Creating a Cartoon Hot Air Balloon Scene

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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.

air-balloon-final

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!

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