This Adobe Illustrator tutorial you help you to learn how to create a semi-realistic oil barrel illustration. So lets start, firstly we’ll use several rectangles in addition with some professional pixel perfect vector shape building techniques to create the initial shapes. After that, we’ll break some of the initial shapes apart as needed using some Pathfinder tools.
Next we’ll use some warp effects to add a 3D look to the oil barrel. Lastly, we’ll add texture using a simple radial gradient and some simple blending techniques and a Sponge effect. The color which we”ll use for the oil barrel is easily editable so it won’t be difficult for you to use the colors of your choice.
Final Image
This is the final image that we’ll be creating:
Step 1
Create a new document. Which is 600 in the width and height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and remember that the “Align New Objects to Pixel Grid” box is unchecked before your click OK. Then, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid).After that, you’ll need a grid every 5px.Follow the path Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 1 in the Subdivisions box and 5 in the Gridline every box .
Step 2
Take the Rectangle Tool(M) to create eight 130 by 225px shapes. Apply the linear gradient shown below then make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). The white numbers from the gradient image stand for location percentage.
Step 3,
One more time, use the Rectangle Tool(M) and create four, 140 by 5px shapes. Fill them with red, and place them as shown in the following picture.. Select all four rectangles and turn them into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make).
Step 4
Now select the compound path created in the previous step along with the copy of the rectangle created in the previous step, then open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Move to the Layers panel and you will get a group with 3 simple rectangles. Ungroup them (Shift + Control + G), fill them with white then copy them (Control + C > Control + F).
Step 5
Take the Ellipse Tool(L), create 2, 180 by 65px shapes and a 180 by 75px shape. Fill them with any of random color and place them as shown in the following image. Then, the Snap to Grid will ease your work.
Step 6
Focus on first shape that is in the previous step. Select it with the copy of the top, white rectangle and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Move to the Layers panel and you will find a group with four new shapes. Select the 2, left shapes and decrease their opacity to 35% then select the other two shapes and decrease their opacity to 15%. Finally, fill them with the linear gradient shown below. The yellow zero from the gradient image stands for opacity percentage.
Step 7
Move to the other two shapesthat is in the fifth step and repeat the techniques of the previous step.
Step 8
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 top to the white rectangle, select it and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px to the left. Again select both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=35 G=31 B=32.
Step 9
Again select the top, white rectangle and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px to the right. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=35 G=31 B=32.
Step 10
Again select the top, white rectangle and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2px to the right. Again select both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=78 G=78 B=78.
Step 11
Move down to the other two white rectangles and repeat the techniques mentioned in the last 3 steps.
Step 12
Focus on the top, white rectangle, select it 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 with black and lower its opacity to 35%.
Step 13
Reselect the top, white rectangle and make two new 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 black and lower its opacity to 5%.
Step 14
Reselect the top, white rectangle and make two new copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 5px down. 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 5%.
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Step 15
Reselect the top, white rectangle 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 black and lower its opacity to 15%.
Step 16
Reselect the top, white rectangle and make two new 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 black and lower its opacity to 5%.
Step 17
Reselect the top, white rectangle and make only one copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select it and move it 5px down. Select this copy along with the original white shape and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with black and lower its opacity to 5%.
Step 18
Move to the other two white rectangles and repeat the techniques mentioned in the last six steps.
