. Now select the “right_cone” shape created in the step 7 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the two shapes with blur effects applied in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu
9. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create some slightly curved paths like you see in the first and the second image. Once your paths are drawn, reselect them and press (Ctrl +G) to group these paths. Still having the newly created group selected, change the stroke weight to 4px and replace the existing stroke colors with the linear gradient across stroke as shown in the third image. Keep the resulting group selected and reduce their Opacity to 50%. Having the resulting group selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the clipping set created in the step 8 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the group was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set.
10. Select the “right_cone” shape created in the step 7 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Artistic > Film Grain… Follow the data as shown in the first image and click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the clipping set created in the step 8 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set.
11. Select the “right_cone” shape and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the clipping set created in the step 5 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Next, double-click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set.
12. Continue select the “right_cone” shape and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Now select the shape created in the step 2 and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front. Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the shape with shadow effect applied in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
Create Five Ice Cream Scoops of different Flavors
13. With the help of the Pencil Tool (N) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a green shape like you see in the first and the second image. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created shape, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with new radial gradient as shown in the third image. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Texture > Texturizer… Follow the data as shown in the fourth image and click OK. Apply a 3px Feather effect for the resulting shape, then change the Blending Mode to Hard Light and reduce its Opacity to 40%.
14. Pick the Pencil Tool (N) and create some red objects like you see in the images below. Once your objects are drawn, reselect them and press (Ctrl +G) to group these objects. Remove the stroke of the newly created group and fill it with dark green (# 58b024). Keep the resulting group selected and apply a 4px Feather effect for it. Now select the shape with Texturizer effect applied in the step 13 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Make sure that the copy is still selected, hold down the Shift and click on the group created in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
15. With the Pen Tool (P), create a white shape (# ffffff) like you see in the first image. Keep the newly created shape selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 7px Radius and click OK. Change the Blending Mode of the resulting shape to Lighten and then reduce its Opacity to 60%. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 13 to this time. The green ice cream scoop is done!
16. Next comes the violet ice cream scoop. Select the green ice cream scoop and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then place the copy to new position. Before you continue, select the newly created group and press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Now select the main shape of the new ice cream scoop and replace the existing fill color with new radial gradient as shown in the second image. Next select the shape with Texturizer effect of the new ice cream scoop and replace the existing fill color with very soft violet (# dda0f3). With the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the clipping set of the new ice cream scoop. Select the group with Feather effect and replace the existing fill color with strong violet (# a62fd6). Keep the resulting group selected and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Vertical and click OK, then move the resulting group 4px to the right. Next, double-click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created in this step. The violet ice cream scoop is ready and looks like in the last image.
17. Likewise, repeat the same process as the previous steps to draw more ice cream scoops. Also you can see them all in the image below.
18. Place the ice cream scoops to the positions like you see in the images below. Next select these all ice cream scoops and hide them behind the two front parts of the cone.
19. Select the “left_cone” shape and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the yellow ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Next, double-click on the anywhere outside of the yellow ice cream scoop. Focus on the fourth image, with the help of the Selection Tool (V), select the main shape of the green ice cream scoop and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front. Keep the copy selected and apply the Shadow effect for it like you see in the fourth image. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the chocolate ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the chocolate ice cream scoop.
20. Pick the Selection Tool (V), select the main shape of the red ice cream scoop and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the violet ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Next, double-click on the anywhere outside of the violet ice cream scoop. Focus on the fourth image, with the help of the Selection Tool (V), select the main shape of the yellow ice cream scoop and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front. Keep the copy selected and apply the Shadow effect for it like you see in the fourth image. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the violet ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the violet ice cream scoop.
21. At this point your ice cream cone should look like in the next image:
Create the Toppings
22. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a blue object like you see in the first image. Once your object is drawn, remove its stroke and then fill this object with very dark red (# 542213). Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create a yellow object as shown in the third image. Remove the stroke of the newly created object and then fill it with the radial gradient like you see in the next to last image. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
23. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create four shapes like you see in the images below. Once your shapes are drawn, reselect them and then apply a 3px Feather effect for these shapes.
24. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two slightly curved paths like you see in the first image. Reselect the two newly created paths and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Then apply a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting paths. Now select the very dark red shape created in the step 22 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the two paths created in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
25. Select the very dark red shape created in the step 22 and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front. Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the green ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Next, double-click on the anywhere outside of the green ice cream scoop. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 22 to this time, then hide the newly created group behind the red ice cream scoop.
26. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two objects like you see in the first and the second image. Once your objects are drawn, select the blue object and remove its stroke, then fill this object with strong red (# b91112). Next select the black object, remove its stroke and fill this object with vivid red (# ff2f46). Finally apply a 3px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
27. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a turquoise object like you see in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created object and then fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting shape selected and apply a 2px Feather effect for it. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create four shapes like you see in the images below. Once your shapes are drawn, reselect them and then apply a 3px Feather effect for these shapes.
28. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two slightly curved paths like you see in the first image. Reselect the two newly created paths and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Then apply a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting paths. Now select the bigger shape created in the step 26 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the two paths created in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
29. Select the bigger shape created in the step 26 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the red ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the red ice cream scoop
30. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two objects like you see in the first and the second image. Once your objects are drawn, select the red object and remove its stroke, then fill this object with dark orange (# 984613). Next select the black object, remove its stroke and fill this object with bright orange (# e79738). Finally apply a 4px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
31. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a green object like you see in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created object and then fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting shape selected and apply a 2px Feather effect for it.
32. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create three curved paths like you see in the first image. Once your paths are drawn, reselect them and change the stroke weight to 2px, then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting paths. Next replace the existing stroke colors of the resulting paths like you see in the third image. Reselect these paths and then apply a 1px Feather effect for them. Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create two shapes like you see in the next to last image. Finally focus on the last image, apply the Gaussian Blur effects for the two newly created shapes.
33. Select the bigger shape created in the step 30 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Having the resulting shape selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Then pick the Selection Tool (V), double-click on the yellow ice cream scoop. Continue double-click on the clipping set of this ice cream scoop and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the shape was cut in this step. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the yellow ice cream scoop.
34. At this point your ice cream cone should look like in the next image:
Create the Flakes
35. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape like you see in the first and the second image. Keep the newly created shape selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Still having the copy selected and go to the Effect > Texture > Grain… Follow the data as shown in the third image and click OK. Finally apply a 3px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
36. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create four shapes like you see in the first and the second image. Apply a 3px Feather effect for the newly created shapes, then change the Blending Mode to Multiply and reduce their Opacity to 60%.
37. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 30 by 7.5px very soft yellow ellipse like you see in the first and the second image. Keep the newly created ellipse selected and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Uniform, enter a 55% in the Scale box and click Copy. Move the copy 2px up and then replace the existing fill color with the radial gradient as shown in the last image. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 35 to this time. The first flake is done!
38. Select the group created in the step 37 and go to the Object > Transform > Transform Each… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click Copy. Here we have the second flake ready. Now you can arrange the two flakes the way you want by rotating them in various ways. Finally hide these two flakes behind the yellow and the green ice cream.
39. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. The ice cream cone is ready and looks like this:
Create the Background
40. We’re done with the ice cream cone. It’s time for the background now. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 1000 by 800px white rectangle. Keep working with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 154 by 820px black rectangle and then place it to the position like you see in the second image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-right anchor point of the black rectangle and remove it. Next select the remaining bottom anchor point of the black object and move it 77px to the right. Remove the stroke of the black object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the last image.
41. Select the light grayish red shape created in the step 40, pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the bottom anchor point of this shape. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 20 degrees Angle and click Copy. Repeat this by pressing (Ctrl +D). Do this until you get the results as shown in the second image. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all light grayish red shapes.
42. Select the white rectangle created in the step 40 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the group created in the step 41. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu. Next place the ice cream cone illustration into the newly created background.
43. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 144 by 29px ellipse like you see in the first and the second image. Keep the newly created ellipse selected and change the Blending Mode to Hard Light.
Here is what the completed design looks like.
