In this tutorial we're going to create a classic tram using simple shapes in Adobe Illustrator. If you're looking for other tram vectors and graphics, pop on over to GraphicRiver for more.
Let's go!
1. How to Create a New Document
Press Control-N to make a New Document. Set the Units to Pixels, and enter 800 x 600 for the width and height of the document. Then in the Advanced options, select RGB, Screen (72 ppi), and make sure to uncheck the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box before clicking OK.
Go to the Preferences (Control-K) and enter 1 px for the Keyboard increment. Press OK.
You can activate the Info panel (Window > Info) in order to have a preview of the size and position of your shapes. Remember to set the measuring unit to Pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. This will greatly increase the speed of your work.
2. How to Create a Background
Step 1
Let’s begin by creating the background. Start by drawing a rectangle (#006482) using the Rectangle Tool (M) at the bottom of the canvas.
Step 2
Now draw some skyscrapers and buildings using the Pen Tool (P), with #00C7DB as the fill color. And finish with an 800 x 600 px rectangle (#00E5DB).
3. How to Create a Tram
Step 1
Create a 515 x 60 px rectangle (#A01127) for the basic shape. Then create a 170 x 20 px rectangle for the door.
The second rectangle should have two chamfered corners; modify the shape using the Transform panel.
Step 2
Now create a 520 x 6 px bar (#A01127), a 515 x 100 px bar (#EDEEE6) for the upper body, and a 520 x 10 px bar (#A01127) at the top.
Step 3
Create some details on the front of the tram by adding a few nodes using the Pen Tool (P) and moving the nodes to the right. Then draw two rectangles and apply Minus Front, which is located in the Pathfinder panel.
Step 4
Let’s move to the door. Create a 84 x 172 px rectangle (#A01127), and then draw two 5 x 172 px rectangles (#EDEEE6) at the sides of the door.
Step 5
Create the door’s window using a 15 x 25 px rectangle (#445675) and a second 15 x 54 px rectangle. Duplicate the group three times (Control-C > Control-F) and align them horizontally using the Align panel.
Step 6
Drag the last four windows while pressing Alt, and place them at the bottom of the door.
Step 7
Select all the elements of the door, including the windows, and drag them to the right while pressing Alt. Then, using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the lower nodes and align them with the tram.
Step 8
Create the other windows of the tram using a 27 x 85 px rectangle (#A01127) for the frame and 24 x 24 px and 24 x 47 px rectangles (#445675). Under the windows, draw a rectangle using #EDEEF0 as the fill color.
Step 9
Group the window (Control-G) and duplicate it ten times (Control-C > Control-F) to fill the tram. Align horizontally using the Align panel to separate them evenly.
Step 10
Create the back windows using the same fill but adapting the rectangles. Then select the whole window and drag it to the front using the Direct Selection Tool (A), aligning the nodes with the tram.
Step 11
The next thing is to create the roof. For this, use a 515 x 32 px rectangle (#EDEEE6) and round the upper corners using 25 px as the radius from the Transform panel.
Step 12
Create the bell of the tram using a 45 x 13 px rectangle (#87868A), and add a bevel to the upper corners using the Transform panel. Duplicate it four times and align the copies.
Step 13
Create five wheels using 52 x 52 px ellipses (#444242), 44 x 44 px ellipses (#9A999E) and 24 x 24 px ellipses (#444242) using the Ellipse Tool (L). Group everything together (Control-G) and position it as shown in the image below.
Step 14
Create a small ellipse (#5B5B5F) on one of the bells and then add a rectangle and move the upper nodes to the left. Finally, place a rectangle on top for the part that connects to the electric wire above.
Step 15
Draw some details at the front of the tram using the Rectangle Tool (P) and use #5B5B5F as the fill color.
Step 16
Create the top lantern (#DBCEC0) of the train using the Pen Tool (P) and place it behind (Control-[).
Step 17
Create a rectangle of 84 px width (#444242) under the front door. Then create an 84 x 17 px rectangle (#5B5B5F) and move the lower corners.
Then draw a 17 x 2 px rectangle (#9A999E) using the Rounded Rectangle Tool and duplicate it (#444242), send it back (Control-[), and move it to the right. Duplicate it three times (Control-C > Control-F) and align them.
Step 18
Now select all the windows and duplicate them (#5B6E91) (Control-C > Control-F). Afterwards, apply a -2 px offset (Effects > Path > Offset Path) and expand the appearance (Object > Expand appearance).
Now create different-sized rectangles and rotate them 45º with the Rotate Tool (R). Selecting the windows and rectangles, subtract them using the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M).
Step 19
Now let’s add some shadows, and we’ll begin with the wheels. Draw a rectangle (#444242) and, using the Appearance panel, set the Opacity to 45% and set to Multiply mode. Then select the shadows and the wheels and subtract them using the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M).
Step 20
Draw shadows in the body using a rectangle with #AA202F as the fill color, and set the shadow color to #641111.
Step 21
Now create the bolts on the body using the Pen Tool (P) to draw strokes following the configuration shown in the image below. Use #AA202F as the stroke color and then duplicate the strokes. Create shadows, sending the duplicate strokes back and using #641111 as the fill color.
Step 22
Finally, draw a rectangle (#006482) from side to side of the canvas to represent the overhead wire, and place it above the tram.
Congratulations! You're Finished!
Terrific! We’ve finished, and the result was terrific. This will surely bring more creativity to your artwork thanks to the techniques you just learned. I hope you enjoyed the process, and I will be expecting your comments.
