BlogmyQuery – BMQ

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a set of sleek web ribbons. We’ll start with two simple shapes and some basic masking techniques. Next, using a simple rectangle and some simple vector shape building techniques we’ll create the overall ribbon shape. Once we have the starting shapes we’ll continue with the smaller parts. Using some Pathfinder options, several Warp and Gaussian Blur effects plus some basic blending techniques we’ll add the final touches.

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:

Step 1

Open Illustrator and hit Control + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width and height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the "Align New Objects to Pixel Grid" box is unchecked before your click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a gridline every 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.

You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Step 2

Pick the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a 250 by 40px shape. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below, lower its opacity to 50% and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 5px radius and click OK. Bear in mind that the yellow zero from the gradient image stands for opacity percentage. Switch to the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 350 by 50px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the second image. Reselect both shapes, open the fly-out menu of the Transparency panel, click on Make Opacity Mask then uncheck the Clip box. In the end your masked ellipse should look like in the third image.

Step 3

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 180 by 75px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the following image. The white numbers from the gradient image stand for location percentage.

Step 4

Reselect the rectangle created in the previous step and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points. Keep focusing on this shape and grab the Direct Selection Tool(A). Select the middle, bottom anchor point and drag it 15px up. In the end your shape should look like in the second image. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this shape and name it "Ribbon".

Step 5

Focus on the top, right corner of the shape edited in the previous step. Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 10px square, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the following image. Focus on this new shape, grab the Delete Anchor Point Tool(-) and click on the top, right anchor point. This will remove the anchor point turning your square into a triangle.

Step 6

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Reselect the triangle shape created in the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px to the right using the right arrow from your keyboard.

Reselect both copies, open the Pathfinder panel and click on the Minus Front button. Fill the resulting shape with black and lower its opacity to 15%. Focus on this new shape, grab the Delete Anchor Point Tool(-) and get rid of the top, right anchor point. In the end your shape should look like in the fourth image.

Step 7

Reselect the triangle shape created in the fifth step and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 3px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with black and lower its opacity to 15%. Focus on this new shape, grab the Delete Anchor Point Tool(-) and get rid of the top, right anchor point. In the end your shape should look like in the fourth image.

Step 8

Reselect the triangle shape along with the two shapes created in the previous two steps and group them (Control + G). Make sure that this new group is selected and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the data shown below and click OK.

Step 9

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect the group created in the previous step and go to Object > Transform > Reflect. Check the Vertical button and click on the Copy button. This will create a horizontally flipped copy of your group. Select it, drag it to the left and place it as shown in the third image. The Snap to Grid will ease your work.

Step 10

Reselect "Ribbon" and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill and go to Effect > Warp > Shell Lower. Enter the data shown below and click OK. Make a copy of "Ribbon" (Control + C > Control + F), select it and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this new shape and name it "RibbonExpanded".

Step 11

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 5px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Ungroup the resulting group of shapes (Shift + Control + G). Delete the thin, right shape and fill the other one with white. Also, lower its opacity to 40% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 12

Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 10px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Ungroup the resulting group of shapes (Shift + Control + G). Delete the thin, right shape and fill the other one with black. Also, lower its opacity to 20% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 13

Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 5px to the left. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Ungroup the resulting group of shapes (Shift + Control + G). Delete the thin, left shape and fill the other one with white. Also, lower its opacity to 40% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 14

Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 10px to the left. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Ungroup the resulting group of shapes (Shift + Control + G). Delete the thin, left shape and fill the one shape with black. Also, lower its opacity to 20% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 15

Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 16

Reselect "RibbonExpanded" and make two, new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the following image and change its blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 17

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Ellipse Tool(L), create a 240 by 45px shape, fill it with a random color and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new shape along with "RibbonExpanded" and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the following image, lower its opacity to 40% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 18

Reselect "Ribbon", focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill using the Add New Fill button. Select it, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel, make it black, lower its opacity to 7% and go to Effect > Warp > Shell Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Step 19

Reselect "Ribbon", focus on the Appearance panel and add a third fill. Select it, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel, make it black, lower its opacity to 10% and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 3px radius and click OK.

Step 20

For the following step you will need a grid every 1px. So, go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and enter 1 in the Gridline every box. Pick the Rectangle Tool(M) and create a 280 by 1px shape. Place it as shown in the following image, fill it with the linear gradient shown in the first image then send it to back (Shift + Control + [ ).

Step 21

Let’s add a simple background for our ribbon. Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a shape the size of your artboard, fill it with R=190 G=190 B=190 and send it to back (Shift + Control + [ ).

Step 22

Disable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect the thin rectangle created in the twentieth step and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select it and move it 1px down using the down arrow. Make sure that your copy is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and replace the existing linear gradient with the one shown in the following image.

Step 23

Pick the Type Tool(T) and add your text. Set its color at R=42 G=92 B=5 then go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the data shown below and click OK.

Step 24

Reselect the rectangle used for the background, focus on the Appearance panel, add a second fill and use the radial gradient shown below. Keep focusing on the Appearance panel and add a third fill for this shape. You’ll need a built-in pattern for this new fill. Go to the Swatches panel, open the fly-out menu and go to Open Swatch Library > Patterns > Basic Graphics > Basic Graphics_Textures.

A new window with a set of built-in patterns should open. Make sure that your background rectangle is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and select that third fill. Lower its opacity to 20%, change the blending mode to Multiply and add the "USGS 19 Land Inundation" pattern.

Step 25

Finally, here’s a quick technique that you can use to recolor your ribbon. Select all the shapes that make up your ribbon and go to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. Click on the Edit button, make sure that the "Recolor Art" and the "Link Color Harmony" buttons are checked then play with the color handles.

And We’re Done!

Once again, here’s how your final result should look.

Now that we have made it to the end, we would like to know your thoughts on this new tutorial. Leave us your two cents in the comments.

(rb)

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed web element, a simple drop-down menu. We’ll start with a bunch rectangles and simple paths, some basic vector shape building techniques and the Rounded Corners effect. Once we have our starting shapes we’ll continue with the colors. We’ll use multiple fills and strokes along with the Drop Shadow effect and some simple blending techniques. Finally, we’ll add the text. Let’s get started.

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating.

Step 1

Hit Control + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width and height boxes then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the "Align New Objects to Pixel Grid" box is unchecked before you click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.

You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Step 2

Start with the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 200 by 50px shape, fill it with R=96 G=96 B=96 and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shape and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). You’ll need it for the next step.

Step 3

Grab the Pen Tool(P), draw a 60px vertical path and place it as shown in the first image. The Snap to Grid will ease your work. Select it along with the copy of the rounded rectangle created in the previous step, open the Pathfinder panel and click on the Divide button. Move to the Layers panel, select the resulting group of shapes and ungroup it (Shift + Control + G).

Step 4

Focus on the right shape created in the previous step. Select it and replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown in the following image. Make sure that this shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a 2pt stroke. Select it, set its color at R=143 G=248 B=168, align it to inside, lower the opacity to 60% and change the blending mode to Screen.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel and add a second stroke for your shape using the Add New Stroke button. Select this new stroke, make it 1pt wide, set its color at R=0 G=128 B=60 and make sure that it’s aligned to the inside.

Step 5

Next, you need to copy the properties used for the shape edited in the previous step and paste them onto the other shape created in the third step. Here is how you can easily do it. Go to the Layers panel, focus on the right side and you’ll notice that every shape comes with a little grey circle. It’s called a target icon. Hold Alt, click on the target icon that stands for the shape edited in the previous step and drag onto the circle that stands for the second shape created in the third step.

Step 6

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 10px square, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the first image. Focus on this new shape and grab the Direct Selection Tool(A). Select the bottom anchor points and go to Object > Path > Offset Path (Alt + Control + J). Check the Both button and click OK. This should turn your little square into a triangle.

Step 7

Reselect the triangle created in the previous step and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1px radius and click OK. Focus on the Appearance panel and add a 1pt stroke for this shape. Make it 1pt wide, align it to the outside and set its color at R=0 G=128 B=60. Keep focusing on the Appearance panel and add a second fill for this triangle using the Add New Fill button.

Select it, drag it below the existing fill, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 2px offset and click OK. The yellow zero from the gradient image stands for opacity percentage. Make sure that this new fill is still selected then lower its opacity to 50% and change the blending mode to Screen.

Step 8

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Type Tool(T) and add your white "Menu" text. Use the MoolBoran font with the size set at 23pt. Select this text, focus on the Appearance panel and add two fills and a stroke using the Add New Fill and Add New Stroke buttons. Select the bottom fill, lower its opacity to 40%, change the blending mode to Screen and add the bottom linear gradient shown in the following image then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 2px Offset and click OK.

Return to the Appearance panel, select the second fill and use the top linear gradient shown below. Move up in the Appearance panel, select the stroke, make it 1pt wide, set its color at R=0 G=128 B=60 and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 0.5px Offset and click OK.

Step 9

Reselect the grey rounded rectangle created in the second step and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the top window (in the image), click OK and go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the middle window, click OK and go one more time to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the bottom window and click OK.

Step 10

Reselect all the shapes created so far and group them (Control + G). This will be your closed drop-down menu. Make a copy of this group (Control + C > Control + F) then move to the Layers panel and turn off the visibility for the original group by clicking on the little eye icon.

Step 11

Focus on the remaining, visible group created in the previous step. First, select the left, green shape and delete it. Next, focus on the "Menu" text. Select it and move to the Appearance panel. Remove the bottom fill and the stroke then select the remaining fill and replace the existing linear gradient with the one shown in the following image. Also, with this text still selected go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the data shown in the following image and click OK.

Step 12

Reselect the grey rounded rectangle and replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown in the following image. Add a 2pt stroke for this shape, set its color at R=165 G=165 B=165 and align it to the inside. Focus on the Appearance panel, add a second stroke for this shape, make it 1pt wide, set its color at R=20 G=20 B=20 and align it to the inside.

Step 13

Reselect the shape edited in the previous step and focus on the Appearance panel. Add three new strokes and drag them below the existing ones. Select the bottom one, make it 11pt wide, set its color at R=35 G=31 B=32 and lower its opacity to 10%. Select the middle one, make it 8pt wide, set its color at R=35 G=31 B=32 and lower its opacity to 10%. Select the top one, make it 8pt wide, set its color at R=35 G=31 B=32 and lower its opacity to 10%.

Step 14

Move to the little arrow shape, select it and focus on the Appearance panel. First, replace the linear gradient used for the top fill with the one shown in the following image. Next, add a new stroke and drag it below the existing one. Select it, make it 1pt wide, align it to inside, set its color at R=20 G=20 B=20 and lower its opacity to 50%.

Step 15

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Grab the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 200 by 270px shape, fill it with R=96 G=96 B=96 and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shape and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F).

Step 16

Pick the Pen Tool(P), draw a 210px horizontal path and place it as shown in the following image.

Step 17

Reselect the path created in the previous step and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

More on Page Two

Halfway through the tutorial, but don’t stop here. There is more on page two.

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed dynamite illustration. We’ll start by turning some plain text into a symbol, and by making some simple rectangles. Once we have our starting shapes, we’ll continue with some Extrude&Bevel and Warp effects plus some Pathfinder options along with a bunch of basic blending techniques. For the final touches we’ll use some complex linear gradients and some blur effects.

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:

Step 1

Hit Control + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width and height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the "Align New Objects to Pixel Grid" box is unchecked before you click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.

You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Step 2

Start with the Type Tool(T) and add your black, "dynamite" text. Use the Myriad, Bold font with the size set at 10pt. Open the Symbols panel (Window > Symbols). Make sure that your text is still selected and click on the New Symbol button from the bottom of the Symbols panel. Pick a name for your symbol and click OK. Make sure that your new symbol shows up in the Symbols panel then remove the one from the Layers panel.

Step 3

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M) and create two, 50 by 315px shapes. Fill them both with R=153 G=30 B=45 and place them as shown in the following image. The Snap to Grid will ease your work.

Step 4

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M) and create two, 25 by 315px shape. Fill them both with white and place them as shown in the following image.

Step 5

Reselect the right, white rectangle created in the previous step and go to Effect > 3D > Extrude& Bevel. Enter the data shown in the following image and click on the Map Art button. Go to"Surface 1" and select the "dynamite" symbol from the Symbol drop down menu. Rotate it and place it as shown in following image then click OK. Make sure that this white rectangle is still selected and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 6

Move to the other white rectangle created in the fourth step. Select it and add the same Extrude&Bevel properties used in the previous step. The only thing that you need to change is the position of the symbol from the map art menu. Don’t forget to go to Object > Expand Appearance after you add all these properties.

Step 7

Focus on the two groups created in the last two steps. Move to the Layers panel, drag the wrapped symbols outside their groups then delete the rest of the shapes. Reselect the wrapped symbols one by one and turn them into compound paths (Object > Compound Path > Make).

Step 8

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 50 by 325px shape, fill it with R=190 G=30 B=45 and place it as shown in the first image. Continue with the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 25 by 325px shape, fill it with white and place it as is shown in the second image.

Step 9

Reselect the white shape created in the previous step and add the Extrude and Bevel effect used in the previous steps. Don’t forget to add the symbol as shown in the first image. Once you add all these effects go to Object > Expand Appearance. Again, keep the wrapped text and delete the rest of the shapes. Also, don’t forget to turn the wrapped text into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make).

Step 10

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 50 by 325px shape, fill it with R=212 G=30 B=45 and place it as shown in the first image. Continue with the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 25 by 325px shape, fill it with white and place it as shown in the second image. Select this white rectangle and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F).

Step 11

Reselect the copy of the white rectangle created in the previous step, add the Extrude and Bevel effect (and the symbol as shown in the first image) and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Focus on the resulting group of shapes, turn the wrapped text into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make) and delete the rest of the shapes. Select the other white rectangle created in the previous step, add the Extrude and Bevel effect (and the symbol as shown in the third image) and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Focus on the resulting group of shapes, turn the wrapped text into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make) and delete the rest of the shapes.

Step 12

Reselect the compound paths created in the previous steps, make sure that they’re all filled with black and lower their opacity to 15%. Select the four, red rectangles and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 2px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the data shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 13

Reselect the right, red shape and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 325px shape, fill it with white and place it as shown in the second image. Select it along with one of the copies created in the beginning of the step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 30% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 14

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 325px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the other copy of the red shape created in previous step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 15

Reselect the left, red shape and make three copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F > Control + F). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 325px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the second image. Select it along with one of the copies created in the beginning of the step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 16

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 10 by 325px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with one of the copies created in previous step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 17

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 325px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the remaining copy created in step 15 and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 18

Reselect the right middle, red shape and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 335px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the second image. Select it along with one of the copies created in the beginning of the step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 19

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 15 by 335px shape, fill it with white and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the other copy of the red shape created in previous step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 30% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 20

Reselect the left middle, red shape and make three copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F > Control + F). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 10 by 335px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the second image. Select it along with one of the copies created in the beginning of the step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 21

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5 by 323px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with one of the copies created in previous step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 25% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 22

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 15 by 335px shape, fill it with white and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the remaining copy created in step #20 and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape, lower its opacity to 30% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 23

Select all the shapes that make up the left dynamite and group them (Control + G). Continue and create three new groups. One with the shapes that make the left dynamite, one with the shapes that make up the middle left dynamite and one with the shapes that make up the middle right dynamite.

Step 24

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Focus on the middle left dynamite, select the main red shape and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px down using the down arrow. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=110 G=30 B=45.

Step 25

Reselect the main red shape from the middle left dynamite group and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px down using the down arrow. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with white, lower its opacity to 75% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 26

Reselect the main red shape from the middle left dynamite group and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px up using the up arrow. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=110 G=30 B=45.

Step 27

Reselect the main red shape from the middle left dynamite group and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px up using the up arrow. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with white, lower its opacity to 75% and change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 28

Move to the other dynamite shapes and repeat the techniques mentioned in the last four steps.

More on Page Two

That get’s us about halfway there! Head on over to page two to finish up the tutorial and put the finishing touches on your illustration.

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed scanner illustration. We’ll start with a bunch of simple shapes, some basic vector shape building techniques, several effects and the round any corner script. Once we have our starting shapes we’ll continue with some Pathfinder options, several new effects plus some basic masking techniques. For the final touches we will use some simple blending.

Before we get started, here is a preview of the illustration we’ll be creating.

Step 1

Hit Control + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width and height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the "Align New Objects to Pixel Grid" box is unchecked before your click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.

You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 480 by 345px shape, fill it with a flat green then grab the Direct Selection Tool(A). Select the left anchor point and move it 80px to the right then select the right anchor point and move it 80px to the left. This will turn your rectangle into a trapezoid. Next, you’ll need the Round Any Corner script. You can find it in this article.

Save it to your hard drive, return to Illustrator and continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the bottom anchor points (highlighted in the second image) and go to File > Scripts > Other Script. Open the Round Any Corner Script, enter a 50px Radius and click OK. In the end your shapes should look like in the third image.

Step 3

Reselect the shape created in the previous step and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Again, enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 4

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 410 by 270px shape, fill it with a flat yellow and place it as shown in the first image. Grab the Direct Selection Tool(A) and focus on this new shape. Select the left anchor point and move it 65px to the right then select the right anchor point and move it 65px to the left. Again, you’ll need the Round Any Corner script.

Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom anchor points (highlighted in the second image) and go to File > Scripts > Other Script. Open the Round Any Corner Script, enter a 10px Radius and click OK. In the end your shapes should look like in the third image.

Step 5

Reselect the shape created in the previous step and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Again, enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 6

Reselect the shape created in the previous step and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 3px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with black.

Step 7

Reselect the black shape created in the previous step and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select this copy along with the green shape, open the Pathfinder panel and click on the Minus Front button. Once again, you’ll need the Round Any Corner script.

Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the four anchor points highlighted in the second image and go to File > Scripts > Other Script. Open the Round Any Corner Script, enter a 3px Radius and click OK. In the end your shape should look like it does in the third image.

Step 8

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 300 by 20px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the black shape and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Move to the Layers panel and drag the resulting, black shape below the yellow one.

Step 9

Reselect the green shape and replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown below. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this shape and name it "main".

Step 10

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Reselect "main" and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and hit the up arrow twenty times (to move it 20px up). Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Move to the Layers panel and you will find a group with three new shapes. Select it, ungroup it (Shift + Control + G) and delete the two, top shapes. Select the remaining shape and fill it with the linear gradient shown in the third image. Move to the Layers panel and name it "mainBottom".

Step 11

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 3px down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the final image.

Step 12

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the bottom copy and move it 3px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=199 G=203 B=203.

Step 13

Focus on the shapes created in the last two steps. Select the first one and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 4px radius and click OK. Select the second one and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 2px radius and click OK. Reselect both shapes and group them (Control + G). Next, you need to mask this group. Reselect "main", make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F), fill it with white and drag it above the group (in the Layers panel).

Open the Transparency panel. Select the fresh, white shape along with the group, open the fly-out menu of the Transparency panel and simply click on the Make Opacity Mask button. In the end your masked group should look like in the sixth image. Move to the Layers panel and lock it.

Step 14

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=175 G=175 B=175.

Step 15

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the final image.

Step 16

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 10px to the left. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Turn the resulting group of shapes into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), fill it with R=100 G=100 B=100 and lower its opacity to 5%.

Step 17

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 10px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Again, turn the resulting group of shapes into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), fill it with R=100 G=100 B=100 and lower its opacity to 5%.

Step 18

Reselect "mainBottom" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 10px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=100 G=100 B=100 and lower its opacity to 10%. Unlock the masked group created in step #13 then select "mainBottom" along with all the shapes created in the last seven steps and group them (Control + G).

Step 19

Reselect "main" and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and open the Transform panel (Window > Transform). Check the middle, top reference point and the "Constrain Width and Height Proportions" button then simply enter "385" in the height box.

Step 20

Select this resized copy along with the other copy created in the previous step and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the second image.

Step 21

Reselect "main" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 25px up and 12px to the left. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Turn the resulting group of shapes into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), fill it with R=242 G=245 B=245, lower its opacity to 20% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 22

Reselect "main" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 25px up and 12px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Turn the resulting group of shapes into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), fill it with R=242 G=245 B=245, lower its opacity to 20% and change the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 23

Reselect the black shape and replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown below. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this shape and name it "interior".

Step 24

Reselect "interior" and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px to the down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=70 G=70 B=70.

Step 25

Reselect "interior" and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the bottom copy and move it 2px to the down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=235 G=235 B=235.

More on Page Two

We are only halfway through the tutorial. There is still more to come over on page two.

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed printer illustration. We’ll start with two simple rectangles and some basic vector shape building techniques. Once we have our starting shapes we’ll continue with some Pathfinder options, a bunch of complex linear gradients and some simple effects. For the highlights we’ll use some simple blending techniques along with some new effects and pixel perfect vector shape building techniques.

Final Image

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:

Step 1

Hit Control + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width and height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the "Align New Objects to Pixel Grid" box is unchecked before you click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 5px.

Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M) and create a 350 by 160px shape. Fill it with a random color, make sure that it has no color set for the stroke and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points. Keep this new shape selected and switch to the Direction Selection Tool(A). Select the middle, left and middle, right anchor points (highlighted in the second image) and simply drag them 25px up. The Snap to Grid will ease your work.

Step 3

Keep focusing on the shape created in the previous step and continue with the Direct Selection Tool(A). Select the top, left anchor point and move it 20px to the right then select the top, right anchor point and move it 20px to the left. Move down, select the bottom, left anchor point and move it 5px to the right then select the bottom, right anchor point and move it 5px to the left. In the end your shape should look like in the second image. Make sure that it’s still selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 4

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 360 by 5px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Select it along with the shape created in the previous step and duplicate them (Control + C > Control + F). Select these copies, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect button. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the final image. The white numbers from the gradient image stand for location percentage.

Step 5

Reselect the original thin rectangle created in the previous step along with the large shape created in the starting steps and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Move to the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and you will find a new group with two separate shapes. Select it and ungroup it (Shift + Control + G). Focus on the bottom shape, select it and fill it with the linear gradient shown in the final image.

Step 6

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Reselect the shape edited in the finale of the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and hit the down arrow once (to move it 1px down). Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with black.

Step 7

Reselect the shape edited in the finale of the fifth step and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset and click OK. Duplicate the resulting shape (Control + C > Control + F). Select this copy and move it 2px down. Reselect both shapes created in this step and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=166 G=169 B=174, lower its opacity to 50% and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 2px radius and click OK.

Step 8

Once again, select the shape edited in the finale of the fifth step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 3px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=23 G=37 B=52.

Step 9

Move to the top shape created in the fifth step. Select it and fill it with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 10

Reselect the shape edited in the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px down and to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with a random color, for now.

Step 11

Reselect the shape edited in the ninth step and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px down and to the left. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Again, fill the resulting shape with a random color.

Step 12

Reselect the two shapes created in the last two steps and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 13

Reselect the shape edited in the ninth step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=244 G=244 B=244.

Step 14

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 190 by 30px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the first image. Switch to the Direct Selection Tool(A) and focus on this new shape. Select the top, left anchor point and move it 10px to the right then select the top, right anchor point and move it 10px to the left.

In the end your shape should look like a trapezoid (image #2). Select it and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 15

Reselect the shape edited in the ninth step and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select it along with the shape created in the previous step and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 16

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect the shape created in the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the final image.

Step 17

Reselect the shape created in the fifteenth step and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 7px down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the linear gradient shown in the final image.

Step 18

Reselect the shape created in the fifteenth step and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the left window, click OK and go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the right window and click OK.

Step 19

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 140 by 150px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the following image.

Step 20

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect the shape created in the previous step and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1px Offset and click OK. Duplicate the resulting shape (Control + C > Control + F). Select this copy and move it 1px down. Reselect both shape created in this step and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=250 G=250 B=250.

Step 21

Reselect the shape created in the nineteenth step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 5px up. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with black and lower its opacity to 3%.

Step 22

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 230 by 85px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the first image. Switch to the Direct Selection Tool(A), select the bottom, left anchor point and move it 5px to the right then select the bottom, right anchor point and move it 5px to the left.

Make sure that this new shape is selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Finally, select the resulting shape and go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Enter the data shown in the final image and click OK.

Step 23

Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 170 by 45px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the following image. Select it and go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect Stylize > Drop Shadow. Again, enter the data shown in the following image and click OK.

More on Page Two

That is only half the chore, there is still more tutorial to work through on page two.