In the dynamic world of graphic design, vector illustrations have become an indispensable tool for conveying complex concepts in a visually stimulating and easily understandable manner. Are you searching for vector illustrations that convey the concept of thinking, brainstorming, or…
By: Bao Nguyen
In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a tableware set with plate, fork, knife and tablecloth in Adobe Illustrator. For starters you will learn how to create the main shapes using basic tools and vector shape building techniques along with a bunch of linear gradients. Moving on, you will learn how to add subtle shading and highlights using some simple effects. Let’s get started!
Create a New document
- Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 800 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.
Create the Plate
2. First of all, we’ll create the plate. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 420 by 420 black ellipse. Make sure that the black ellipse is still selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -60px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with red. 
3. Select the black ellipse created in the step 2, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient like you see in the first image. Keep the resulting 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 new linear gradient as shown in the second image. Still having the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK.
4. Select the red ellipse created in the step 2, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Then apply a 3px Feather effect for the resulting ellipse. Having this ellipse selected and open the Offset Path dialog box (Object > Path > Offset Path). Enter a 15px Offset and click OK. Then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with new linear gradient as shown in the next to last image. Keep the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), then remove the Feather Still having the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 6px Radius and click OK. Finally hide the resulting ellipse behind the ellipse with feather effect applied in this step. 
5. Select the ellipse with feather effect applied in the step 4 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -11px Offset and click OK. Then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with new linear gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), then remove the Feather Still having the resulting ellipse selected and apply a 4px Gaussian Blur effect for it. Make sure that the resulting ellipse is still selected and open the Offset Path dialog box. Enter a -32px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with new linear gradient as shown in the fourth image. Having the resulting ellipse selected and open the Offset Path dialog box again. Enter a -10px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing fill color of the newly created ellipse with light grayish orange (# e2e1e0). Keep the resulting ellipse selected and go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), then remove the Gaussian Blur section. Still having the resulting ellipse selected and apply a 15px Feather effect for it.
6. Select the last ellipse created in the step 5 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected, open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance) and remove the Feather Remove the fill color of the resulting ellipse and add a 2px red stroke for it, then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting ellipse. Make sure that the red ellipse is still selected and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… In the Scale dialog box, check the Uniform and enter a 122% in the Scale box, then click OK. Still having the resulting ellipse selected and open the Scale dialog box again. Check the Uniform and enter a 122% in the Scale box, then click Copy. Keep this copy selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a 26px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with blue.
7. Pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the four points highlighted with blue. This will add four new anchor points for the two red ellipses. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the four newly added anchor points and then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the two red ellipses become four curved paths. Select and remove the two longer paths. Now focus on the next to last image, select the upper red path and replace the existing stroke color with light grayish red (# dedad9). Next select the remaining red path, change the stroke weight to 3px and then replace the existing stroke color with light grayish lime green (# f6f7f6). Finally reselect the two curved paths created in this step and apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for them.
8. With the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), add two new anchor points at the points highlighted with magenta of the blue ellipse. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two newly added anchor points and then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the blue ellipse becomes two curved paths. Select and remove the upper path. Reselect the remaining blue path, change the stroke weight to 5px and replace the existing stroke color with light grayish yellow (# f8f8f7). Then apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting path. Now pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a light grayish yellow shape (# e6e6e5) like you see in the last image. Next apply a 6px Feather effect for the newly created shape.
9. Select the first ellipse created in the step 3 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. The plate is ready and looks like in the second image below.
Create the Fork
10. Next comes the fork. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create two rectangles with dimensions: 23 by 329px and 71 by 115px. Reselect the two newly created rectangles, open the Align palette (Window > Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button, then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Keep these two rectangles selected, open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Unite button. The resulting object should look like the fourth image below. Focus on the fifth image, select the two anchor points highlighted with red of the newly created object. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties bar. This make the black object becomes two paths. Select and remove the right path. 
11. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and click on the point highlighted with red of the black path. This will select the path segment you just clicked on. Next move this path segment 13px to the right. Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A), focus on the third image and click on the point highlighted with red. Then move the selected path segment 31px Now focus on the fifth image, select the upper endpoint of the black path and move it 18px to the right. Next select the lower endpoint and move it 20px down. The resulting path should look like the last image below.
12. Pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the anchor point highlighted with red, hold mouse and drag it down. Focus on the second image, pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), click on the upper handle of the anchor point highlighted with red, then hold mouse and drag it up. Next with the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the anchor point highlighted with magenta, hold mouse and drag it to the right. The resulting path should look like the fourth image below. Now focus on the fifth image, pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the anchor point highlighted with turquoise, hold mouse and drag it down. Next click on the anchor point highlighted with green, hold mouse and drag it down. You should end up with something like in the last image.
13. Reselect the black path, pick the Reflect Tool (O), then hold down the Alt and click on the point highlighted with red. In the Reflect dialog box, check the Vertical and click Copy. Now reselect the two black paths, then right click on the artboard and select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Next right click on the artboard again, then select the Join
14. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 5 by 99px red rectangle. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 3px to the right. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 3px to the left. Now reselect the red object and go to the Object > Transform > Move… In the Move dialog box, enter a 17.5px in the Horizontal box and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) once to get the results like you see in the fourth image. Reselect three red objects created in this step and press (Ctrl +G) to group them. Keep the newly created group selected, hold down the Shift and click on the black object created in the step 13. Release the Shift and click on the black object 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 Top button. Finally reselect the group created in this step and move it 11px up.
15. Make sure that the group created in the step 14 is still selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 4px Radius and click OK, then go to the Object > Expand Appearance. Still having the resulting group selected, hold down the Shift and click on the black object created in the step 13. Then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front The resulting object should look like the last image below.
16. Focus on the top of the fork, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add a new anchor point at the point highlighted with red. Next move the newly added anchor point 2px With the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the anchor point you just moved, then hold down the mouse and drag it to the left. Likewise, repeat the same techniques for the remaining three tines of the fork. In the end it should look like the last image shown.
17. Select the black object and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with red. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two anchor points highlighted with yellow of the red object and move them 1px Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the left anchor point highlighted with magenta, then move it 1px up and 1px to the right. Continue select the right anchor point highlighted with magenta, then move it 1px up and 1px to the left. Now focus on the next to last image, select the left anchor point highlighted with blue of the red object and move it 1px to the right. Next select the right anchor point highlighted with blue and move it 1px to the left. Finally select the anchor point highlighted with green and then move it 3px up.
18. Select the black object of the fork, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Continue select the red object created in the step 17, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
19. Select the last shape created in the step 18 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Pick the Selection Tool (V) and drag a marquee around all objects of the fork to select them. Then hold down the Shift and click on the shape created in this step to remove it from the selection. Next press (Ctrl +2) to lock the selected shapes. Now pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), drag the mouse to the direction of the arrow to create a marquee as shown in the first image. Then click on the “Remove selected anchor points” icon from the Properties The resulting shape should look like the third image below. Reselect the newly created shape and replace the existing fill color with new linear gradient as shown in the next to last image. Finally change the Blending Mode of the resulting shape to Darken.
20. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some shadows on some key places. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create two objects like you see in the first and the second images. Once your objects are drawn, select the red curved path, change the stroke weight to 2px and replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish violet (# 414042). Then apply the Width Profile 1 and a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting path. Continue select the blue object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the fifth image. Next apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape. Now select the shape created in the step 19 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, hold down the Shift and click on the two objects with blur effects applied in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
21. Select the first shape created in the step 18 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 10 to this time. We are done with the fork for the moment.
Create the Knife
22. We are going to create the knife. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 19 by 174px black rectangle. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 14px to the left. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 14px to the right. Before you continue, 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 black object created in this step, hold down the Shift, click on the newly created guide, release the Shift and then click on the black object created in this step again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window > Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button. Focus on the third image, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add a new anchor point at the point highlighted with yellow. Then select the newly added anchor point and move it 20px down. Finally press (Ctrl + ;) to hide the guide. 
23. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 35 by 182px blue rectangle, then place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a red object like you see in the second image. Once your object is drawn, reselect the blue rectangle and remove it. Next select the red object and hide it behind the black object created in the step 22. Now reselect the two objects created from beginning step 22 to this time, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Unite The resulting object should look like the last image below.
24. Pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the bottom anchor point of the black object, hold mouse and drag it to the right. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the right anchor point highlighted with yellow, hold mouse and drag it up. Next click on the left anchor point highlighted with yellow, hold mouse and drag it down. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), extend the upper handles of the two anchor points highlighted with yellow. Focus on the fourth image, select five anchor points highlighted with red and click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” icon from the Properties Next with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the handles of the anchor points you just converted to smooth. You should end up with something like in the last image.
25. Pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the bottom anchor point of the black object, hold mouse and drag it to the right. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the right anchor point highlighted with yellow, hold mouse and drag it up. Next click on the left anchor point highlighted with yellow, hold mouse and drag it down. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), extend the upper handles of the two anchor points highlighted with yellow. Focus on the fourth image, select five anchor points highlighted with red and click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” icon from the Properties Next with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the handles of the anchor points you just converted to smooth. You should end up with something like in the last image.
26. Select the black object of the knife, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Next select the red object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient like you see in the second image. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
27. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some shadows on some key places. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create two objects like you see in the first and the second images. Once your objects are drawn, select the red curved path, change the stroke weight to 2px and replace the existing stroke color with very dark red (# 231f20). Then apply the Width Profile 1 and a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting path. Continue select the blue object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the fifth image. Next apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape. Now select the last shape created in the step 26 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, hold down the Shift and click on the two objects with blur effects applied in this step. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
28. Select the first shape created in the step 26 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 22 to this time. The knife is done!
Create the Tablecloth
29. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) and the Gradient Tool (G), create an 800 by 600px white rectangle. Reselect the newly created rectangle and go to the Effect > Texture > Grain… Follow the data like you see in the second image and click OK. Still having the resulting rectangle selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected and go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), then click on the Grain In the Grain dialog box, follow the data as shown in the last image and click OK. Next reduce the Opacity of the resulting rectangle to 50%.
30. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 832 by 42px soft red rectangle (# dc5f45), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Keep the newly created rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Move… Enter a 57px in the Vertical box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) once to get the results as shown in the second image. Now reselect the three rectangles created in this step and open the Move dialog box again. Enter a 258px in the Vertical box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) to get the results as shown in the last image. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all rectangles created in this step, then name this group “Horizontal”.
31. With the Selection Tool (V), select the “Horizontal” group and then double click on the Rotate Tool icon from the Tool box. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 90 degrees Angle and click Copy. Place the copy to the position like you see in the last image, then name it “Vertical”.
32. Reselect the “Horizontal” and the “Vertical” groups and then apply a 3px Feather effect for them. Still having the resulting groups selected, change the Blending Mode to Multiply and reduce their Opacity to 80%. Next reselect the “Horizontal” group and reduce its Opacity to 70%.
33. Select the last rectangle created in the step 29 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, hold down the Shift and then click on the “Horizontal” and the “Vertical” groups. Right-click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 29 to this time. The tablecloth is ready and looks like in the last image. The last things to do are place the plate, the fork and the knife on this tablecloth.
Here is what the completed design looks like.
