How to Create a Rainbow Umbrella in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a vector concept background!

If you want to skip the tutorial and just use this background, purchase the Rainbow Umbrella Amongst Grey vector from GraphicRiver!

1. How to Draw the Rainbow Umbrella

Step 1

Let’s begin using the Mesh Tool (U) by drawing this simple first piece of the umbrella!

First, using the Pen Tool (P), draw a curved triangular piece just like the one pictured below. Fill it with the #44315A color, and then grab the Mesh Tool and by clicking on the object, place two Mesh Nodes in the middle of it.

Select the node on the right and change its color to #755A95, and then in turn color the left node with #513C6A.

Step 2

Continue using the Mesh Tool to create this new, slightly more complicated piece.

You will need to use these colors:

1. #AD1E17
2. #ED8E8D
3. #CE3930
4. #C4322A

Step 3

Draw the third piece of the umbrella with these:

1. #FBA51E
2. #FFDF7B
3. #EF7F06
4. #AF3F07

Step 4

1. #D8D03E
2. #EEE892
3. #C1B129

Step 5

1. #3C6335
2. #7FB273
3. #487240

Step 6

1. #2D5A53
2. #467E73
3. #264C45
4. #6FB6AA

Step 7

1. #4482B6
2. #2E6890

Step 8

1. #355A92
2. #26406F

Step 9

Draw the final piece!

1. #DF5085
2. #889BB9
3. #4F6A98

Step 10

Assemble the pieces into an umbrella as pictured in the screenshot below.

2. How to Create Grey Umbrellas

Step 1

Create a copy of the rainbow umbrella and set it aside for now.

Select the original and go to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale.

Step 2

Unfortunately, the hue of our umbrella is not very even right now. Let’s balance it!

Step 3

For Piece 2, go to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors and set the value of Black to -7%.

Step 4

Again, go to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors and input 22%.

Step 5

Use the same function as in the previous steps with 39% Black.

Step 6

Recolor both the 5th and 6th pieces with 6% Black.

Step 7

Use 12% Black for the final piece.

Step 8

Select the whole umbrella, and once again go to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors. This time select RGB instead of Grayscale in Color Mode, tick Convert, and use the following values:

• Red: -3%
• Green: 0%
• Blue: 6%

3. How to Finish the Background

Step 1

Let’s draw a shadow for the umbrellas! Draw two ellipses, one filled with #141A23 and another with #18212D, and place them on top of each other.

Step 2

Make the bigger ellipse completely transparent.

Step 3

Proceed to Object > Blend > Blend Options and set it to Specified Steps; 30.

Next, select both shapes and go to Object > Blend > Make to create a transparent shadow.

Step 4

Change the shadow’s Transparency Mode to Multiply.

Step 5

Place the shadow under both umbrellas, and then clone the grey umbrella (with the shadow!)

Step 6

Arrange the grey umbrellas into a pile.

Step 7

Set the rainbow umbrella on top of it.

Step 8

Draw the backdrop with Mesh.

1. #88969D
2. #F3F6F6
3. #090806
4. #303535

Step 9

To draw a cloud, refer to my tutorial right here.

Add the cloud to the background.

Step 10

Place the umbrellas.

Step 11

Draw a transparent rectangle bordering the background.

Step 12

Select everything and right-click to choose Make Clipping Mask.

Step 13

Your finished picture should look something like this!

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!

What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile, or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below!