How to Create a Detailed MacBook Illustration in iDraw

What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed MacBook illustration in iDraw.
For starters you will learn how to set up a grid and how to create the shape that will make up the screen frame. We'll continue with the screen and you'll learn how to easily add an image inside your iDraw document.
Moving on, you will learn how to create the metallic side of your MacBook using basic blending and vector shape building techniques, several gradients, and a bunch of effects. Finally, you will learn how to add a subtle highlight for the screen.

1. Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid

For this tutorial we'll create a new 600 x 600 pixel document. Choose File > New (Command-N) to bring up the New Document pane. Select the Grid document style, set the document units to pixels, and set the document dimensions to 600 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.
Next, we'll set up the document grid. Switch to the Grid pane in the Properties pane. If the Properties pane is not currently visible, you can click on the orange ruler icon above the Layers pane to show and hide the pane. Change the grid X Spacing and Y Spacing to 5 px, set the Subdivisions to 0 px, and enable Snap to Grid (Command-Shift-').

2. Create the Screen and the Frame

Step 1

Focus on the Toolbar and you will notice that by default the fill color is set to white, while the stroke color is set to black. Click on the fill color well and replace the existing color with R=10 G=10 B=10. Next, click on the stroke color well and drag the Alpha slider to 0%, which will simply make the stroke invisible. Grab the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), focus on your Titlebar and drag the Corner Radius slider to 10 pt. Move to your canvas and create a 370 x 255 px shape.

Step 2

Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. If the Appearance pane is not currently visible, you can click on the blue icon above the Layers pane to show and hide the pane. Simply check the little box that stands for the existing Stroke to activate it. Drag the Width slider to 2 pt, select Outside from the Position drop-down menu, and click the color box that stands for your Stroke. Set the color code to R=130 G=132 B=134 and make sure that the Alpha slider is set to 100%.

Step 3

Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane, and add a second Stroke using the plus button located in the bottom left corner of your pane. Focus on this new Stroke, drag the Width slider to 1 pt, and select Outside from the Position drop-down menu. Then click on its color box and set the color code to R=40 G=40 B=40. Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected and make a copy in front (Command-C > Shift-Command-V). You'll need it in the final step.

Step 4

Return to your Toolbar, make sure that the Stroke is invisible, and set the Fill color to R=0 G=152 B=245. Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 340 x 215 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 5

For this step you will have to download the Yosemite sunset image. Make sure that your blue rectangle is still selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Keep your eyes on the existing Fill, select Image from the Type drop-down menu, and add the Yosemite image.

Step 6

Now, it's pretty clear that your image doesn't cover the entire rectangle where it lies. This little issue can be solved pretty quickly. Make sure that your rectangle is selected and return to the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Focus on the existing Fill, drag the Scale slider to 113%, and things should look like in the second image.

Step 7

Make sure that your image is still selected, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane, and activate the existing Stroke. Set the Width to 1 pt, select Inside from the Position drop-down menu, and then click the color box that stands for your Stroke. Drag the Alpha slider to 15% and set the color to black (R=0 G=0 B=0).

3. Create the First Metallic Side

Step 1

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 480 x 10 px shape and place it as shown in the following image. Select this new rectangle and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane.
First, make sure that the existing Stroke is invisible, and then focus on the Fill. Select Linear Gradient from the Type drop-down menu, set the Angle to 0 degrees, and then move to the gradient sliders. Select the left one and set its color to R=170 G=171 B=172, and then select the right one and set its color to R=184 G=185 B=186.
Now click on the gradient bar and you will get a new gradient slider. Select it, set the color to R=240 G=241 B=242, and drag it to the left until the Location tooltip shows 1%. Add another three sliders for this gradient, using the color and location attributes shown in the following image.

Step 2

Make sure that your newest rectangle is still selected, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane, and add a second Fill using that same plus button located in the bottom left corner of your pane. Focus on this new Fill, and select Soft Light from the Blend drop-down menu. Then click the color box that stands for your new Fill and make it black.

Step 3

Make sure that your newest rectangle is still selected, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane, and activate the existing Inner Shadow effect. Enter 1 in the Y box and 0 in the other two boxes, select Soft Light from the Blend Mode drop-down menu, and then click the color box that stands for this effect. Set the color to white (R=255 G=255 B=255) and drag the Alpha slider to 60%.

Step 4

Grab the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), focus on your Toolbar, and make sure that the Corner Radius is still set to 10 pt. Move to your canvas, create a 70 x 10 px shape, and place it exactly as shown in the following image.
Select this new shape and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. First, make sure that the existing Stroke is not visible, and then focus on the Fill. Select Linear Gradient from the Type drop-down menu, set the Angle to 0 degrees, and then move to the gradient sliders.
Select the left one and set its color to R=240 G=241 B=242. Then select the right one and se its color to R=130 G=131 B=132. Keep focusing on the gradient bar, add another two sliders for this gradient, and then use the color and location attributes shown in the following image.

Step 5

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 90 x 15 px shape and place it as shown in the first image (do not bother to change its color attributes). Select this new rectangle, along with the rounded rectangle made in the previous step. Focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Subtract button. In the end things should look like in the third image.

4. Create the Second Metallic Side and Add Subtle Shading

Step 1

Focus on your Toolbar, make sure that the Stroke is invisible, and add a random blue for the Fill. Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 40 x 10 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the first image.
Get back to your Toolbar and replace the existing Fill color with a simple black. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 20 x 5 px shape and place it as shown in the second image.
Reselect both shapes made in this step, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane, and click the Intersect button. In the end your blue shape should look like in the third image.

Step 2

Make sure that your blue shape is still selected and duplicate it (Command-C > Command-V). Select this copy, drag it to the right, and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Then go to Modify > Rotate and Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Step 3

Return to your Toolbar, make sure that the Stroke is still invisible, and then add a simple yellow for the Fill. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 440 x 5 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new rectangle along with both blue shapes, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane, and click the Union button. In the end your blue shape should look like in the third image.

Step 4

Make sure that your blue shape is selected and make a copy in front (Command-C > Shift-Command-V). Select this copy, drag it 5px down, and then flip it vertically using Modify > Rotate and Transform > Flip Vertical.

Step 5

Make sure that your flipped, blue shape stays selected, and move to the Effects section from the Appearance pane. First, drag the Opacity slider to 25%. Move to the existing Fill, select Linear Gradient from the Type drop-down menu, and set the Angle to 90 degrees. Then move to the gradient sliders. Select the left one and set its color to black, and then select the right one and add the same color, but drag the Alpha slider to 0%.

Step 6

Focus on your Toolbar, make sure that the Stroke is invisible, and then set the Fill color to black. Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), create a 450 x 5 px shape and place it as shown in the first image.
Make sure that this new rounded rectangle stays selected, and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Simply disable the Fill and activate the existing Drop Shadow effect, entering the attributes shown in the following image. Finally, make sure that this shape is still selected and hit Shift-Command-[ to send it to the back.

Step 7

Reselect your blue shape and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Select the existing Fill and simply replace the existing color with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 8

Make sure that the shape edited in the previous step is still selected, and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

5. Add a Subtle Highlight

Step 1

Return to your Toolbar, make sure that the Stroke is invisible, and then add a simple blue for the Fill. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 250 x 255px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Switch to the Path Selection Tool (A) and focus on the top side of this new rectangle. Select the left anchor point and simply drag it 150 px to the right. In the end your blue shape should look like in the second image.

Step 2

Reselect your blue shape along with the copy of that dark, rounded rectangle, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane, and click the Intersect button. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane.
First, drag the Opacity slider to 20% and disable the existing Strokes. Next, select the Fill and replace the existing color with the linear gradient shown in the following image. Finally, go to the Layers pane, make sure that the shape made in this step is still selected, and drag it below the shapes that make up the metallic side of your Macbook.

Congratulations! You're Done!

Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.

Read More

How to Create a Map Icon Using Adobe Photoshop

What You'll Be Creating

You don't have to use 3D software just to create a simple three-dimensional icon. Photoshop can do that too using some simple tricks with gradient color, highlight, and shadow. Here, we are going to use these tricks to draw a map icon. Let's get started!

1. Drawing a Map

Step 1

To draw the paper, start by simply drawing its points using the Pen Tool.

You need to click the first point to close the shape and create a perfect paper shape. Make sure to keep the paper shape matching its perspective.

Step 2

Open Google Maps and then capture one of its maps. Place it on top of the canvas.

Step 3

We folded the paper three times, and we want to place a piece of the map on each paper segment. So duplicate the map three times by hitting Control-J three times. Hit Control-T to perform a transformation.

Step 4

Hold Control and then drag each corner independently until we have the map matching the paper perspective.

Step 5

Hide the map. Control-click the paper to make a new selection marquee based on the paper's shape.

Step 6

Activate the Lasso Tool. Hold Alt to subtract the previous selection. Click a few times to remove the second and third segments of the paper from selection.

Make sure the map layer is revealed.

Step 7

Add a Layer mask into the layer by clicking on the Add layer mask icon.

Step 8

Keep repeating the steps—that is transforming the map, selecting a segment of the paper, and then adding the layer mask—to the next paper segment.

Step 9

When you have the paper covered with map, select the map layer and click Control-Alt-G to convert it into a Clipping Mask. Do this to each map layer. Every pixel you paint inside these maps will be contained inside the paper.

Step 10

We are now going to add a border to the paper. Remember that we put the paper in perspective. The basic principle is the closer the stroke, the bigger it is for us. Control-click the paper layer to make a new selection based on its shape. Activate the Lasso Tool and then set its mode to Subtract from the Option Bar. Click inside the selection.

Step 11

Make a new layer and then fill the selection with white.

Step 12

Make a new layer and convert it to a Clipping Mask. Activate the Brush Tool with low Opacity, 5%. Paint black on the paper's edge.

Step 13

Control-click the paper shape to make a new selection based on its shape. Click Edit > Stroke. Set its Color to Black with Size 1 px and Location: Inside.

Step 14

Reduce the stroke layer Opacity to 10%.

Step 15

Control-click the first part of the map paper. Make a new layer on top and then paint black on its right side. Reduce its layer Opacity to 30% and set its Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 16

Repeat this process on the next part of the paper.

2. Map Shadow

Step 1

Using the Lasso Tool, make a new polygonal selection behind the paper. Fill it with a linear gradient from black to transparent black.

Step 2

Soften it by applying a Gaussian Blur filter. This is going to be used as the paper's shadow on the floor.

Step 3

Reduce its layer Opacity to 10% to keep the shadow subtle.

Step 4

Make another polygonal selection behind the last part of the paper. Fill the selection with black.

Step 5

Soften it using a Gaussian Blur filter.

Step 6

Add a layer mask into the layer. Set the foreground color to black. Paint the unneeded part of the shadow using the Brush Tool to hide it.

Step 7

Let's keep adding another shadow to make it appear more realistic. Create a new selection using the Lasso Tool and paint black inside it.

Step 8

Remove the selection using the shortcut Control-D and then apply Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) to soften the shadow.

Step 9

Reduce the shadow's Opacity to 30% to keep it subtle.

Step 10

We still need to add more shadow behind the paper. Add a new layer above the shadow and then paint it black using a low Opacity Brush Tool.

Step 11

As you can see below, some of the shadow is leaking outside the paper. It's easy to fix this.

Step 12

Just activate the Eraser Tool and then delete those unneeded pixels.

Step 13

Reduce the layer shadow's Opacity to 20%.

2. Drawing a Map Icon

Step 1

Start by drawing a circle shape. Activate the Elliptical Shape Tool. For its color, I select pink (#d27eee). Feel free to choose any other color you like. Shift-click-drag to create a new circular shape.

Step 2

Duplicate the circular shape by selecting it using the Path Selection Tool, and then hit Control-C, Control-V. Hit Control-T to perform a transformation and then drag its corner inward to make it smaller.

Step 3

To get a doughnut shape, make sure you set its path mode to Subtract Front Shape.

Step 4

Activate the Direct Selection Tool. This tool allows you to select the shape point individually. Select the lowest point and then move it down vertically by hitting the Down Arrow key a few times. You may also find a warning from Photoshop informing you that you will turn the shape into a regular shape. If you do, just confirm it.

Step 5

Activate the Convert Point Tool and then click the point.

Step 6

So far, this is the icon we have.

Step 7

Double-click the shape layer and then apply the layer style Inner Shadow and Gradient Overlay with the following settings.

Step 8

Duplicate the shape by clicking Control-J. Hit Control-T and then pull its top handle downward to make it shorter.

Step 9

Double-click the shape on the rear part of the icon. Apply this setting to its Gradient Overlay and deactivate its Inner Shadow.

Step 10

This is the result we have. The inner side of the icon is now darker. We still need to manually fix its shadow and highlight to make it appear more realistic.

Step 11

Control-click the rear side shape to make a new selection based on its shape. Click Edit > Stroke. Set its Width to 1 px and select #faedff for its color. I chose a bright pink color because the icon color is pink. You may want to choose a different color depending on your icon.

Step 12

Click Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur with a small radius to soften the stroke line. Now, we have a very soft stroke line on the shape's edge. This will become the shape's highlight.

Step 13

Add another stroke line to the icon's front face. Control-click the shape and then apply the Stroke command.

Step 14

Soften the stroke line by applying a Gaussian Blur filter.

Step 15

Add a layer mask to the layer. Hit D then Control-Delete to fill the layer mask with black. The thin highlight line will be hidden. Activate the Brush Tool and then paint white to reveal some of the highlight line.

Step 16

Use the Lasso Tool to manually make a selection on the lower part of the icon.

Step 17

Make a new layer. Fill the selection with black and then apply Gaussian Blur.

Step 18

Reduce its Opacity to 20%.

Step 19

Make a new layer and then paint black on the lower part of the icon and some parts of its edges.

Step 20

Reduce its layer Opacity.

4. Creating the Icon's Shadow on the Map

Step 1

Let's start drawing the icon's shadow. We will perform lots of manual drawing here. Activate the Brush Tool and then paint black right on the place where the tip of the icon touches the map.

Step 2

Control-click the front face of the icon. Right-click and then select Transform Selection.

Step 3

Hold Control and then drag the transformation handle until the selection lies on the map. Make sure it matches the map's perspective.

Step 4

Make a new layer and then fill it with #652b78. Soften this shadow by adding a Gaussian Blur filter.

Step 5

Add a layer mask to the shadow and then fill it with black. Paint with white to reveal some of the shadow.

5. Background

Step 1

Make a new layer for the background. Fill it with a subtle gradient from gray to a darker gray.

Step 2

Add a Solid Color adjustment layer with a blue color and then reduce its Opacity.

Conclusion

I hope you learned some new techniques from this tutorial. As you can see here, drawing a three-dimensional object from a simple shape in Photoshop is quite easy. Just make sure you add proper lighting, with subtle highlights and shadows.

Read More