Final Product What You'll Be CreatingIn this tutorial we will learn how to create the trash bin icon using such techniques, as 3D modeling, gradient mesh, blend tool and blending modes, as well as tracing raster images. This tutorial is made by Iaroslav Lazunov and a professional Ukrainian designer Sergii Korolko.
Step 1Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document of 600 x 600 pt size, RGB color mode. The Align New Objects to Pixel Grid should be turned off.
With the Pen Tool (P) create the form which is shown below, the form should be without filling with the thickness of the stroke set to1pt. The two leftmost points should align vertically . Create the vertical guide and turn the Smart Guides mode on (Command + U) for its more precise positioning.
Step 2Keep the path, which was created in the previous step, selected and change the stroke’s color to grey, then go to the Effect > 3D > Revolve and set the following parameters.
Step 3Copy the created object and paste it in front (Command + C then Command + F). Turn off the visibility of the lower object with the Layers panel, thereby eliminating the possibility of its accidental movement. We will need this object later.
Step 4Now go to the Object > Expand Appearance. After that action, our object transforms into a group, which consists of visible objects, with which we will continue working, and hidden, unnecessary objects. Ungroup the group three times (Command + Option + G). Now the layers panel looks like this.
Our task now is to separate objects for further work, to do so take the Selection Tool (V), hold down the Shift key and click on the upper objects.
Go to Select > Inverse and press Delete. As the result, we’ve got five objects corresponding to different parts of our trash bin. To see it better, color them differently.
Step 5Before you start working on the details of the icon, we should adjust its geometry a little bit. As we can see, the areas highlighted in red look are wider than blue areas. I think it spoils the visual effect.
Take the Lasso Tool (Q) and select the part of the figure that will be edited.
Then, take the Scale Tool (S), click on the blank area and without releasing the mouse button, gently drag it to the right.
We do the same work with the bottom of the basket, but now, instead of stretching the selected area horizontally, we reduce it, i.e. use the Scale Tool (S), hold the mouse button and move it towards the vertical axis.
Step 6Let’s proceed to the work with the lowest object of the trash bin (it is pink on the figure below). Take the Line Segment Tool (Backslash) and create a horizontal line as it is indicated on the figure below.
Select the straight line segment with the Direct Selection Tool (A) (The points themselves should remain unselected), then with the Reshape Tool drag the section down along the vertical guide while holding down the Shift key. Stop roughly in the mid-height of the pink object. Our line changed into curved shape now and there appeared a smooth point in the center.
With the Direct Selection Tool (A) give to the line the complete form in such a way, that it divides the pink object along its length by about a half.
Select the pink object and the line then click on the Divide in the Pathfinder panel.
As a result, we’ve got a two objects group. Fill the top object with black, and the bottom with linear gradient from black to grey.
Step 7Go to the next object, it is light-grey for now. In order to give it the look of the chrome metal surface, apply the linear gradient in gray scale with the Gradient Tool (G).
Copy this object and place it to the front (Command + C then Command + F), and using the previous step technique create a curved line above the chrome part of the trash bin.
Create the same line in the lower part of the basket.
Select both lines and chrome object and click on the Divide in the Pathfinder panel. In the resulting three objects group delete the middle object. Fill the upper object with light-grey and the lower object with linear gradient which consists of light and dark shades of grey color.
Step 8Using the described techniques create the top metal rim of the trash can.
Step 9Now it’s time to work with an object that imitates the inside part of the basket. Select the blue ellipsis, fill it with linear gradient from dark-grey to grey.
Make a duplicate of this shape (Command + C then Command + F), and with the Scale Tool (S) change its size as it is indicated on the figure below.
Change the gradient fill of this object.
Step 10Now let’s color the biggest part of the trash bin which is orange now. As our figure is conical-shaped and Adobe Illustrator doesn’t create conical gradients, we have to use the Gradient Mesh. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle with the size of orange object.
Apply a linear gradient as the fill, as it is shown on the figure below.
Keep the rectangle selected and go to Object > Expand, choose the parameters which are indicated on the figure below.
As the result, we have a group of objects which consists of the Gradient Mesh and the Clipping Path. Ungroup this group and delete the Clipping Path in the Layers panel. Move the Gradient Mesh below the orange object, which should be locked in the Layers panel.
Step 11With the Direct Selection Tool (A) select the lower nods of the grid and with the Scale Tool (S) drag the form of the Gradient Mesh closer to the form of the orange object.
Then with the Direct Selection Tool (A) change the shape of the Gradient Mesh in accordance with the form of the orange object.
It can be done only approximately, the main thing is that the borders of the gradient mesh should slightly exceed the borders of the top object.
Select the Gradient Mesh and the orange object that is located above, press the shortcuts Command + 7 to creating the Clipping Mask.
Step 12To get a better picture slightly darken the lower edge of the gradient mesh. To make our work more comfortable let’s isolate the gradient mesh. Select the object in the Layers panel and click on it twice.
With the Mesh Tool (U) add one more row of nodes near the lower edge of the gradient mesh. Select the very low row of nodes with the Lasso Tool (Q) and go to the Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork.
Go to the Edit tab and click on the Link harmony colors.
Decrease the Brightness parameter approximately to 2%
Take a look at your work critically and, if necessary, make some corrections.
So as we can see, the inside of the trash can looks unnatural, for better visual appeal we need to add patches of light. Correct these shortcomings.
Step 13Double the ellipsis which corresponds to the inside part of the trash bin, apply to the fill the linear gradient from white to dark-grey and set the Multiply blending mode in the Transparency panel.
With the Pen Tool create three forms, these are in green on the figure below
.
Fill these forms with the linear gradient, which consists of black and grey sliders. Apply the Screen blending mode to these forms.
Step 14Select the highlights created in a previous step, and group them (Command + G). Select the Clipping path, which is located in the gradient mesh group, and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. In the dialog box set the offset value to -1pt and click OK.
Apply the radiant gradient fill to the created form from light-green to white.
Place this object below the gradient mesh and set the Multiply Blending Mode to it. Reduce the opacity of the gradient mesh to 60%.
Step 15Create a shadow underneath the trash bin. With the Ellipse Tool (L) create an ellipsis with a grey fill.