Building a Cartoon Tank
Inkscape Tutorial
When you scale in Inkscape holding SHIFT+CTRL down allows for the ratio of height to width to stay intact – which is rather helpful at times…
Let’s start on the Cartoon Tank
Start with a few circles for the wheel base.
Create a rectangle, convert it to a path and bring the top nodes inward.
Scale the shape to match the base and create a duplicate mirror.
Combine the two shapes via the Path/ Union option [CTRL++] and duplicate three more times.
Bringing up the transform panel [SHIFT+CTRL+M] allows you to adjust the angle precisely.
Combine the four shapes with the largest circle to form the basic cog shape.
Create two circles and combine them with the Path/ Union. This the starting element for the tracks.
Delete the centre nodes and convert the curves to lines to form a pill shape.
[Alternatively create a box with rounded edges.]
Scale up the pill shape to be slightly larger than the cog shape.
Group the cog shape and line up three duplicates. Move the nodes of the pill shape to match the combined cogs.
Open the Stroke panel [SHIFT+CTRL+F] and assign a thick outline to the shape.
Adding the Tank’s Chains
Duplicate the object and assign an even thicker stroke and select a matching setting in the Dashes pull down menu.
Create another duplicate and select no stroke and move it all the way back [Page Down]…
…before converting the strokes to paths for the two other shapes [CTRL+ALT+C]. Combine the two track shapes and assign a fitting outline to the track as well as the cog shapes. Our little cartoon tank will need a nice thick stroke.
Next up is a square turned into a path. Change the lines at either end into curves with two new nodes.
Place the shape on top of the tracks and adjust the length. Create a lighter colour copy with no outline for the lighter top and a duplicate in black with 50% alpha below to cast the shadow.
Building the Cartoon Style Turrent
A deformed rectangle forms the main body [as it’s vastly covered by the tracks]
and two smaller rectangles with added lines for a bit of decor make the engine.
The base of the turret is a rectangle with a curved bottom and some more squares added as highlights.
A squares is the base for the top of the turret. Deform the top and bottom lines and add some highlights with a smaller duplicate on top. Some circles make some more highlights.
The same works for the light with an added triangle deformed to make the curved shine.
A squares is the base for the top of the turret. Deform the top and bottom lines and add some highlights with a smaller duplicate on top. Some circles make some more highlights.
The same works for the light with an added triangle deformed to make the curved shine.
Animate the tank by rotating the wheels and move the tracks along by modifying the nodes of the track shape. Four or five different images of the wheels and tracks should be enough for an animation.
Going for a more Realistic Tank
Taking off the outlines already gives it a less cartoony feel. By adding more detail to the tank it easily transforms into something more realist. The addition of shading, highlights and shadows enhances the tanks realism. Repeating shapes and patterns is an easy way to achieve a more detail look.
Basically, having the base objects in place make it easy to adjust the design to your needs.
Wrapping up the Cartoony Tank Build
To sum things up, don’t be scared of more complex objects. Break them apart into smaller part. Simpler objects are a lot easier to create. In the end, put them back together to create the bigger shape. Building a Cartoon Tank hopefully was a good example for this process.
Ultimately, one of the key elements to speedy art creation is recycling. Reuse elements you built earlier. E.g. the tanks headlines might look really good on a vintage car as well or the cogs can be part of some clock or piece of machinery.
Enjoy, have fun and keep bending vectors!
nice tankies
can u post one about making a creature …like a dino or some wild animal :)
Fantastic as always. Please do an explosion one soon!
Maybe sometime consider youtubing a lesson.
I love your tutorials. Please keep them coming.
Also, I wouldn't mind paying for screencasts. Maybe following the same model of .
(The comment system ate the URL: "the same model of PeepCode dot com")
awesome ,thanx……and post more plz
As always: well explained, simple and just awesome!
+1 for the animal idea (already thought about that when I saw your DeviantArt page ;) )
can u link me ur deviantart page?
Simply great!
how could I give an effect of movement on the mat?