How to Create a Mesh Flower in Illustrator

Tutorial Details

• Program: Adobe Illustrator
• Version: CS4
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Estimated Completion Time: 1.5 hours

Step 1

Open up a new document and select the Polygon Tool. Click once on the artboard and choose Radius 50pt and Sides: 6 in the pop up window. Fill the polygon with an orange color.

Step 2

Select the Mesh Tool (U) and start adding mesh points. Click once on the top line of the polygon.

Step 3

Then repeat the step by clicking in the middle and on the right of the top horizontal line of the polygon as shown.

Step 4

Then click once right into the middle of the polygon with the Mesh Tool (U).

Step 5

Select the Direct selection Tool (A) and highlight the center mesh point, then fill it with a darker orange.

Step 6

Next, select each corner mesh point and fill it with a yellow.

Step 7

Start dragging each middle mesh point of each side of the polygon towards the middle until you create a similar star shape, just like you see in the image below.

Step 8

Let's move onto the flower pedal creation. Select the Pen Tool (P) and draw a similar shape as shown in the image below. Fill it with 5% Black.

Step 9

Create another shape similar to the one shown below, which will be the bottom part of the flower pedal. Fill it with a pink or any other color of your choice. Then go to Effect > Stylize > Feather, then set the Feather amount to 5pt. Place it on top of the gray pedal.

Step 10

Apply mesh points to the pedal with the Mesh Tool (U). Select random mesh points and fill them with a darker gray.

Step 11

Select the smaller pink shape and make a copy. Then scale it down to about 75% of the original one. Fill it with a darker pink or a purple. Apply a Feather effect of 2pt.

Step 12

Group the flower pedal and the two small shapes together. Then select the grouped shape and Rotate (R) and duplicate it until you have six pedals.

Step 13

Select the orange shape from Steps 1-4 and place it on top of the pedals. Set the layer mode to 88% Opacity and apply a Feather effect of 5pt.

Step 14

Make a copy of the orange feather shape and scale it down.

Step 15

Create a rectangle and fill it with green. Then add mesh points with the Mesh Tool (U). Select random points and fill them with a darker or lighter green. This will be the backdrop.

Step 16

Group all the flower shapes together and make a copy. Then apply a Gaussian Blur effect of 21 pixels.

Step 17

Place it on top of the backdrop.

Step 18

You can add some text on the right.

Step 19

Make a copy of the blurred flower, scale it down and place it to the right of the bigger one. Set the layer mode to 20% Opacity.

Step 20

Make another copy and apply a stronger Gaussian Blur of 65 pixels, then place it on top of the big flower. Set the layer mode Opacity back to 100%.

Step 21

I started adding some Opacity Masks to the original non-blurred flower and placed several into the background in order to create a sense of depth of field. will explain how in the next step.

Step 22

Take a copy of the original flower and apply an Opacity Mask. Select the Opacity Mask window (Black square).

Step 23

Create a circle that is bigger than the flower and fill it with a black to white linear gradient.

Step 24

Add another smaller ellipse on top with a black to white gradient. This will hide the edges of the pedals. Remember, we are still in the same Opacity Mask.

Step 25

Leave the Opacity Mask. Place another original flower on top. We want to add another Opacity Mask.

Step 26

Repeat Step 24 and apply another Opacity Mask. As you can see, the image is set up with several flowers placed on top or behind, scaled down or blurred. This will create the illusion of a depth of field and it makes it much more interesting.

Conclusion

Voila, that's it folks. Opacity Masks can be difficult to understand, but they can help to create some awesome effects. Just remember that black hides and white reveals and always make sure that you are in the active Opacity Window and that you leave it by clicking on the layer window next to it.

Copyright by : vector.tutsplus.com

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How to Create A Realistic Chef’s Knife in Illustrator

Tutorial Details

• Program: Adobe Illustrator CS4
• Difficulty: Easy
• Estimated Completion Time: 30 minutes

Step 1

We want to create a chef's knife in perspective view to incorporate in an illustrated recipe. First read up what Wikipedia has to say about this type of knife. Now fire up Illustrator, hit Command + N to create a new document and choose A4 with landscape orientation. Imagine a big chef's knife lying on the cutting board at an angle, then draw the following shape using the Pen Tool (P).

Step 2

That will be the blade. Make sure it's a closed shape. Get rid of the black stroke and fill it with a soft medium-to-light gray gradient, making sure it's aligned with the blade so the tip will be lighter. From now on let's assume that the light comes from the left so the right side will be darker.

Step 3

Let's draw the cutting edge. With the blade selected copy it (Command + C) and paste it in front (Command + F). With the Direct Selection Tool (A) slide the bottom right vertex close to the edge, then reshape the edge's curve by manipulating the handles of the top left vertex. You should get a thin shape as shown.

Step 4

Shade the cutting edge with a Linear Gradient from medium gray (top) to white (bottom) - nice and shiny!

Step 5

Draw two arched rectangles across the blade to simulate reflections. Always use Smart Guides (Command + U) to make sure the anchor points snap to the paths. Make the bottom vertices to overlap the cutting edge a little.

Step 6

Shade the reflections with standard, white to black gradients aligned with their direction. The manipulator in the next image, available only in Illustrator CS4, shows you the gradient's direction.

If you have an older version of Illustrator just grab the Gradient Tool (G) from the toolbar, then click and drag on the object to orient the fill. We want to make the reflections fade as they recede from view so put the black color on top. Now in the Transparency panel, select the Screen blending mode from the pull-down menu and reduce the Opacity to 60%.

Step 7

Draw the bolster now. Make the right part stand out from the blade's profile, but snap the left anchor points to the cutting edge, so the bolster will look thicker at the top and tapered down at the bottom.

Step 8

Shade the bolster with a linear gradient. Always maintain consistency with the light's direction by applying the lighter shade to the left side.

Step 9

Add thickness to the bolster by drawing the following shape. Again use Smart Guides for precision.

Step 10

Fill this shape using a gradient with three shades to emphasize the curve.

Step 11

Draw the top of the handle with a single closed path.

Step 12

Fill it with a very dark gradient and make sure the left edge is slightly brighter. For the orientation refer to the following image.

Step 13

Create a copy of this object, right-click on it and select Arrange > Send to Back, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + Left Bracket key. Then move it down and snap it to the bottom of the bolster's thickness.

Step 14

Erase the topmost anchor point then draw vertical connection lines:

Step 15

Now grab the Scissors Tool (C) and click on the bottom curve where the vertical connection line touches it (15a). Erase the little path that sticks out (15b). Now with the Direct Selection tool (A), draw a window around the new anchor point. Hit J to Join the two paths, choosing the Smooth option (15c).

Step 16

Join the leftmost segments as in the following image.

Step 17

Duplicate the top curve and hide it. We'll combine its copy with the bottom curve to create the side of the handle. Lock the middle connection line, then use the Scissors Tool (C) to cut both the top and bottom curves where they intersect with it. When you're done, erase the S-shaped segment between the two curves. Refer to the image below.

Step 18

Join the new paths to create two shapes for the side of the handle. Follow the instructions in the next image.

Step 19

Let's shade the side of the handle. Again use gradients that help define the shape, remaining consistent with the light's direction.

Step 20

Create the tang of the blade, the thin metal strip enclosed in the handle, by copying (Command + C) and pasting in front (Command + F) the two side shapes.

Lock the original shapes to avoid selecting them. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), move the top anchor points down and the bottom points up, effectively creating a thin, centered slice of the side shapes. Shade the tang with light gray gradients, simulating both the rounded shape and the reflections.

Step 21

Create the handle's rivets with three simple ellipses. Align and position them correctly by using a perspective guide. Make them bigger as they get closer. Shade them with linear gradients from white to light gray to simulate subtle ambient reflections. Our chef's knife is now finished!

Conclusion

Even if you don't possess advanced Illustrator skills you can still create realistic objects by paying attention to volume, perspective and shading. I hope this tutorial inspired you and made you hungry for more!

Copyright by : vector.tutsplus.com

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