How To Draw An Isometric Image

This is the second office of a series of tutorials I'm doing about creating isometric illustrations in Adobe Illustrator. If you missed that commencement tutorial, I suggest you start with Working with Orthographic Projections and Basic Isometrics. Let's get started!

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Find more vector isometric tutorials and resources, over on our popular article:

Introduction

In the final tutorial, I covered how to brand an isometric grid and build unproblematic blocky shapes on it. In this tutorial, I'm going to talk about another method of creating isometric shapes that doesn't require a grid and is much more useful if your objects are complex or curvy.

When creating a complicated isometric illustration, it's best to begin by breaking down your object into its simplest parts. This volition help to brand the project more than approachable. It's possible to brand the most complex objects entirely on an isometric filigree using the method I discussed in the last tutorial. There is another method that is much more useful for creating curvy or complex isometric objects in Adobe Illustrator. I'm going to call this method scale, shear, rotate, or SSR.

The bones idea backside the SSR method is that by using tools in Adobe Illustrator, you lot can place an object onto an isometric plane without using a grid. This method is nearly useful for curvy or complex objects, only it will work for anything. I'll begin simply by making an isometric cube. Follow the steps below for the SSR Method.

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ane. How to Create an Isometric Cube

Step i

Create a iv-inch square with your Rectangle Tool.

Footstep 2

With the square selected, double-click on your Scale tool. Scale the square 86.062% vertically.

Pace 3

With your object selected, double-click on the Shear tool and shear the object 30 degrees.

Step 4

With the object selected, double-click on the Rotate tool and rotate it -30 degrees. Y'all have at present created the peak of your cube.

Footstep 5

To create the left side of the cube, begin with a iv-inch square. Scale vertically 86.062%, Shear -thirty degrees, and Rotate -30 degrees.

Step vi

Apply the Selection Tool (black arrow) to line up the forepart corner with the peak of the cube.

To create the right side of the cube, brainstorm with a four-inch foursquare. Scale vertically 86.062%, Shear 30 degrees, and Rotate xxx degrees.

Step seven

Next, move the pieces into place with your Selection Tool. You have now created an isometric cube without using a grid.

The power of this method becomes apparent when you try to create an object that would be very difficult to construct on a grid. This method only works if y'all accept a set of orthographic projections to work with.

2. How to Brand a Stratocaster Using the SSR Method

For this case I'm going to build the torso of a guitar. To make this complex shape in isometric using but a filigree would be a challenge. The complex curves and chemical compound shapes would be very hard to recreate accurately.

Step 1

There are many ways to make an orthographic projection, depending on your object. You can wait online for a set of blueprints, y'all could trace a photo, and if you own the object you could take information technology apart and measure information technology. Employ whatever method works best for your project.

One quick Google search, and I've found the perfect set of factory blueprints for the "62 vintage re-consequence Fender Stratocaster." These blueprints are much more detailed than I need, but you tin exist every bit precise as you'd like for your own projects. Having as well much data about your object is never a bad thing.

Step 2

Trace your blueprints. I'm going to trace just the information I demand to complete my isometric, and I'm going to simplify parts of the design.

Stride 3

Once you've chosen your orientation, you tin calibration, shear, rotate (SSR) your lesser airplane.

You can check your piece of work past comparing any edges that in the orthographic are 90 degrees or 180 degrees. These edges will at present autumn onto an isometric filigree; they volition either be on the xxx-degree or 150-caste angle.

Footstep four

Now that you've created your base, you take something to work from. If yous have the side view of the orthographic and scale, shear, rotate (SSR) it onto the isometric aeroplane, you can figure out the thickness of the guitar trunk.

Step 5

Line up the bottom edge of the guitar body with the corner of the orthographic side view.

Footstep 6

Next, you want to copy the outline of the guitar body and move it upward to the acme edge of the side view. To exercise this, use your Option Tool and click and elevate on the edge of the outline. Before letting get, engage the Option key to make a copy. You should as well use the Shift key to constrain the move. Holding the Shift key while moving the shape will ensure it stays lined up with the original.

Step vii

Now, you've blocked out the meridian and bottom planes of the guitar body. The adjacent step is to cutting out the spot where the neck is inset. Start by connecting the top and lesser planes of the neck opening and so that it'due south easier to see the area that y'all are working on.

Step 8

Using the side view, you can mark off how deep the neck cutaway goes into the body. You now have three planes: the top, bottom, and depth of the cutaway.

Step nine

The adjacent step is to utilize the Scissors tool to cut away all the backlog lines yous don't need anymore. This is often the hardest part for an creative person new to technical cartoon. All the overlapping lines and shapes can be overwhelming. But if yous accept your fourth dimension and start with the large, articulate shapes, information technology will help to clean upwards the more than circuitous areas.

Step 10

Afterwards clearing away all the lines you don't need anymore, connect your corners and terminate the shapes.

Add some line quality, and you're finished.

Conclusion

You take now finished the body of the guitar. You could go on and complete the unabridged guitar—the same steps would utilize for each part. This is an example of an exploded isometric of a Stratocaster I did a few years agone with this method.

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SmartIcon Generator 2 - Isometric 3D Icons

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Isometric Analogy - 3D Generator

Creating 3D isometric illustrations from shapes and vectors tin can be a lot easier when you're using a generator. Check out this isometric illustration generator and create your ain isometric designs with only ane click! Information technology's that fast!

Isometric Screen Generator

Isometric generators can also be used to add a bit of dynamism to your UI and web blueprint presentations. All you lot need is a screenshot of your design, and this isometric screen generator will do the job.

Want to Learn More?

Acquire more than well-nigh isometric vector fine art with these tutorials and resources:

Source: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-advanced-isometric-illustrations-using-the-ssr-method--vector-1058

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