Doing anything in Adobe Illustrator really does take two times longer as it can be a little tricky to get your hands around. Because of more steps, hidden features, and a long list of tools it is really strange at first hand.
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a cool egg box using simple tools, some techniques and effects like the Pathfinder, Align, Blend, Drop Shadow, Grain, Gaussian Blur… etc. in Adobe Illustrator. Let’s start!
Final Result
Let’s see what you will be creating in this tutorial.
Create the Egg Box in Illustrator
1. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) from the Tool palette and then use this tool to create two objects (430px by 290px) and (510px by 222px).
2. Place two newly created rectangles to the correct positions as shown below. Next reselect two rectangles, open the Align palette (Window/ Align) and then click on the Horizontal Align Center button.
3. Select the green object and then move it 8px down.
4. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) from the Tool palette. Next use this tool to select and then move anchor points highlighted as shown below.
5. At this time two your objects should look like the image shown.
6. Now select the green object and go to the Effect/ Stylize/ Round Corners…Enter a 45px Radius and then click OK. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Expand Appearance.
7. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -12px Offset and then click OK.
8. Reselect the newly created object, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) from the Tool palette and then add two anchor points highlighted with blue. Next switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), select and remove five anchor points highlighted with red.
9. In the end your object should look roughly like the image shown.
10. Keep the result selected, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and then use this tool to add an anchor point highlighted with blue. Next move the newly created anchor point 35px to the right.
11. Keep the newly created anchor point selected and then click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button from the Properties bar. Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and adjust anchor points to get the result as shown in the second image below.
12. Show the Rulers (View/ View Rulers /Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R). Next drag a vertical guide from the Rulers (if the guides locked, go to the View/ Guides/ Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Now select the blue object, hold down the Shift, click on the vertical guide, release the Shift and then click on the blue object again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button. Now select the newly created object, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and then click Copy.
13. Select two newly created objects, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and click on the Unite button.
14. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and then use this tool to create a 97px by 198px object. Next place the rectangle to the correct position as shown below.
15. Select and move the left-top anchor point of the newly created rectangle 17px to the right.
16. Reselect the newly created object, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and then click Copy.
17. Reselect and lock (Ctrl +2) two newly created objects. Next select the green smaller object and add three anchor points highlighted with red. Next select the right newly created anchor point and the left newly created anchor point and then move them 15px down.
18. Reselect three newly created anchor points and then click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button from the Properties bar. Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and adjust the handles of three newly created anchor points to get the result as shown below.
19. Next reselect the green smaller object and add three anchor points highlighted with red. Next select the right newly created anchor point and the left newly created anchor point and then move them 20px up.
20. Unlock (Ctrl +Alt +2) and remove two yellow objects. Now reselect three newly created anchor points and then click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button from the Properties bar. Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and adjust the handles of three newly created anchor points to get the result as shown below.
21. Now select the smaller green object again, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it once time and then hide the copy (Ctrl +3). Next select two green objects and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.
22. Keep the result selected, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add four anchor points highlighted with yellow. Next reselect four newly created anchor points and then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” button from the Properties bar. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Expand…Click OK when the Expand dialog box appear.
23. Now we have four paths from the result in the previous step. We’ll connect two top paths together. First select and lock (Ctrl +2) two bottom paths. Next select two anchor points highlighted with red of two top paths and then click on the “Connect selected end points” button from the Properties bar. Next select two anchor points highlighted with blue and then click on the “Connect selected end points” button.
24. Now we’ll connect two bottom paths together. First unlock (Ctrl +Alt +2) two bottom paths locked in the previous step. Next select two anchor points highlighted with red of two bottom paths and then click on the “Connect selected end points” button from the Properties bar. Next select two anchor points highlighted with blue and then click on the “Connect selected end points” button.
25. Fill two newly created objects with the linear gradient.
26. Reselect and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) two newly created objects. While the results selected, go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK.
27. Keep the results selected, open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
28. Keep the results selected, go to the Effect/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur…Enter a 1 pixel Radius and then click OK.
29. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the object hidden in the previous step. Next fill it with the linear gradient.
30. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Transform Each…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy.
31. Replace the existing color of the copy with new linear gradient. Next select two newly filled objects, duplicate them once time and then hide the copy.
32. Reselect two newly filled objects and go to the Object/ Blend/ Blend Options…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Blend/ Make (Ctrl +Alt +B).
33. Send the result to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).
34. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show two objects hidden in the previous step.
35. While these objects selected, click on the Minus Back button from the Pathfinder palette.
36. Replace the existing color of the result with R=110, G=118, B=77. Next reselect the result, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy.
37. Pick the Pen Tool (P) from the Tool palette and then use this tool to created an object as shown below. Next fill this object with R=61, G=65, B=45.
38. Reselect two newly created objects and go to the Object/ Blend/ Blend Options…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Blend/ Make (Ctrl +Alt +B).
39. Show the object hidden in the previous step, bring it to front (Ctrl +Right Square Bracket) and then replace the existing color of it with R=141, G=150, B=105.
40. Keep the result selected, go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Effect/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur…Enter a 1 pixel Radius and then click OK. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
41. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 36 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown below.
42. Now select the objects blended in the step 32 and then duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) them once time. While the copy selected, go to the Object/ Blend/ Release (Ctrl +Shift +Alt +B).
43. Select the bigger object and replace the existing color of it with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
44. Select the smaller object, replace the existing color of it with the new linear gradient. Next go to the Effect/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur…Enter a 8 pixels Radius and then click OK.
45. While the result selected, duplicate it once time. Next replace the existing color of the copy with R=222, G=224, B=215. Next go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Keep the result selected, open the Appearance palette (Window/ Appearance), click on the Gaussian Blur section and enter a 2 pixels Radius and then click OK. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
46. Create curves and then set the data for them as shown in the images below.
47. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and then use this tool to create objects like you see in the images below.
48. Select two newly created objects, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and then click Copy.
49. In the end your artwork should look roughly like the image below. Now select two yellow newly created objects and the red newly created object and then duplicate them once time. Next hide the copies (Ctrl +3).
50. Fill newly created objects as shown in the images below.
51. Now select two center newly filled objects and then blend them as shown below.
52. Repeat the same techniques for two right newly filled objects and two left newly filled objects. In the end your artwork should look like the image shown.
53. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to shown three objects hidden in the previous step. Next bring them to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
54. While three objects selected, click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.
55. Create a curve as shown below.
56. Reselect the yellow object and then set the data for it as shown below.
57. Reselect the blue curve and then set the data for it as shown below.
58. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) from the Tool palette. Next use this tool to create a 48px by 30px object.
59. Fill the newly created ellipse with the radial gradient.
60. While the result selected, duplicate it once time and then replace the existing color of the copy with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next add the Grain effect for the newly created ellipse. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
61. Create a curve and then set the data for it as shown in the images below.
62. Select and group (Ctrl +G) three newly created objects. Next duplicate this group once time and then move the copy to the correct position as shown below.
63. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 47 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as you see in the second image below.
64. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and then use this tool to create a 56px by 38px object. Next fill the ellipse with R=65, G=70, B=46.
65. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 95 in the Scale box and then click Copy. Replace the existing color of the copy with R=108, G=115, B=79.
66. Add the Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created object.
67. Keep the result selected, duplicate it once time, remove the Gaussian Blur effect of the copy and then replace the existing color of it with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown in the second image and then click OK.
68. While the result selected, go to the Transparency palette, select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
69. Select and group (Ctrl +G) three newly created objects. Next place this group to the correct position as shown below. Finally press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the image below.
70. Reselect the newly created group, duplicate it once time and then move the copy to the position as shown below. Next double click on the newly created group, select the object behind the Grain effect object and replace the existing color of it with R=83, G=89, B=62. Finally double click on the anywhere outside of the group just edited.
71. Now reselect the newly edited group, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and then click Copy.
72. Select three newly created groups, duplicate them once time and then move the copies to the positions as shown in the second image.
73. Create an object as shown in the first image and then fill it with R=131, G=141, B=91.
74. Reselect the result, duplicate it once time and then replace the existing color of the copy with R=141, G=150, B=105. While the copy selected, go to Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next open the Transparency palette, select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
75. Continue create an object as shown in the first image and then fill it with R=98, G=105, B=69.
76. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -3px Offset and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the newly created object with the linear gradient.
77. Reselect the result, duplicate it once time and then replace the existing color of the copy with R=141, G=150, B=105. While the copy selected, go to Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next open the Transparency palette, select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
78. Continue create an object as shown in the first image and then fill it with the linear gradient.
79. Reselect the result, duplicate it once time and then replace the existing color of the copy with R=141, G=150, B=105. While the copy selected, go to Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next open the Transparency palette, select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
80. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 75 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the second image.
81. At this time your artwork should look roughly like the image below.
82. Now select the blue object and go to the Effect/ Stylize/ Round Corners…Enter a 57 in the Radius box and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Expand Appearance.
83. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -10px Offset and then click OK.
84. Keep the result selected, add an anchor point highlighted with yellow. Next move this anchor point 32px to the left. While the anchor point selected, click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button from the Properties bar. Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the newly created anchor point to get the result as shown in the second image.
85. Reselect the newly created object, add two anchor points highlighted with yellow. Next select and remove anchor points highlighted with red.
86. Reselect the newly created object, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and then click Copy.
87. Select two newly created objects and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.
88. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Transform Each…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy.
89. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create two 25px by 15px objects. Next place two rectangles to the correct positions as shown below.
90. Now select the medium object (created in the step 86 ), duplicate it once time and then hide the copy (Ctrl +3). Next reselect the medium object and the biggest object and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.
91. Fill the result with the linear gradient.
92. While the result selected, duplicate it once time and then replace the existing color of the copy with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next add the Grain effect for the newly created ellipse. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
93. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the object hidden in the previous step. Next select two big blue objects, duplicate them once time and then hide the copies. Reselect two big blue objects again and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.
94. While the result selected, hold down the Shift, click on two rectangles and then click on the Minus Front button.
95. Fill the result with the linear gradient.
96. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a 2px Offset and then click OK.
97. Replace the existing color of the newly created object with new linear gradient.
98. Send the result backward (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket).
99. Reselect the object created in the step 95 and duplicate it once time. While the copy selected, replace the existing color of it with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next add the Grain effect for the newly filled object. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
100. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show two objects hidden in the previous step. Next bring these objects to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
101. Select the bigger object and then set the data for it as shown below.
102. Select the remaining object, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy. Next reselect the blue object and add eight anchor points highlighted with red.
103. Reselect eight newly created anchor points and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” button from the Properties bar. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Expand…Click OK when the Expand dialog box appear. Next select and remove objects highlighted with yellow.
104. Reselect four newly created objects and then set the data for them as shown below.
105. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the blue object hidden in the previous step. Keep the blue object selected, add six anchor points highlighted with red and yellow. Next reselect two anchor points highlighted with yellow, click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button and then move them 5px down.
106. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the handles of two anchor points just moved to get the result as shown below.
107. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 460px by 64px object. Next reselect the red rectangle and the blue object, duplicate them once time and then hide the copies (Ctrl +3). Now select the blue object, hold down the Shift, click on the red rectangle, release the Shift, click on the blue object again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.
108. While two objects selected, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Next go to the Object/ Ungroup (Ctrl +Shift +G).
109. Fill the top object with R=139, G=145, B=113. Next fill the bottom object with R=110, G=118, B=77. Finally reselect two newly filled objects and then duplicate them once time.
110. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show two objects hidden in the previous step. Next select the blue object and then hide it again. Reselect the red rectangle, click on the Transform section from the Properties bar. In the pop-up menu, enter a 70 in the H value box.
111. Select the red rectangle and duplicate it once time. While the copy selected, hold down the Shift, click on the top object created in the step 109 and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.
112. Replace the existing color of the result with the radial gradient.
113. Select the remaining rectangle and the bottom object created in the step 109 and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.
114. Replace the existing color of the result with the radial gradient.
115. Reselect two newly created objects and then duplicate them once time. While the copies selected, replace the existing color of them with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next add the Grain effect for them. Next open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box. Finally select all objects created from beginning step 109 to this time and then send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).
116. Create a 490px by 28px rectangle.
117. Select the object created in the step 101, hold down the Shift, click on the yellow rectangle, release the Shift and click on the object created in the step 101 again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.
118. Pick the Polygon Tool from the Tool palette and click on the document. In the Polygon dialog box, enter a 40 in the Radius and enter a 6 in the Sides and then click OK. Next pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and use this tool to create a 50px by 50px object.
119. Reselect two newly created objects, open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.
120. Select and group (Ctrl +G) two newly created objects. Next go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter a 148 in the Horizontal and then click Copy.
121. Select and group (Ctrl +G) two newly created groups. While the newly created group selected, hold down the Shift, click on the yellow rectangle, release the Shift and click on the yellow rectangle again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Finally reselect the newly created group and then press (Ctrl +Shift +G) twice times to ungroup.
122. Select the yellow rectangle and go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -4px Offset and then click OK. While the newly created object selected, move it 1px up.
123. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the blue object hidden in the previous step. While the blue object selected, duplicate it once time.
124. Select a blue object and the bigger rectangle and then click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder palette.
125. Select the remaining blue object and the smaller rectangle and then click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder palette.
126. Now select two newly created objects and two polygons and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.
127. Fill the result with the linear gradient. Next reselect the newly filled object, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy.
128. Select the object created in the step 125 and then fill it with R=164, G=171, B=135.
129. Reselect two newly filled objects and go to the Object/ Blend/ Blend Options…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Blend/ Make (Ctrl +Alt +B).
130. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the object hidden in the previous step. Bring this object forward (Ctrl +Right Square Bracket), replace the existing color of it with R=141, G=150, B=105. While the result selected, add the Grain effect for it. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and then enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
131. Fill two yellow ellipses with the radial gradient.
132. Reselect two newly filled ellipses and duplicate them once time. While the copies selected, reset the data of them as shown below.
133. Reselect two newly created ellipses and then duplicate them once time. While the copies selected, remove the Gaussian Blur effect, replace the existing color of them with R=141, G=150, B=105. Next add the Grain effect for them. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Hard Light in the Blending Mode and enter a 60 in the Opacity box.
134. Create objects and then set the data for them as shown in the images below.
135. At this time your artwork should look roughly like the image below.
Create Eggs
136. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 120px by 138px object.
137. Fill the newly created ellipse with the radial gradient.
138. Reselect the result and duplicate it once time. Keep the copy selected and then add the Grain effect for it. Next lowered the Opacity of the result to 40%.
139. Select and group (Ctrl +G) two newly created objects. Name this group “egg”. Next duplicate the “egg” group once time. Finally place these groups to the positions as shown below.
140. Reselect two “egg” groups and then press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown below.
141. Reselect the left “egg” group and go to the Effect/ Stylize/ Drop Shadow…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK.
142. Select the right “egg” group and then also add the Drop Shadow effect for it.
143. Press (Ctrl +Shift +3) to show the “egg” group hidden in the previous step. While the group selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 105 in the Scale box and then click OK.
144. Rotate this “egg” group an angle of about -15 degrees.
145. Place the “egg” group to the position as shown below. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the second image. Finally also add the Drop Shadow effect for this group.
146. In the end your artwork should look like the image shown. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 1 to this time.
Create the Background and the Shadow for the Egg Box.
147. Now we’ll create the background and the shadow for the egg box. First create a 740px by 744px rectangle and then fill it with the radial gradient.
148. Place the “egg box” group to the position as shown below.
149. Create three 60px by 26px ellipses and then place them to the positions as shown below.
150. Fill three newly created ellipses with R=0, G=10, B=0. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for these ellipses. Finally send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).
151. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an object as shown below.
152. Fill the newly created object with R=0, G=0, B=0. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for this object and then lowered its Opacity to 30%. Finally send the result to back.
The final image is below.
Final Result
Here’s the final result. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson. I hope you’ve discovered some useful things in this tutorial. The final result image is below. Enjoy!
Conclusion
As difficult as it looks I’m very sure if you follow my tutorial you will find a lot of help using your skills and images to produce your own creation! Ones again Thank you for using our tutorial, we will be very happy to answer any questions that you may have, You can simply leave a feedback and or a comment bellow.
Download Result Source Files
- Download .ai Source File (.zip, 17.60 MB)
