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Illustrator tutorial: Taxi car

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed illustration of a taxi car in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be using several tools and basic vector shape building techniques to create the main shapes. Next we’ll adding semi-realistic highlights and shadows to our car to make it more glossy and three-dimensional. Let’s get started!

Create a New document

  1. Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 120 in the width box and 600 in the height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.

Make the Base of the Taxi Car

2. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 1080 by 254px rectangle. Next with the Pen Tool (P), create a black object like you see in the second image. Now focus on the third image, pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), then click on the anchor point highlighted with blue of the black object, hold mouse and drag it to the left and down. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the anchor point highlighted with red, hold mouse and drag it to the left and up. Continue click on the anchor point highlighted with magenta, hold mouse and drag it to the left and up. Make sure that the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C) is still active, click on the left handle of the anchor point highlighted with magenta, hold mouse and drag it up.

3. Now, follow the sequence of images and repeat the same techniques as the step 2 to adjust the handles of the remaining anchor points of the black object. In the end your object should look roughly like the third image. After you are done adjusting the shape of the black object, select and remove the red rectangle created in the step 2.

taxi-car-drawing 4. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create two red objects like you see in the first image. Once your objects are drawn, reselect them and the black object created in the step 3. Then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front Still having the resulting object selected, remove its stroke and fill this object with strong orange (# cc8720).

Make the Windows, the Windshield and the Doors

5. With the Pen Tool (P), create two objects like you see in the first and the second images. Reselect the black object created in this step and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the red object. Then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Still the resulting group selected, press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Next replace the existing stroke color of the two newly created objects with blue. Keep these two blue objects selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them. Having the copies selected, hold down the Shift and click on the strong orange shape created in the step 4. Then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette. Finally send the resulting shape to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

6. Select the two blue objects created in the step 5 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -5px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the copies with red. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the right anchor points of the right red object, then move them a bit to the left as shown in the second image. Now select the two red objects and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them. Reselect the copy of the right red object and the right blue object. Open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Finally select the copy of the left red object and the left blue object, then click on the Minus Front button.

illustrator-tutorial-taxi-car

7. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a magenta object like you see in the first image. Once your object is drawn, reselect it and the left blue object, then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette. Now select the two blue objects and hide them behind the two red objects.

8. Select the two blue objects, replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish violet (# 414042) and then fill it with very dark red (# 2d292a). Now select the two red objects, replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20) and then fill it with very dark grayish violet (# 414042). Keep the resulting shapes selected, change the Blending Mode to Multiply and reduce their Opacity to 60%. Next reselect the left shape you just filled and go to the Effect > Artistic > Plastic Wrap… Follow the data like you see in the last image and click OK.

9. Select the black object created in the step 5 and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep this object selected, replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20) and change the stroke weight to 4px. Still having the resulting object selected, open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), click on the Add New Stroke button (at the left-bottom corner of the Appearance palette). This will add a second stroke for your object. Fill it with dark grayish blue (# 778296) and change the stroke weight to 2px. Now pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a dark blue shape (# 5a6986) like you see in the last two images. Finally hide this shape behind the object you just added stroke in this step.

10. We will continue with the front and back windows. With the Pen Tool (P) create two dark grayish blue shapes (# 63707d) as shown in the first and the second images. Reselect the two newly created shapes and then reduce their Opacity to 70%.

11. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. Keep this group selected and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Enter a 90% in the Scale box and click Copy. Now pick the Selection Tool (V) and double click on the newly created group. Select the three objects as shown in the third image and remove them. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the group just edited.

12. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and click on the biggest shape of the newly created group. Replace the existing fill color of this shape with black (# 000000). Next select the remaining shapes of this group, replace the existing fill color with black (# 000000) and replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20). Now reselect the group you just changed colors, then move it 14px up and 10px to the left. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select six anchor points highlighted with red of the biggest black shape and move them 8px down. Finally reselect the group you just edited in this step and send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). At this point your car should look like in the last image.

Make the Steering Wheel and Seats

13. We are going to create the steering wheel. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 15 by 63px ellipse. Rotate this ellipse an angle of about 32 degrees and then place it to the position as shown in the second image. Keep the newly created ellipse selected, change the stroke weight to 8px and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient across stroke. Finally hide the resulting ellipse behind the left window.

14. Next come the seats. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a green object as shown in the first image. Duplicate (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F) the object we have just created and move the copy to the right. Reselect these two objects, remove their strokes and then fill them with very dark red (# 231f20). Finally hide the newly created shapes behind the windows.

Create the Wheels

15. Before you continue, select the first group created in the step 11 and press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Reselect the biggest strong orange shape and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep this copy selected and go to the Object > Compound Path > Release. This make the compound path becomes three shapes. Select and remove the two smaller shapes. Now reselect the remaining shape, remove the fill color of it and then add a 3px red stroke. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the four anchor points highlighted with blue of the red object. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties bar. This make the object becomes four paths. Select the two paths as shown in the fourth image and remove them. Reselect the remaining two paths and replace the existing stroke color with very dark orange (# 352700). Then apply the Width Profile 3 for the resulting paths. Now with the Pen Tool (P), create two very dark green shapes (# 050800) like you see in the last two images. Finally send these shapes to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

16. It’s time to draw the wheels. Pick the Ellipse Tool (A) and create a 144 by 144px ellipse. Keep this ellipse selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -16px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with red. Still having the red ellipse selected and open the Offset Path dialog box again. Enter a -7px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with blue.

17. Select the blue ellipse created in the step 16 and make two copies (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep a copy of the blue ellipse selected, hold down the Shift and click on the black ellipse created in the step 16. Open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Still having the resulting compound path selected, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the radial gradient as shown in the second image. Next send the resulting compound path to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). Make sure that this shape is still selected and make a copy of it, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather… Enter a 9px Radius and click OK.

18. Select the remaining copy of the blue ellipse and the red ellipse created in the step 16. Then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Keep the resulting compound path selected, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Now select the blue ellipse created in the step 16 and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having this ellipse selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a 15px Offset and click OK. Change the stroke weight of the newly created ellipse to 1.5px and replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish blue (# 58595b). Then apply the Width Profile 2 for the resulting ellipse. Finally change the Blending Mode of this ellipse to Multiply and reduce the Opacity to 60%.

19. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a curved path, then place it at the top of the wheel. Before you continue, show the Rulers (View > View Rulers > Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R). Next drag a horizontal and vertical guide from the Rulers (if the guides locked, go to the View > Guides > Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Now select the blue ellipse created in the step 16, hold down the Shift, click on two newly created guides, release the Shift and then click on the blue ellipse 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 Now select the curved path created in this step, then pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 5 degrees Angle and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) until you will get the results as shown in the second image. Before you continue, press (Ctrl + ;) to hide the guides. Now reselect and group (Ctrl +G) all curved paths created in this step. Replace the existing stroke color of the newly created group with black (# 000000) and then apply the Width Profile 5 for the resulting group. Finally change the Blending Mode of this group to Hard Light and reduce the Opacity to 20%.

20. Select the blue ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -7px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with red. Reselect the blue and the red ellipses, then make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them. Keep the copies selected, open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front Remove the stroke color of the resulting compound path and fill this object with grayish blue (# c6c7c9). Then hide this compound path behind the red and the blue ellipses. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created compound path and then replace the existing fill color of the copy with black (# 000000). Move the black compound path 7px up and 3px to the right, then hide it behind the grayish blue compound path created in this step. Finally select the blue ellipse and replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20).

21. Select the red ellipse created in the step 20 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a 2px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with blue. Still having the blue ellipse selected and open the Offset Path dialog box again. Enter a 3px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with magenta. Focus on the second image, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), then click on the eight points highlighted with green of the blue and the magenta ellipses. Reselect these newly added anchor points and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties bar. This make two ellipses become eight curved paths. Select and remove four paths like you see in the third image. Now select the upper magenta curved path and replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting path. Reselect the lower magenta path, replace the existing stroke color with (# 414042) and apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting path. Likewise, repeat the same process for the two curved blue as shown in the last image.

22. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create 38 by 23px rectangle. Select and remove the top-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle. Next select the remaining top anchor point of this object and move it 19px to the left. Reselect the newly created triangles and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corner… Enter a 8px Radius and click OK, then go to the Object > Expand Appearance. Focus on the fourth image, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the point highlighted with red to add a new anchor point for the rounded triangles. Next select and remove the two anchor points highlighted with black. Finally, with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, extend the handles of the newly created anchor point as shown in the last image.

23. Press (Ctrl + ;) to show the guides. Next select the blue object created in the step 22 and place it to the position like you see in the first image. Make sure that the blue object is still selected, pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 72 degrees Angle and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) three times to get the results as shown in the second image. Before you continue, press (Ctrl + ;) to hide the guides. Now select all five blue objects and the red ellipse, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Remove the stroke of the compound path and then fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the last image.

24. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create 16 by 22px rectangle. Select and remove the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle. Next select the remaining bottom anchor point of this object and move it 8px to the left. Now pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the bottom anchor point, hold mouse and drag it to the right while holding Shift. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the top-left anchor point, hold mouse and drag it to the left and down. Make sure that the Convert Anchor Point Tool is still active, select the left handle of the top-left anchor point and drag it to the right and down. Continue do the same with the top-right anchor point to get the result like you see in the last image below.

25. Place the blue object created in the step 24 to the position as shown in the first image. Keep this object selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created object with red. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom anchor point of the red object and move it 2px up. Before you continue, press (Ctrl + ;) to show the guides. Now reselect the blue and the red objects, then pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 72 degrees Angle and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) three times to get the results as shown in the last image. Finally, press (Ctrl + ;) to hide the guides.

26. Select all five blue objects, remove their strokes and then fill these objects with dark grayish blue (# 8a8b8c). Next select the top red object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Continue select the two upper red objects, remove their strokes and fill these objects with grayish cyan (# d0d2d1). Now reselect the two remaining red objects, remove their strokes and then fill these objects with the linear gradient like you see in the next to last image. Finally pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two shapes like you see in the last image.

27. With the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 14 by 14px grayish yellow ellipse (# c2c2bf). Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created ellipse, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with very dark grayish orange (# 725c51). With the help of the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), add two new anchor points highlighted with magenta for the newly created ellipse. Next select the three anchor points highlighted with black of this ellipse and remove them. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) the two objects created in this step. Still having the newly created group selected, hold down the Shift, click on the compound path created in the step 23, then release the Shift and click on this compound path again (to fixed its position). Open the Align palette (Window > Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button, then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Reselect the newly created group and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the last image and click OK.

28. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 7 by 7px ellipse, then place it to the position like you see in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created ellipse and then fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the third image and click OK. Before you continue, press (Ctrl + ;) to show the guides. Now reselect the ellipse created in this step, then pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 72 degrees Angle and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) three times to get the results as shown in the last image. Finally, press (Ctrl + ;) to hide the guides.

29. With the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 60 by 60px very dark grayish orange ellipse (# 393428), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Keep this ellipse selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -2px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with brighter color (# 504a44). Still having the newly created ellipse selected and open the Offset Path dialog box again. Enter a -2px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with the radial gradient as shown in the next to last image. Now select the three ellipses created in this step and then send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 16 to this time. The wheel is ready and looks like in the last image.

30. Next come the second wheel. Select the wheel created in the step 29 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to the new position. Now with the Selection Tool (V), double click on the newly created wheel. Select the black compound path as shown in the first image, then move it 8px to the right. Then double click on the anywhere outside of the group just edited. Finally place the two wheels to the positions like you see in the last image.

31. We will continue with the remaining two wheels. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 132 by 132px black ellipse like you see in the first and the second images. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this ellipse, then place the copy on the other side of the car. Finally reselect the two ellipses created in this step and send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

32. Select the strong orange compound path and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Keep the resulting shape selected and apply a 5px Feather effect for it. Now pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 460 by 13px rectangle, then place it to the position as shown in the third image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 5px to the left. Remove the stroke of the newly created object and then fill it with very dark orange (# 292621).

Create the Side Mirror

33. We are going to create the side mirror. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes like you see in the images below. Once your shapes are drawn, reselect the smaller shape and apply a 2px Feather effect for it. Continue draw a curved path with the Pen Tool (P) like in the fifth image and give it a 1px very dark red stroke (# 231f20) for the moment. Then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting path.  To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding shadow on the side mirror. With the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape like you see in the two next-to-last images. Apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created shape, then hide it behind the side mirror.

34. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create four curved paths like you see in the images below. Once your paths are drawn, reselect them and replace the existing stroke colors with very dark orange (# 592f0d). Reselect the upper path and apply the Width Profile 2 for it. Next select the two left paths and change the stroke weight to 1.5px.

35. Next come the car door handles. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 48 by 10px very dark grayish yellow rectangle (# 403e36). With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the top-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 9px to the right. Reselect this shape and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK. Next pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 4 by 4px ellipse, then place it to the position like you see in the fourth image. Keep the newly created ellipse selected, replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20) and fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the fifth image. Finally select all objects created in this step and place them to the positions as shown in the last image.

36. Double-click on the Rounded Rectangle Tool from the Tool bar. In the Rounded Rectangle dialog box, enter the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Remove the stroke of the newly created rectangle and fill it with pure yellow (# ffc400), then place the resulting rectangle to the position as shown in the first image. Having the pure yellow rectangle selected, change the Blending Mode to Lighten and then hide the resulting rectangle behind the two objects created in the step 35. Now select the first shape created in the step 35 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the third image and click OK. Next select the pure yellow rectangle created in this step and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Still having this copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the shape with shadow effect applied in this step. Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu. Next hide the newly created clipping set behind the first shape created in the step 35. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 35 to this time. The car door handle is done! To create the second door handle, make a copy of the first door handle, then drag this copy to the right and place it as shown in the last image.

37. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 23 by 24px very dark red rectangle (# 231f20), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Reselect the newly created rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Move… Enter a -46px in the Horizontal box and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) eight times to get the results like you see in the second image. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all rectangles created in this step, then make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this group. Finally move the copy 24px up and 23px to the left.

38. Now pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 450 by 18px vivid orange rectangle (# ffb32c), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 11px to the left. Next select the bottom-left anchor point and move it 11px to the right. Reselect the resulting shape and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the fourth image and click OK. Now using the Line Segment Tool (\) create a horizontal line of length 450px, with a 2px bright orange stroke (# fac532) and no fill. Apply the Width Profile 3 for the resulting line, then place it to the position as shown in the next to last image. Keep working with the Line Segment Tool (\), create another horizontal line as shown in the last image.

39. At this point your car should look like in the next image:

Create the Gas Cap, the Rear Light and the Exhaust Pipe

40. First of all, we’ll create the gas cap. With the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 30 by 30px ellipse, then place it to the position like you see in the first image. Replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with very dark orange (# 3c2404) and fill it with vivid orange (# fda922). Then apply the Width Profile 2 for the resulting ellipse. Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create a soft orange shape (# fec586) as shown in the next to last image. Then apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created shape.

41. Next come the rear light. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a red object like you see in the first image. Once your object is drawn, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this object, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with blue. Now pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the point highlighted with green to add a new anchor point for the blue object. Next select the top anchor points of the blue object and remove them. Focus on the third image, pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C) and click on the two upper handles of the two anchor points highlighted with green. This will remove these handles (make them length zero). Now select the two objects created in this step, remove their strokes, then fill these objects with the radial gradients as shown in the last two images.

42. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 25 by 10px Make three copies of the newly created rectangle, then place them to the positions like you see in the first image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the shapes of the rectangles created in this step as shown in the second image. After you are done adjusting the shape of the rectangles, reselect them and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 2px Radius and click OK, then go to the Object > Expand Appearance. Now select the bigger shape created in the step 41 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the lower blue object. Open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect button. The resulting object should look like the fifth image below. Likewise, repeat the same process for the three remaining blue objects to get the results as shown in the sixth image. Now reselect the four blue objects, remove their strokes and then fill these objects with the colors like you see in the next to last image. Finally apply a 4px Feather effect for the four newly created shapes.

43. Select the bigger shape created in the step 41 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the newly created shape selected, remove the fill color of it and add a 2px very dark red stroke (# 350005), then apply the Width Profile 2 for the resulting object. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two anchor points highlighted with green, then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties bar. This make the object becomes two curved paths. Select and remove the right curved path.

44. To add some details, first draw two slightly curved paths with the Pen Tool (P), then give them a 4px strong orange stroke (# cb7d14) for the moment. Select the compound path created in the step 32 and make a copy of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep this copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the two curved paths created in this step. Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.

45. We are going to create the exhaust pipe. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 95 by 12px rectangle, then place it to the position like you see in the first image. Next select the bottom-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 5px to the left. Reselect the resulting object, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Finally send the resulting shape to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

Create the Front Light

46. Draw a slightly curved path with the Pen Tool (P), then give it a 4px strong orange stroke (# cb7d14) for the moment. Reselect the newly created path and press (Ctrl +X) to cut it. Now pick the Selection Tool (V), double click on the clipping set created in the step 44 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the path was cut in this step. Then double click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set. Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create a slightly curved path as shown in the next to last image. Then give it a 4px dark pink stroke (# 7d4757) for the moment. Still having the resulting path selected, open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), click on the Add New Stroke button (at the left-bottom corner of the Appearance palette). This will add a second stroke for your path. Fill it with pale yellow (# ffffb7) and change the stroke weight to 3px.

47. With the Pen Tool (P), create a very dark red shape (# 231f20) like you see in the images below. Reselect the newly created shape and go to the Effect > Artistic > Plastic Wrap… Follow the data as shown in the second image and click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected and change the Blending Mode to Hard Light. Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create a light grayish orange shape (# f6f1ed) like you see in the fourth image. Then apply a 4px Feather effect for the newly created shape. Keep working with the Pen Tool (P), create two curved paths as shown in the next to last image. Reselect the two newly created paths, replace the existing stroke color with very dark orange (# 592f0d) and change the stroke weight to 1.5px. Finally apply the Width Profile 3 for the resulting paths.

48. At this point your car should look like in the next image:

Add highlights to the Car Body

49. We are going to start making highlights on the car body to give it more of a 3D look. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a red object as shown below. Now select the compound path created in the step 32 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the red object created in this step. Open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect button. Remove the stroke of the resulting object and fill it with very soft yellow (# feeeb0). Still having the resulting shape selected, apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for it. Next change the Blending Mode of this shape to Soft Light and reduce its Opacity to 30%. Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create two bright yellow shapes (# feee2a) like you see in the two next-to-last images. Apply a 5px Feather effect for the two newly created shapes, then change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and reduce their Opacity to 50%.

50. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Pen Tool (P), create three objects like you see in the first image. Once your objects are drawn, reselect the blue object, remove its stroke and fill this object with soft yellow (# fde685). Next select the remaining two objects, remove their strokes and fill these objects with white (# ffffff). Then change the Blending Mode of the two resulting ellipses to Soft Light. Now reselect the three shapes created in this step and apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for them. Continue draw two light orange shapes (# ffcf5c) as shown in the last two images. Apply a 3px Gaussian Blur for the two newly created shapes then set them to Blending Mode Lighten and reduce the Opacity to 80%.

51. With the help of the Selection Tool (V) and the Shift, select all objects created from beginning step 49 to this time, then press (Ctrl +X) to cut them. Keep working with the Selection Tool (V), double click on the clipping set created in the step 44 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the objects were cut in this step. Finally, double click on the anywhere outside of the clipping set.

Create the Taxi Sign

52. It’s time to draw the taxi sign. Double click on the Rounded Rectangle Tool from the Tool bar. In the Rounded Rectangle dialog box, enter the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Next select the two bottom anchor points of the newly created rectangle and remove them. Now pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C) and click on the two lower handles of the two bottom anchor points of the resulting object. This will remove these handles (make them length zero). Continue create a 143 by 5px rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M) and then place it to the correct position as shown in the fourth image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 5px to the left. Next select the bottom-left anchor point and move it 5px to the right. Reselect the black object, remove its stroke and fill this object with very dark orange (# 13100a). Finally select the red object, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the last image.

53. Select the bigger shape created in the step 52 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Then replace the existing fill color of the copy with new linear gradient as shown in the first image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two anchor points highlighted with red and remove them. Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, extend the left handle of the top-left anchor point of the resulting shape. Likewise, repeat the same techniques for the right handle of the top-right anchor point. In the end your shape should look like the last image shown.

54. Now pick the Type Tool (T), open the Character palette (Window > Type > Character) and set the data as shown below. Next simply click on your artboard and add the text like you see in the first image. Place this text to the position like you see in the second image. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 52 to this time. The taxi sign is done! Next rotate the newly created group an angle of about -0.5 degrees. Finally place the resulting group to the position like you see in the last image.

Add Shadows

55. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some shadows on some key places. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 1070 by 37px rectangle, then place it to the position as shown in the first image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the top-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 70px to the left. Next select the top-left anchor point and move it 56px to the right. After you are done adjusting the shape of the red object, remove its stroke and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Focus on the fourth image, with the help of the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 843 by 5px black ellipse. Once your ellipse is drawn, apply a 6px Gaussian Blur effect for it. Next select the first shape created in this step and apply a 10px Feather effect for it. Finally reselect the two objects created in this step and send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

56. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 118 by 16px ellipse. Make three copies of the newly created ellipse, then place them to the positions like you see in the first image. Reselect these ellipses, remove their strokes and then fill them with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Apply a 5px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting ellipses. Finally hide them behind the wheels.

Create the Background

57. Before you continue, select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. We are done with the taxi car for the moment. It’s time for the background now. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 1200 by 600px light grayish cyan rectangle (# f1f2f2). The last thing to do is place the taxi car into the newly created background.

Here is what the completed design looks like.

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