How To Create A Realistic Pendrive in Adobe Illustrator.

This is a guest post by Ubiratan Cunha in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial he will show us how to create a realistic pendrive only using shapes and gradients. Observation to details like lights and shades can make all the difference. Hope you enjoy it!

My name is Ubiratan and I´m a freelancer graphic designer from Brazil. Illustration and web design is my passion. I´m graduated in Panamericana School of Art and Design, one of the best schools in my country. I also build websites using the Joomla CMS.

Step

Create a new document the size you want (I set my document to 550 x 550 px).

Pick up the Rectangle Tool (M) and click anywhere on the page. In the dialog box input the values 175 px for width and 300 px for height.

Step

Let´s align our rectangle to the center of the page. Select the rectangle we just created and click on the button beside the align controls, on the top of the page. Select the “Align to Artboard” option. Now clik the buttons “Horizontal Align Center” and “Vertical Align Center”.

Step

Now that our rectangle is centered, let´s create the bottom part of our image. To do this, select the Ellipse Tool (L) and click anywhere on the screen. A dialog box will appear. Set width to 175 px and height to 50 px.

Step

Let´s align the ellipse to the rectangle. To help us do this, go to View and select the option Smart Guides to enable them.

Step

Now, using the Selection Tool (V), drag the ellipse to the bottom of the rectangle until you see 2 green smart guides indicating the ellipse is alligned in the bottom center. See the image bellow.

Step

OK, now select both shapes and using “Pathfinder”, unite them.

Step

Now let´s use some gradient to fill our shape. Select our shape, open the gradient window and apply the gradient to the shape. Now follow this steps to setup the gradient correctly:

Fisrt of all, add 6 stops to the gradient, and setup one by one following these instructions:

Set the first stop to 82% black and location 30%, like the image below:

The same way, set the other stops using this values:
2º Stop: 2% black, location 6%
3º Stop: 40% black, location 22%
4º Stop: 45% black, location 75%
5º Stop: 10% black, location 93%
6º Stop: 100% black, location 100%

Finally, set this two sliders this way:

Step

Now set the stroke to none and using the Rectangle Tool, draw two more rectangles. The first should be 158 x 12 px and the second 118 x 8 px.

Step

Now, let´s apply some effect. Select the first rectangle, go to Effects > Warp > Arc…. Set the vertical distorsion to 10%. Do the same with the other rectangle.

Step

Now apply a gradient with 95% to 80% black with 90º to both shapes. After that, align them to the center of the page and behinde the pendrive body as shown bellow.

Step

Alright, now using the Rectangle Tool, make 3 squares:

1. 100 x 100 px. Fill it using a gradient following the parameters described in the “First gradient” image
2. 97 x 97 px. Fill it using a gradient like described in the “Second gradient” image
3. 94 x 94 px. Fill it using a gradient like described in the “First gradient” image

Step

Select the 3 squares and click Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center. After that, send them behind the other elements on screen and in the position presented below.

Step

Let’s add some details to our pendrive. Draw 2 little rectanles about 25 x 14 px and fill them with a gradient (see the image below).

Set the position of the rectangles following the image. Now, using the Pen Tool draw a line between the two rectangles the same way you see in the image. Set the stroke to 0,25. Finally, create a ellipse with 135 x 35 px, with 70% black for fill and set it behind the object body.

Step

Now, using the Rounded Rectangle Tool create a shape with 80 px for width, 165 px for height and Corner Radius of 20 px. Set the fill color to white and center it on the screen.

Step

With the Selection Tool, select the Rounded Rectangle and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. When the dialog box open input -3 px in the Offset field.

Step

Select the smaller rectangle that we just created and apply to it a gradient following the instructions in the image bellow.

Conclusion

To finish our work, add a stroke of 2px 80% black to the smaller rectangle and add some text on top of it like the image bellow. Now our pendrive is finished!!!!

Here it is!!! Hope you enjoy!

Create A Crazy Text Effect Using Layer Styles

In this tutorial we are going to create a cool text effect from ground up,by using layer styles and a couple of phtoshop filters to achieve a interesting cool looking effect. The text effect tutorials are covered many times by different tutors and photoshop related websites but with layer styles the possibility’s are endless and mastering them is the key to your success to create unique designs.

Select the Text Tool.

Choose the font style, size and color of your text. A nice thick font will work better, Type your text.

Select the Text Layer and right click on it.

From the menu select Create Work Path.

Turn off the Layer Visibility, note the the path is visible, now we can start editing.

Select The Path Selection Tool.

Click on the first letter to select it, hit CTRL+T and right click on it.

From the menu select Distort and start to distort and customizing your text to whatever you like.

Continue with distorting and transforming your text until you come up with a interesting design.

Click on the Path’s Tab.

Select Path 1.

Click the Load Path Selection Button.

Dashed lines indicate the area is selected.

Click the Layers Tab.

Click on The Create New Layer Button, also select the layer.

Set the Foreground Color to whatever you like in our case we choose #ff8400.

With the selection still active and the layer still selected hit ALT+Backspace to fill the selection with the foreground color.

Double click on the Layer Thumbnail to show the Layer Styles.

Select Stroke.

Enter 25px for the size.

Click and select a color you like for the stroke or enter this #df00ff if you like to follow us.

Click OK.

With Layer one still selected hit CTRL+J to make a copy of the layer.

Double click on the New Layer Thumbnail to show the Layer Styles.

In the Stroke option chosse a white color.

Set the size to 12px.

Click Ok.

Hold Down the CTRL Key and right click on the fx icon.

Click on the Create Layer, now the style is separated and it has it’s own layer. Repeat this step for the other remaining layer.

Turn off the Layer Visibility.

Double click on the New Layer Thumbnail to show the Layer Styles.

Select Bevel and Embos.

Enter 205% for the depth.

Enter 33px for the size.

Turn Off Use Global Light.

Enter 135 for the angle also make sure the Altitude is set to 74.

Click on Gradient Overlay.

Select Overlay.

Make sure you have selected a black and white gradient and click OK.

Double click on the white stroke layer Thumbnail to show the Layer Styles.

Click on Drop shadow.

Set the distance to 3px.

Set the size to 3px.

Click on Bevel And Emboss.

Set the Depth to 93%.

Set the Size to 4px.

Turn off Use Global Light.

Enter 124 in the angle also make sure you enter 69 for the Altitude.

Select a gray color for the highlight mode also make sure the blending is set to Multiply. When you are done click OK.

Double click on the Crazy Text Layer Thumbnail to show the Layer Styles.

Select Drop shadow.

Turn off Use Global Light.

Enter 1px for the Distance.

Enter 0px for the size.

Select Inner shadow.

Choose a bright yellow color or enter this #fff589.

Choose Overlay as a Blending Mode.

Set opacity to 40%.

Set the Angle to -47.

Set the Distance to 9px.

Set the Size to 10px.

Select Bevel and Emboss.

Enter 174% for the depth.

Enter 7px for the size.

Turn off Use Global Light.

Set the Angle to 135 and also set the Altitude to 74 and click OK.

At this point we have finished designing our styles and the text effect is complete, next we are going to add some graphic elements to enhance the design.

Click on the New Layer Icon.

Select The Gradient Tool.

Press the Shift Key and drag down to apply the gradient.

Select Filter Pixelate Color Halftone.

Enter 10px for the Max.Radius

Enter 0 for all the channels and click OK.

Click CTRL-I to Inverse the colors.

Click the Channel Tab.

Hold down CTRL and click on the RGB Channel to load the selection.

Click on the Layers tab.

Click Create a New Layer icon.

Turn off the layer visibility.

Select the Layer you just created and click choose a bright yellow color and hold down ALT+BackSpace to fill the layer with the new color.

With the new layer still selected hold down CTRL+J to make 2 other copies of that Layer and make sure you turn off the layers visibility. Also hold down the ALT Key and drag between the until you see 2 overlapping circles click to clip the layer.

Select the Move Tool and and Turn off Auto select.

Move the clipped image to the desired location.

Make sure you select the background layer if you haven’t created one just do it now using the methods you learned above and double click on it to show the layer styles.

Click Gradient Overlay.

Click the Gradient to edit the settings.

Design a Gradient that you like and click OK to apply the settings .

Activate the Layer visibility for both Layers and select the top one.

Select Edit Free Transform Flip Horizontal.

Select The Move Tool and place both layers just like the image above.

Select Luminosity for both layers and lower the opacity a bit.

And that’s it thanks for going through a really long tutorial but this means that you guys have what it takes to become a Photoshop Master.