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| If you've found an error in this tutorial (or elsewhere on the site) or you feel that something's not quite right with it, I'd like to know so I can address it. Send me the details. When writing, please include the tutorial name and where you believe the error lies. Thanks. |
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| Illustrator Spotlight |
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| Heidi Schmidt Illustration |
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| According to Heidi Schmidt, a talented digital illustrator making her living in California, "Any time is a good time to illustrate." For those of us with a passion for Illustrator and illustration, we could not agree more. Aside from dispensing good advice, Heidi also produces some colorful and detailed work. There's a hint or two of realism in her work that makes you take a second look. Be sure to check out the fantastic looking patterns she's also found time to whip up! |
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| Learn Illustrator |
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01 | Create Contrast
Since Illustrator's Artboard is white, use the Rectangle Tool to create a light gray rectangle (Color values: R:204 G:204 B:204) with no stroke color that fits the dimensions of the Artboard. Make aligning shapes easier, by turning on Smart Guides (Window > Smart Guides) then click-and-drag out your rectangle. Name this layer BACKGROUND, lock it and create a new one above it. Name the new layer INCISIONS.
02 | Draw Rectangles
On the new layer, select the Rectangle Tool and click once on the Artboard to display the tool's options. Enter 300 for Width and 100 for Height and click OK. Fill this rectangle with white and set the stroke color to none.
Create two 300 W x 10 H black rectangles (no stroke color). The black fill provides contrast with the initial white rectangle. Use your Smart Guides to align the corners of each black rectangle with the white rectangle so the result is the same as the image below.
03 | Apply Gradient Fills
Select the top black rectangle and apply a linear gradient fill. From top to bottom, this gradient needs to progress from the gray background color (from Step 1) to a darker gray. Use the following angle and color values.
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 Quick Tip: New to Illustrator? To apply a gradient to the black rectangle, select it first, then click the Fill box in the toolbox so it's in front of the Stroke box. Next, click the small Gradient box below (the middle box) to fill with a gradient. |
The bottom black rectangle also uses a gradient fill but note the different angle and color values.
For those of you unfamiliar with adjusting colors in the Gradient palette, double-click a color well (  ) beneath the gradient ramp to display the Color palette. Choose RGB from the Color palette's option menu to enter RGB values.
Select the bottom rectangle and press the Down-Arrow key twice. Note the small gap that appears between the middle and bottom rectangle. This provides a bit more definition between the top objects.
04 | Modify Gradient Rectangles
Use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow) to select the anchor point on the top-left corner. Press the Left-Arrow key 5 times. Repeat this process on the anchor point in the top-right corner but use the Right-Arrow key (5 times) instead.
Adjust the bottom-left and bottom-right anchor points on the bottom rectangle in the same way.
When complete, your example should look like the image below. Throw some confetti in the air to celebrate your accomplishment.
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Use this technique in combination with Macromedia Flash to create visually interesting input boxes.
