Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: How to Create a 3D Vector Gold Trophy Cup

posted by: Iaroslav Lazunov, in Illustrator Tutorials / Icon Design/ Comments: 0

Final Image Preview

Tutorial Details

Program: Adobe Illustrator
Difficulty:Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time:2 hours

In today’s Adobe Illustrator tutorial you’ll learn how to create a gold trophy cup icon using two stages of design: 3-D modeling, creating of elements of the icons and coloring with creating glare and shadows on the surface. Let’s get started!

Step 1

Using the pen Tool (P), create a shape of the cup bowl. At this stage, do not pay too much attention to creating shapes, as it may be edited later in the process of 3D modeling.

I fill the shape with colors that will reproduce the real color of the cup. Although this is not necessary, it just will be easier to perceive the created model.

Step 2

Create a vertical guide which will pass through the leftmost points of the shape created in the step 1. This guide will help us in further construction. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a circle. Center of the circle must lie on the vertical guide. Now take the Scissors Tool (C) and cut the circle in the lower and upper points, and then remove its left side.

Using the Rectangle Tool (L), create five rectangles that will represent the leg and stand of the cup.

Step 3

Group up all the created objects (Command + G), then go to Effect > 3D > Revolve and set the effect parameters shown in the picture below.

Now we can estimate the shape of the elements of our 3D model.

Step 4

You can add new points to the shape of 3D model using the Pen Tool (P), and manage their position with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A). All changes will immediately reflect in the shape of 3D model. This is a very exciting process that resembles turner’s or potter’s work. Using this technique, I changed the shape of cup’s leg.

3D modeling usage in Adobe Illustrator allows you to get not only the right shapes of the objects, but also right intersection lines between their surfaces and to understand how the light will be distributed on these surfaces.