In today’s digitally dominated landscape, smartphones have not only become ubiquitous but also iconic. These pocket-sized devices symbolize connectivity, information, and innovation. Consequently, smartphone vector illustrations are increasingly in demand, offering fresh, modern visuals for a multitude of creative projects.…
By: Bao Nguyen
In the following steps you will learn how to create a detailed illustration of an ATM machine in Adobe Illustrator. For starters you will learn how to create the main shape using several rectangles, basic vector shape building techniques and a bunch of gradients. Moving on, you will learn how to add subtle shading and highlights using basic tools and some simple effects. Finally, you’ll learn how to create a brick wall background.
Create a New document
- Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 1020 in the width box and 730 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 Main Shape
2. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 303 by 387px black rectangle. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created rectangle and then replace the existing stroke color with turquoise. Keep the turquoise rectangle selected and open the Transform panel (Window > Transform). Set the transfer reference point to top-center, then change H to 81px. Now pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the turquoise rectangle and move it 60px to the right. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 60px to the left.
3. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 183 by 223px red rectangle, then place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the turquoise rectangle and move it 30px to the left. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 30px to the right. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 260 by 62px green rectangle and then place it to the position like you see in the third image. Now reselect the red and the green objects created in this step, then make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them. Still having these copies selected, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect The resulting object should look like the fifth image below. Continue select the remaining red object and the green rectangle, then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Keep the resulting group selected, press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Now reselect the upper red object and replace the existing stroke color with magenta. Next select the remaining red object and replace the existing stroke color with yellow.
4. Using the Line Segment Tool (\)create a vertical line of length 100px, with a 1px blue stroke and no fill. Still having the blue line selected, hold down the Shift and click on the green object created in the step 3. Release the Shift and click on the green object again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align panel (Window > Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and click on the Vertical Align Center Keep the blue line and the green object selected, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Divide button. Then press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup the resulting group. Before you continue, select the yellow object created in the step 3 and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Now pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the top-left anchor point of the yellow object, hold mouse and drag it to the left. Don’t forget to hold the Shift key on the keyboard for straight dragging. Next click on the top-right anchor point, hold mouse and drag it to the left. Keep working with the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the left-bottom anchor point of the yellow object, hold mouse and drag it to the right. Then click on the right-bottom anchor point, hold mouse and drag it to the right. You should end up with something like in the last image.
5. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 243 by 68px red rectangle, then place it to the correct position like you see in the first image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 40px to the left. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 40px to the right. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 323 by 23px blue rectangle. Then place it to the correct position like you see in the last image.
6. Select the turquoise object created in the step 2, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image. Likewise, repeat the same process for the remaining objects to fill them with linear gradients as shown in the images below.
7. Focus on the first image, pick the Line Segment Tool (\), create a horizontal line, with a 3px stroke and no fill. Keep the newly created line selected, replace the existing stroke color with linear gradient across stroke as shown in the second image. Continue with the Line Segment Tool (\), create a vertical line like you see in the third image, with a 1px dark grayish blue stroke (# 808285) and no fill.
8. Select the black rectangle created in the step 2 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with red. Keep the red rectangle selected and press (Ctrl +3) to hide it. Next pick the Line Segment Tool (\) create a vertical line of length 500px, with a blue stroke and no fill. Still having the blue line selected, hold down the Shift and click on the black rectangle created in the step 2. Release the Shift and click on the black rectangle again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align panel (Window > Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and click on the Vertical Align Center button. Keep the blue line and the black rectangle selected, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Divide button. Then press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup the resulting group. Still having the two newly created rectangles selected, press (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket) to send them to back. Keep these two black rectangles selected, remove their strokes and then fill them with the linear gradient as shown in the last two images.
9. Before you continue, press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the red rectangle hidden in the step 8. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this rectangle and then press (Ctrl +3) to hide the copy. Now reselect the red original rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Non-Uniform, enter a 115% in the Horizontal box and 111% in the Vertical box, then click Copy. Still having the newly created rectangle selected, hold down the Shift and click on the red original rectangle. Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Back Keep the resulting object selected, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape and then replace the existing fill color of this copy with new linear gradient. Make sure that the resulting shape is sill selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK. Now press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to hide the red rectangle hidden in this step. Finally change the stroke weight of this rectangle to 2px and then replace the existing stroke color with linear gradient within stroke.
10. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some shadows on some key places. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\), create six lines as shown in the first image, with 3px strokes and no fill. Once your lines are drawn, reselect the two red lines and replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish violet (# 414042). Then apply the Width Profile 4 for the resulting lines. Continue select the two green lines and replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish violet (# 414042), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting lines. Next select the two magenta lines, replace the existing stroke color with black (# 231f20), then apply the Width Profile 4 for the resulting lines. Now reselect the six lines created in this step and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 2px Radius and click OK. Keep the resulting lines selected, press (Ctrl +X) to cut them. With the help of the Selection Tool (V) and the Shift, select the two shapes created in the step 8. Then press (Ctrl +F) to paste six lines were cut in this step.
11. Select the shape like you see in the first image and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data as shown below and click OK. Next pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 315 by 17px red rectangle, then place it to the position as shown in the second image. Remove the stroke of the newly created rectangle and then fill it with black (# 020202). Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 4px Radius and click OK. Finally hide the resulting rectangle behind the last rectangle filled in the step 6.
12. At this point your illustration should look like in the next image:
Create the Light Box
13. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 169 by 32px black rectangle (# 23120f), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the top-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 22px to the left. Next select the top-right anchor point and move it 22px to the right. After you are done adjusting the shape of the black rectangle, reselect it and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 2px Radius and click OK. Still having the resulting shape selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with very soft cyan (# a7fefc). Keep the newly created shape selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 10px Radius and click OK. Finally hide the resulting shape behind the black shape created in this step.
14. Select the black shape created in the step 13 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing fill color of the newly created shape with bright cyan (# 34cade). Make sure that the bright cyan shape is still selected, apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for it. Keep the resulting shape 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 shape with very soft cyan (# a7fefc). Still having this shape selected, open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and remove the Gaussian Blur Keep the resulting shape selected and apply a 4px Feather effect for it. Continue with the Ellipse Tool (L), create a white ellipse (# f8fcff) and then place it to the position like you see in the next to last image. Finally apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created ellipse.
Create the Display Screen
15. Select the shape as shown in the first image and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Uniform, enter a 77% in the Scale box and click Copy. Then replace the existing fill color of the copy with very dark grayish violet (# 414042). Keep the newly created shape selected and open the Scale dialog box again (Object > Transform > Scale). Check the Uniform, enter a 96% in the Scale box and click Copy. Then replace the existing fill color of the copy with the radial gradient as shown in the third image. Now reselect the first shape created in this step and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Still having this copy selected, swap the fill and stroke colors by clicking the bent double-headed arrow next to the Fill and Stroke color swatches in the Toolbox. Next replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with the linear gradient within stroke as shown in the fourth image. Make sure that the resulting object is still selected and change the stroke weight to 2px. Focus on the next to last image, select the two anchor points highlighted with red and then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the newly created object becomes two paths. Select and remove the lower path.
16. It’s time to draw the screen buttons. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 13 by 9px blue rectangle. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two top anchor points of the newly created rectangle, then move them 1px to the right. Reselect the blue object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 2px Radius and click OK. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape and then replace the existing fill color of the copy with very dark gray (# 313131). Move the newly created shape 1px down and then hide it behind the first shape created in this step (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket). Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create a path as shown in the next to last image, with a 1px white stroke (# ffffff) and no fill. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created in this step.
17. Place the button created in the step 16 to the position like you see in the first image. Make three copies (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) of this button and then place them to the positions as shown in the second image. Now reselect and group (Ctrl +G) four newly created buttons. Still having the newly created group selected and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Vertical and click Copy. Drag the copy we have just created to the right. Don’t forget to hold the Shift key on the keyboard for straight dragging.
Create the Card Reader
18. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 69 by 41px blue rectangle, then place it to the position like you see in the first image. Still having the newly created rectangle selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… Enter a 7px Radius and click OK, then go to the Object > Expand Appearance. Focus on the third image, select two anchor points highlighted with magenta and then move them 2px to the right. After you are done adjusting the shape of the blue object, reselect it and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this object, then press (Ctrl +3) to hide the copy. Reselect the blue original object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient like you see in the fifth image. Now press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the blue object hidden in this step. Keep this object selected, replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish blue (# 6d6e71) and then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting object. Focus on the seventh image, select the two anchor points highlighted with red and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the object becomes two paths. Select the lower path, replace the existing stroke color with very soft cyan (# a4ebf8) and change the stroke weight to 2.5px. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting path.
19. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 59 by 27px blue rectangle, 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 2px to the right. Reselect the blue object you just edited the shape, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Still having the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the last image and click OK.
20. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 59 by 4px very dark grayish magenta rectangle (# 5e5d5e), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 49 by 2px red rectangle, then place it to the position like you see in the second image. Next with the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 11 by 11px blue ellipse and then place it to the correct position as shown in the third image. Make sure that the blue ellipse is still 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 ellipse with black. Now select the red rectangle created in this step and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Keep this copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the black ellipse. Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Back Then remove the stroke of the resulting group and fill it with very dark grayish violet (# 333234). Reselect the red original rectangle and the blue ellipse, then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). Finally remove the stroke of the resulting object and then fill it with black (# 231f20).
21. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 50 by 3.5px black rectangle (# 231f20), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Still having the newly created rectangle selected and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Non-Uniform, enter a 97% in the Horizontal box and 70% in the Vertical box, then click Copy. Next replace the existing fill color of the newly created rectangle with the radial gradient like you see in the second image. Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Outer Glow… Follow the data as shown in the last image and click OK.
22. At this point your illustration should look like in the next image:
Create the Receipt Printer
23. Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool from the Toolbox and simply click on the artboard. In the Rounded Rectangle dialog box, enter the data like you see in the first image and click OK. Then place the newly created rectangle to the position as shown below. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two bottom-left anchor point of the blue rectangle, then move them 2px to the left. After you are done adjusting the shape of the blue object, reselect it and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this object, then press (Ctrl +3) to hide the copy. Reselect the blue original object, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient like you see in the third image. Now press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the blue object hidden in this step. Keep this object selected, replace the existing stroke color with very dark grayish blue (# 6d6e71) and then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting object. Focus on the fourth image, select the two anchor points highlighted with red and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the object becomes two paths. Select the lower path, replace the existing stroke color with very soft cyan (# a4ebf8) and change the stroke weight to 2.5px. Finally apply a 2px Feather effect for the resulting path.
24. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape like you see in the first and the second image. Once your shape is drawn, reselect it and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Non-Uniform, enter a 87% in the Horizontal box and 63% in the Vertical box, then click Copy. Replace the existing fill color of this copy with new linear gradient as shown in the fourth image. Keep the resulting shape selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Swap the fill and stroke colors of the copy by clicking the bent double-headed arrow next to the Fill and Stroke color swatches in the Toolbox. Focus on the fifth image, replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with new linear gradient within stroke and then change the stroke weight to 2px. Now pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create two rectangles with dimensions: 46 by 3.5px and 42 by 2px. Then place them to the positions like you see in the last two images.
25. At this point your illustration should look like in the next image: 
Create the Cash Dispenser
26. We will continue with the cash dispenser. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 134 by 21px blue rectangle, then place it to the position as shown in the first image. With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 2px to the left. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 2px to the right. Remove the stroke of the blue object you just edited the shape and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Still having the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the last image and click OK.
Create the Keypad
27. It’s time to draw the keypad. With the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 143 by 30px dark grayish pink rectangle (# 898387) and then place it to the position like you see in the first image. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 18px to the left. Next select the bottom-right anchor point and move it 18px to the right. Reselect the object you just edited the shape and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Swap the fill and stroke colors of the copy by clicking the bent double-headed arrow next to the Fill and Stroke color swatches in the Toolbox. Focus on the third image, replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with linear gradient within stroke and then change the stroke weight to 2px. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two bottom anchor points of the newly created object. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the object becomes two paths. Select and remove the lower path.
28. Using the Line Segment Tool (\)create a horizontal line of length 142px, with a 1px red stroke and no fill. Then place the newly created line to the position like you see in the first image. Make seven copies of this line and then place these copies to the positions as shown in the second image. Continue with the Line Segment Tool (\), create eight blue lines as shown in the third image. Now reselect all lines created in this step, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Divide Add a 1px red stroke for the resulting group and then press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup it. Next select and remove the smaller red objects. You should end up with something like in the last image.
29. Select twelve small red objects, remove their strokes and fill these objects with light grayish cyan (# c0d6d9). Likewise, repeat the same process to fill colors for the remaining red objects as shown in the second image. Now reselect twelve small shapes and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data like you see in the third image and click OK. Next select four right shapes created in this step and apply the Drop Shadow effect for them as shown in the last image.
30. At this point your illustration should look like in the next image: 
Create the ATM Sign Board
31. We are going to create the ATM sign board. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 349 by 49px light gray rectangle (# c0c0c0), then place it to the position as shown in the first image. With the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), click on the top-right anchor point of the newly created rectangle, hold mouse and drag it up. Don’t forget to hold the Shift key on the keyboard for straight dragging. Next click on the top-left anchor point, hold mouse and drag it down. The resulting shape should look like the second image below. Now reselect the light gray shape 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 shape with very light gray (# f8f8f8). Next select the light gray shape again and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Swap the fill and stroke colors of the copy by clicking the bent double-headed arrow next to the Fill and Stroke color swatches in the Toolbox. Focus on the fifth image, replace the existing stroke color of the resulting object with linear gradient within stroke and then change the stroke weight to 2px. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select the two bottom anchor points of the newly created object. Then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” icon from the Properties This make the object becomes two paths. Finally select the lower path, change the stroke weight to 3px and replace the existing stroke color with new linear gradient across stroke.
32. Open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character), select the Eras Bold ITC font, make it Regular, and set the size to 50px. Now pick the Type Tool (T), simply click on your artboard. Then add the “ATM” piece of text and set its color to very dark blue (# 223c66). Next place this text to the position like you see in the last image. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time. We are done with the ATM machine for the moment.
Create the Brick Wall
33. We’re done with the ATM machine. It’s time for the brick wall now. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 70 by 30px dark moderate red rectangle (# b2525d). Then add a 3px moderate red stroke (# d26e5e) for the newly created rectangle. Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to the Object > Transform > Move… Enter a 70px in the Horizontal box and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) twelve times to get the results like you see in the third image. Reselect all newly created bricks and open the Move dialog box again (Object > Transform > Move). Enter a -35px in the Horizontal box and 30px in the Vertical box, then click Copy. Now select two brick rows created in this step and open the Move dialog box again. Enter a 60px in the Vertical box and click Copy. Then press (Ctrl +D) four times to get the results as shown in the next to last image. Finally select and remove the bottom brick row.
34. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 1014 by 330px blue rectangle, then place it to the position like you see in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created rectangle and fill it with dark moderate red (# a25246). Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to the Effect > Artistic > Sponge… Follow the data as shown in the second image and click OK. Then set the Blending Mode of the resulting rectangle to Soft Light and reduce the Opacity to 50%.
35. With the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1014 by 234px grayish orange rectangle (# d3c8be) and place it to the position as shown in the first image. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created rectangle and then replace the existing fill color of the copy with light grayish yellow (# efefea). Still having the resulting rectangle selected, open the Transform panel (Window > Transform) and set the transfer reference point to top-center, then change H to 26px. The resulting rectangle should look like the last image below.
36. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1014 by 167px grayish orange rectangle (# d3c8be) and place it to the position as shown in the first image. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created rectangle and then replace the existing fill color of the copy with dark red (# 9b6a5b). Still having the resulting rectangle selected, open the Transform panel (Window > Transform) and set the transfer reference point to bottom-center, then change H to 15px. The resulting rectangle should look like the second image below. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1014 by 8px dark moderate red rectangle (# a25246) and then place it to the position as shown in the last image.
37. Place the ATM machine into the brick wall like you see in the image below.
38. To give a more realistic look I’m going to be adding some shadows on some key places. With the Rectangle Tool (M), make a blue rectangle of 349 by 322px size and then place it to the position as shown in the first image. Remove the stroke of the newly created rectangle and fill this object with the linear gradient like you see in the second image. Apply a 5px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting rectangle and then hide it behind the ATM machine.
39. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 329 by 140px rectangle like you see in the first and the second image. Next apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the newly created rectangle. Finally send the resulting rectangle behind the ATM machine.
Here is what the completed design looks like.
