Creating a Cartoon Hot Air Balloon Scene
Cartoons are a very popular form of art and can be made quite easily. This tutorial will show you how to create a quick and easy cartoon scene of some hot air balloons.
Finished Example
Before we begin, let’s take a look at a finished example of the scene.
Step 1 – Creating the Background
Since our scene is in the sky, lets select some nice blue colors to use for the background. I decided to use #a6e3ff as the light blue color and #63c4f0 as the darker blue color.
Now that we have our colors, let’s create a gradient on a new document.
Step 2 – Creating the Balloon Shape
Create a new layer, and select the Pen Tool. With your Pen Tool set to paths, create a shape like a hot air balloon. Then right click, click Make Selection, and click OK. Then fill your selection with a color, I chose #45af37.
Step 3 – Adding a Shadow to the Balloon
Since this is a cartoon scene, I can add a shadow against the sky! To do this, simply add a Drop Shadow (Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow).
Step 4 – Adding Stripes to the Balloon
Duplicate (Layer > Duplicate Layer) your current balloon layer. Apply a Color Overlay (Layer > Layer Style > Color Overlay) to the layer using a different shade of the color you used before, such as #76e966 for my green. Then change the size of the shape (Edit > Free Transform).
Transforming
Holding alt will allow you to change both sides of the balloon at the same time.
Repeat this process until you get as many stripes as you desire.
Need Help Using Transform?
We’ve put together a nice guide to Photoshop’s Transform Feature in our School of Photoshop. If you’re having trouble here, be sure to check it out!
Step 5 – Adding a Highlight to the Balloon
Create a new layer and select your Gradient Tool. Set your foreground color to white, and change your gradient tool to match the one shown below.
Make a selection of the balloon (Ctrl+Click Thumbnail) and drag your gradient from top to bottom to make the highlight. Then lower the opacity of the layer to around 25%.
Step 6 – Creating the Basket Shape
Create a new layer and grab your Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 5 px. Using a brown color such as #a38f3f, create a rounded rectangle with the same width of the bottom of the balloon and give it a height that looks good. Then use your Pencil Tool to make the top of the rounded rectangle straight.
Step 7 – Creating the Basket Pattern
Create a new document that is 6px wide and 2px high with a transparent background. Then use a black pencil and create the pattern below. Then go to Edit > Define Pattern.
Step 8 – Styling the Basket
Add the Pattern Overlay (Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay) on your basket layer using your newly made pattern. Then apply a gradient overlay with the following settings:
Then add a drop shadow with the following settings:
Step 9 – Adding Strings to Your Basket
Create a new layer and use a 1px white brush to place some strings connecting the balloon to the basket. Give it the same drop shadow your basket layer has.
Step 10 – Adding a Character
To add the character in the basket, create a layer underneath the basket and use a black brush and drag a straight line (hold shift). Then use smaller brushes to create the eyes.
Keeping Your Layers Organized
It is always a good idea to label all of your layers so that you know what they are and keep them organized.
Grouping layers that are related to each other also helps to make your document easier to manage and edit.
You can change the color of a group by double clicking on the folder icon for it.
Step 11 – Adding More Balloons
Duplicate your first balloon and re-size it in a new position. Then make a selection of the balloon (Ctrl+Click Thumbnail) and fill it with a different color on a new layer. Set the blending mode of the layer to Hue.
Step 12 – Adding the Clouds
To add the clouds, simply create new layers and grab a white brush. Use different size brushes to create the clouds, and give the layer a drop shadow with the following settings:
The Finished Result
After following all of the previous steps, we can come up with something like this!
87 Comments
I need help, im so lost on making the balloon stripes, i made one but cant figure out how to make more. Help!
Flag as inappropriateTook a while ’cause I’m a beginner, but the end result looked really good! Really good tutorial :)
Flag as inappropriateThis was really cool!, thax a lot!!
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.55
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.48
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.43
Flag as inappropriatethanks for sharing. So mush
Flag as inappropriatethx alot , i liked it , you are great
Flag as inappropriatei can practice that with my students ^_^
很不错的卡通风格，清爽！！
Flag as inappropriatehello this is good for new student
Flag as inappropriateO and i too have issues with the pen but i made a squareish shape and used the convert point tool! i even drew the shape
Flag as inappropriatewith the freehand pen tool n tweeked it with the convert point tool it was easy peasy!!
hehehe thxxxx so sooooooooooooo much now i can add toons
Flag as inappropriateto my skills ^.^ id love to see some more tuts from u kuz u make it sooooooooooooo easy to understand!
I made a toooooon 2!!!
Great tutorial!
Hey guys having trouble with the pen tool, I suggest that if you are having issues with the pen too just draw an elipse. I’m in elements so that’s how I came up with the idea.
Flag as inappropriatethanks for this tutorial
Flag as inappropriateGreat tut. I’m a beginner-moderate Photoshop user. Well laid out tut and easy to understand :)
Would like to share mine :)
http://img190.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hotairballoon.jpg
Flag as inappropriateIT WAS VERY STRONG & BEAUTIFUL BUT I WANT A REAL AIR BALOON
Flag as inappropriateSimple but powerful
Flag as inappropriateThe instructions werent clear enough to follow in making the balloon shape.
Flag as inappropriateI agree about the pen tool link. I think that tutorial could have been a little more detailed. I really wanted to give this tut a try, but I got so confused by the pen tool part that I gave up.
Flag as inappropriategreat the mini characters are like penguins from linux, hahaha and how did you make the borders/frames from the 2nd result?
Flag as inappropriateHmm, I am stuck on the bit about making a ballon. I have followed the link to the pen tool. But it doesn’t really give much info on how exactly to use it. It’s somewhat confussing, and my lines come out all.. over the place, they don’t go where I want them to. :/
Flag as inappropriateNice and Very well explained Tutor.
Flag as inappropriateI want to know what kind of photshop is best for in editing photo, add an effects etc….coz i dont know cs2,cs3,cs4 extended and adobe photoshop 7 and so on…. Pls. answer me and thanks again.
Flag as inappropriateThey are all different versions of the same software. The makers of Photoshop, Adobe, add new features and improvements to each new installment of Photoshop.
You can download a trial of the latest release of Photoshop here but you need to register at Adobe.com to do so.
Flag as inappropriateVery simple, and yet the end result is pretty neat! This tutorial can easily be put toward larger projects. Thanks, and keep up the great site!
Flag as inappropriateThank you for this tutorial… based on the skills I learned I was able to create this image for class: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30324810&l=6fcfc&id=1241107457
Keep up the great work!!!
Flag as inappropriate.. Im very very confused on this tuturial. I did not think it was very helpful or explainy.
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! It was really easy to understand. I can now take the things I learnt and apply them in future graphics.
Flag as inappropriatexcelent tuts & amazed 2. To author or David Legget, please send me step by step guide how to work with layer group. b4 it thanks alot.
Flag as inappropriateIgnore the negetivity, I thought it was great tut. I’m still a noob and have a lot to learn. As mentioned above, I find myself unable to do some tuts because of my skill level with knowing the basics, so tuts like this can be very helpful. Thanks again and keep them coming.
Flag as inappropriate@Rene: That looks really good Rene. I love how you added hands to the characters.
Flag as inappropriate:)
Flag as inappropriatehttp://img512.imageshack.us/img512/4605/ballonnewee5.png
Thank you for this tutorial and for not forgetting about the newbies in the world. This was the first exercise that I attempted after learning the basics of Photoshop.
Flag as inappropriateVery simple indeed, and that’s why i love it. Some people find it more entertaining to know how to do things they can’t really make. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateThank you Tyler, I had fun with the tut, its really great when my Mum can find an easy tut like this that I can follow on my own, with out having to bug her with a 100 how do I do it questions {:o)
Flag as inappropriatemuy bueno exlente gracias por gran tutorial, ya quisiera tener la creativa que tienes tu.
Flag as inappropriateThanks a lot……. Very simple and good for beginners like me. Keep it up.
Flag as inappropriateand Thanks again
I don’t really like this tutorial, though simple for beginners, I was expecting more from this easy tutorial9..
Flag as inappropriateNice post
Flag as inappropriateRegards
There is nothing wrong with catering to newer users and helping them to learn photoshop. Personally, I found this to be a nice break and refresher into some basic functions and applications of PS. To all the whiners, no one is forcing you to come here. Try being thankful when someone takes the effort to educate others. Thanks for taking the time to make this tutorial guys, I enjoyed it.
Regards,
Drew
Flag as inappropriatethanks a lot. this tutorial really helped a newbie like me. keep up the good work. please cater for all different levels
Flag as inappropriateThank you for this tutorial! I don’t use PS very often, and only look for tutorials when I decide to work on a web project, but quite a lot of the time, the ‘advanced techniques’ are really quite off-putting (although the end product is ok, the process becomes a slog rather than a joy) but tutorials like these are both educational and fun! :)
Flag as inappropriateIt’s great to hear that it is helping those who are just getting into Photoshop to learn how to combine tools and effects!
Flag as inappropriateNICE …. IT’S GREAT … for my level , it added a lot to me :D
Flag as inappropriateAs a beginning Photoshop user, I found this tutorial to be very useful.
Flag as inappropriateAmazing tutorial tyler, good for a novice skill photoshoper. Thats what tutorial9 is all about, catering to all skill audiences both begginners and experts. Keep up the good work.
Flag as inappropriatemaybe I’m just horrible with the paths tool but I just cannot get down the shape of the balloon.
Flag as inappropriateit’s gr8 m8.
Flag as inappropriatehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverprobert/2862056021/
Flag as inappropriateI agree with Styletime, don’t listen to some of them negative people above, not everyone is a photoshop guru, and this is perfect for the beginners, and everyone can learn a little something about these beginner tutorials.
Keep up the good work.
Flag as inappropriateThanks for the great tutorial – I for one am always happy to see tutorials of any kind on here. After only recently making the gigantic outlay that is photoshop I appreciate these kinds of tutorials as much as advanced ones as I always learn something from them!
Flag as inappropriateI’m just now getting into Photoshop and this was perfect for someone at my skill level! Great Tutorial!
Flag as inappropriateTotally agreed – when I first started to work with PS, I just couldn’t do a lot of tutorials, because of skill level – now, maybe output don’t look like 7th world wonder, but it shouldn’t too, I am sure there will be people appreciating this . Thanks, for Your work!
Flag as inappropriatenot everyones a PS master these tuts are bread and butter for non designers like me, keep it up!
Flag as inappropriateThis isn’t a tutorial for advanced users. It is simple, and that is one of the reasons it was published. We cater to all skill levels here, and I thought this tutorial made excellent references to our School of Photoshop (which doesn’t always get the attention it probably should around here).
We always have both advanced and basic tutorials ready for publishing here ;)
Flag as inappropriate@Tyler Bramer:
No probs! ;)
Flag as inappropriateBetter to wait and post a high quality tut than this….this is the equivalent of “filler songs” on albums.
Flag as inappropriateVery neat, only wise I could draw balloons as neat as that shown :-p
Flag as inappropriateFor those of you who might find this tutorial too simple I would just like to say that this is an older article and I haven’t had much time lately to write anything new because I’ve moved to a new city and started college. I’m working on some more high quality work!
Flag as inappropriatenice tutorial:)very simple yet very good:)keep it up
Ronald
Flag as inappropriate…I’m pretty disappointed.
It’s very very simple.
Flag as inappropriate