How to Create a Detailed MacBook Illustration in iDrawbyAndrei Marius18 Nov 20142 Comments 81

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What You'll Be CreatingIn this tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed MacBook illustration in iDraw.For starters you will learn how to set up a grid and how to create the shape that will make up the screen frame. We'll continue with the screen and you'll learn how to easily add an image inside your iDraw document.Moving on, you will learn how to create the metallic side of your MacBook using basic blending and vector shape building techniques, several gradients, and a bunch of effects. Finally, you will learn how to add a subtle highlight for the screen.1.Create a New Document and Set Up a GridFor this tutorial we'll create a new600 x 600 pixeldocument. ChooseFile > New (Command-N)to bring up theNew Documentpane. Select theGriddocument style, set the document units topixels, and set the document dimensions to600pixels wide by600pixels high.Next, we'll set up the document grid. Switch to theGridpane in thePropertiespane. If thePropertiespane is not currently visible, you can click on the orange ruler icon above theLayerspane to show and hide the pane. Change the gridX SpacingandY Spacingto5 px, set theSubdivisionsto0 px, and enableSnap to Grid (Command-Shift-').

2.Create the Screen and the FrameStep 1Focus on theToolbarand you will notice that by default the fill color is set to white, while the stroke color is set to black. Click on the fill color well and replace the existing color withR=10 G=10 B=10. Next, click on the stroke color well and drag theAlphaslider to0%, which will simply make the stroke invisible. Grab theRounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), focus on your Titlebar and drag theCorner Radiusslider to10 pt. Move to your canvas and create a370 x 255 pxshape.

Step 2Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. If theAppearancepane is not currently visible, you can click on the blue icon above theLayerspane to show and hide the pane. Simply check the little box that stands for the existingStroketo activate it. Drag theWidthslider to2 pt, selectOutsidefrom thePositiondrop-down menu, and click the color box that stands for yourStroke. Set the color code toR=130 G=132 B=134and make sure that theAlphaslider is set to100%.

Step 3Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected, keep focusing on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane, and add a secondStrokeusing the plus button located in the bottom left corner of your pane. Focus on this newStroke, drag theWidthslider to1 pt, and selectOutsidefrom thePositiondrop-down menu. Then click on its color box and set the color code toR=40 G=40 B=40. Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected and make a copy in front (Command-C > Shift-Command-V). You'll need it in the final step.

Step 4Return to your Toolbar, make sure that theStrokeis invisible, and set theFillcolor toR=0 G=152 B=245. Grab theRectangle Tool (M), create a340 x 215 pxshape and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 5For this step you will have to download theYosemite sunset image. Make sure that your blue rectangle is still selected and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. Keep your eyes on the existingFill, selectImagefrom theTypedrop-down menu, and add the Yosemite image.

Step 6Now, it's pretty clear that your image doesn't cover the entire rectangle where it lies. This little issue can be solved pretty quickly. Make sure that your rectangle is selected and return to theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. Focus on the existingFill, drag theScaleslider to113%, and things should look like in the second image.

Step 7Make sure that your image is still selected, focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane, and activate the existingStroke. Set theWidthto1 pt, selectInsidefrom thePositiondrop-down menu, and then click the color box that stands for yourStroke. Drag theAlphaslider to15%and set the color to black (R=0 G=0 B=0).

3.Create the First Metallic SideStep 1Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a480 x 10 pxshape and place it as shown in the following image. Select this new rectangle and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane.First, make sure that the existingStrokeis invisible, and then focus on theFill. SelectLinear Gradientfrom theTypedrop-down menu, set theAngleto0 degrees, and then move to the gradient sliders. Select the left one and set its color toR=170 G=171 B=172, and then select the right one and set its color toR=184 G=185 B=186.Now click on the gradient bar and you will get a new gradient slider. Select it, set the color toR=240 G=241 B=242, and drag it to the left until theLocationtooltip shows1%. Add another three sliders for this gradient, using the color and location attributes shown in the following image.

Step 2Make sure that your newest rectangle is still selected, focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane, and add a secondFillusing that same plus button located in the bottom left corner of your pane. Focus on this newFill, and selectSoft Lightfrom theBlenddrop-down menu. Then click the color box that stands for your newFilland make it black.

Step 3Make sure that your newest rectangle is still selected, focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane, and activate the existingInner Shadoweffect. Enter1in theYbox and0in the other two boxes, selectSoft Lightfrom theBlend Modedrop-down menu, and then click the color box that stands for this effect. Set the color to white(R=255 G=255 B=255)and drag theAlphaslider to60%.

Step 4Grab theRounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), focus on your Toolbar, and make sure that theCorner Radiusis still set to10 pt. Move to your canvas, create a70 x 10 pxshape, and place it exactly as shown in the following image.Select this new shape and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. First, make sure that the existingStrokeis not visible, and then focus on theFill. SelectLinear Gradientfrom theTypedrop-down menu, set theAngleto0 degrees, and thenmove to the gradient sliders.Select the left one and set its color toR=240 G=241 B=242.Then select the right one and se its color toR=130 G=131 B=132. Keep focusing on the gradient bar, add another two sliders for this gradient, and then use the color and location attributes shown in the following image.

Step 5Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a90 x 15 pxshape and place it as shown in the first image (do not bother to change its color attributes). Select this new rectangle, along with the rounded rectangle made in the previous step. Focus on thePath Toolssection from thePropertiespane and click theSubtractbutton. In the end things should look like in the third image.

4.Create the Second Metallic Side and Add Subtle ShadingStep 1Focus on your Toolbar, make sure that theStrokeis invisible, and add a random blue for theFill. Using theEllipse Tool (L),create a40 x 10 pxshape and place it exactly as shown in the first image.Get back to your Toolbar and replace the existingFillcolor with a simple black. Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a20 x 5 pxshape and place it as shown in the second image.Reselect both shapes made in this step, focus on thePath Toolssection from thePropertiespane, and click theIntersectbutton. In the end your blue shape should look like in the third image.

Step 2Make sure that your blue shape is still selected and duplicate it (Command-C > Command-V). Select this copy, drag it to the right, and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Then go toModify > Rotate and Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Step 3Return to your Toolbar, make sure that theStrokeis still invisible, and then add a simple yellow for theFill. Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a440 x 5 pxshape and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new rectangle along with both blue shapes, focus on thePath Toolssection from thePropertiespane, and click theUnionbutton. In the end your blue shape should look like in the third image.

Step 4Make sure that your blue shape is selected and make a copy in front (Command-C > Shift-Command-V). Select this copy, drag it5pxdown, and then flip it vertically usingModify > Rotate and Transform > Flip Vertical.

Step 5Make sure that your flipped, blue shape stays selected, and move to theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. First, drag theOpacityslider to25%. Move to the existingFill, selectLinear Gradientfrom theTypedrop-down menu, and set theAngleto90 degrees. Then move to the gradient sliders. Select the left one and set its color to black, and then select the right one and add the same color, but drag theAlphaslider to0%.

Step 6Focus on your Toolbar, make sure that theStrokeis invisible, and then set theFillcolor to black. Using theRounded Rectangle Tool (Shift-M), create a450 x 5 pxshape and place it as shown in the first image.Make sure that this new rounded rectangle stays selected, and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. Simply disable theFilland activate the existingDrop Shadoweffect, entering the attributes shown in the following image. Finally, make sure that this shape is still selected and hitShift-Command-[to send it to the back.

Step 7Reselect your blue shape and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. Select the existingFilland simply replace the existing color with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 8Make sure that the shape edited in the previous step is still selected, and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane. Activate the existingInner Shadoweffect and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

5.Add a Subtle HighlightStep 1Return to your Toolbar, make sure that theStrokeis invisible, and then add a simple blue for theFill. Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a250 x 255pxshape and place it as shown in the first image. Switch to thePath Selection Tool (A)and focus on the top side of this new rectangle. Select the left anchor point and simply drag it150 pxto the right. In the end your blue shape should look like in the second image.

AdvertisementStep 2Reselect your blue shape along with the copy of that dark, rounded rectangle, focus on thePath Toolssection from thePropertiespane, and click theIntersectbutton. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on theEffectssection from theAppearancepane.First, drag theOpacityslider to20%and disable the existingStrokes. Next, select theFilland replace the existing color with the linear gradient shown in the following image. Finally, go to theLayerspane, make sure that the shape made in this step is still selected, and drag it below the shapes that make up the metallic side of your Macbook.

Congratulations! You're Done!Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.