When it comes to web and graphic design, Adobe Illustrator is usually the primary option to consider. However, the software package itself is a quite hard to learn — and extremely hard to master.

In the following tutorial we will use Illustrator’ s basic tools and simple techniques like the Pathfinder, Arrange, Gradient, Transform etc..to create a Versatile Sofa illustration.

Let’s get started!

Final Result

Let’s see what you will be creating in this tutorial.

Create A Versatile Sofa in Illustrator

Step 1:

1. Create a 1300px by 1000px document.

Step 2:

1. Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 250px by 90px shape (2_1a). Then duplicate it (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F) and place the copy into position as shown the (2_1b) image below.

2. Reselect the green shape and go to Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path dialog box, enter a -5px Offset and click OK. (2_2a). Select both green shapes and duplicate them (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F). Then press Ctrl + 2 to lock both newly created shapes. One again, reselect both green shapes, then click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder panel (2_2b). Change the color of this shape from green to black (2_2c)

3. Go to Object menu/ Unlock All (Ctrl + Alt + 2). Use the Selection Tool (V) to select the green and black shapes (2_3a), then go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move (Ctrl + Shift + M). In the Move dialog box, enter 245px in the Horizontal box and 0px in the Vertical box, then click Copy (2_3b). Now select both black shapes and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Panel (2_3c). Fill the newly created shape with a linear gradient as shown the final image below (2_3d).

4. Now select the shape as shown in the first image below (2_4a) and duplicate it (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F). With the newly created shape selecting, enter the data shown in the (2_4b) image frome the Properties Bar. Then press the Down Arrow once time. Finally, fill this shape with a linear gradient (2_4c).

5. Select the shape as shown in the (2_5a) image and enter the data shown in the (2_5b) image frome the Properties Bar. Then fill it with a linear gradient. (2_5c)

6. Repeat the same techniques for the right shape (2_6a). Select both green shapes as shown the (2_6c) image below, and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Panel.

Step 3:

1. Now select the blue shape and use the Add Anchor Point (+) to add an anchor point in the point highlighted with red circle (3_1a). Then grab the Direct Selection (A) and select the right-above corner anchor point and click on the "Remove selected anchor points" button from the Properties Bar.

Step 4:

1. Press Ctrl + R to show the ruler. Then drag a vertical guide in the correct position as shown in the image below (4_1a).

2. Select all shapes (except the blue shape). Then pick the Shear Tool, hold down Alt and click on the vertical guide. In the Shear dialog box, enter a -30 Angle and check the Vertical, then click OK (4_2b).

3. Do the same with the blue shape.

Step 5:

1. Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A). Then select two anchor points of the green shape as shown in the (5_1a) image and drag them to points "C" and "D" at once (5_1b). (Note: While dragging, we just pay attention to the "A" anchor point. Because when it is dragged to the "C" point, the "B" anchor point also was dragged to the "D" point at the same time.)

2. Drag a horizontal guide to the "C" point. While the guide selecting, grab the Rotate Tool (R), hold down Alt and click on the "C" point. In the Rotate box, enter a 30 Angle and click Copy (5_2a). With the newly created guide selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move (Ctrl + Shift + M). In the Move dialog box, enter -650px in the Horizontal box and 0px in the Vertical box, then click Copy. (5_2b)

3. Now reselect the horizontal guides, grab the Rotate (R) once again, hold down Alt and click on the "C" point. In the Rotate box, enter a -75 Angle and click Copy. Name the intersection point of two newly created guides is "G".

4. Select the green shape and duplicate it (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F). Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A), select both anchor points "E" and "F", then drag them to points "G" and "H" as shown in the image below.(While dragging, we just pay attention to the "E" anchor point )

5. Select the newly created shape and duplicate it. Use the Direct Selection (A) to select both anchor points "D" and "H". Then drag them to points "I" and "J" as shown in the image below. (While dragging, we also just pay attention to the "D" anchor point ).

Step 6:

1. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a shape (Width: 250px, Height: 100px) then place it as shown in the image below.

2. While this shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move (Ctrl + Shift + M). In the Move dialog box, enter 0px in the Horizontal box and -72px in the Vertical box and click OK. Then select both shapes as shown the (6_2b) image and click on the Divide button from the Pathfinder Panel. Finally ungroup the newly created group and remove both shapes as shown in the (6_2c) image.

3. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a circle with the center of it is the "K" point and this circle pass through the "L" point (6_3a). Select the newly created circle and the shape as shown the (6_3b) image, then click on the Divide button from the Pathfinder Panel. Ungroup the newly created group and remove shapes that highlighted with red arrows (6_3c). Now select both remaining shapes as shown the (6_3e) image and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Panel. Change the color of the newly created shape from green to blue (6_3f).

4. Select three shapes as shown the first image below and go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move (Ctrl + Shift + M). In the Move dialog box, enter 150 in the Distance box and 30 in the Angle box then click Copy. While three newly created shapes selecting, go to Object menu/ Arrange/ Send Backward (Ctrl + Shift + Left Bracket key).

5. Select both blue shapes (as shown the first image below) and duplicate them. Then press Ctrl + 3 to hide both newly created shapes. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) select four anchor points of these shapes (6_5b) and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor point" button from the Properties Bar. Now remove shapes (except two curves) as shown the (6_5c) image. Then grab the Direct Selection Tool (A), select both top anchor points of curves (6_5d) and click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Pathfinder Panel. Do the same with both remaining anchor points. The resulting shape should look like the (6_5f) image shown below. Now press Ctrl + Alt + 3 to show all (6_5g).

6. Grab the Selection Tool (V) and select shapes as shown in the (6_6a) image below. Go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move (Ctrl+Shift+M). In the Move dialog box, enter 422px in the Distance box and 30 in the Angle box then click Copy. The resulting shape should look like the (6_6b) image shown below. Name the layer containing all the shapes is "1"

7. Select four shapes as shown the (6_7a) image below and press Ctrl + C. Then click on eye icon of the "1" layer from Layer Pallete once time to hide it. Create a new layer and place it below the "1" layer. Then press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste copied shapes in the new layer. Name of this layer is "2". Select the blue shape as shown the (6_7b) image. Grab the Rotate Tool (R), hold down Alt and click on the point highlighted with red circle. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 180 Angle and click OK. Do the same with the remaining blue shape. The resulting shape should look like the (6_7d) image shown below.

8. Now remove green shapes. Reselect two blue shapes and duplicate them, then press Ctrl + 2 to lock both newly created shapes. Use the Direct Selection to select four anchor points as shown the first image below, then click on the "Cut path at selected anchor point" button from Properties Bar. Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A), select two anchor points as shown the second image and then click on the " Cut path at selected anchor point" button. Now we had created two curves and four lines segment.

9. Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down the Shift key, click on two curves and select two anchor point as shown the first image, then click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Properties Bar (6_9b).

10. Do the same with two remaining anchor points of curves. The resulting shape should look like the (6_10b) image shown below.

11. Hide the newly created shape. In the document just remaining four lines segment. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) combine with the Shift key select two anchor point as shown the (6_11b) image and click on the "Connect selected anchor points" button. Do the same with two anchor points as shown the (6_11c) image. Now grab the Selection Tool (V) and select the newly created shape. Set data of this shape in the Stroke Panel as shown the final below.

12. Hide the newly created shape. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) combine with the Shift key to select two anchor points as shown the (6_12b) image and connect them. Do the same with two remaining anchor points.

13. Show the "1" layer and click on it from the Layer Pallete.

14 Remove four shapes at two positions as shown the image below.

Step 7:

1. Grab the Pen Tool (P) and click on the points highlighted with red circles. Use the Selection Tool (V) to reselect this shape and send to back (Shift + Ctrl + Left Bracket key).

2 Fill the newly created shape with light gray (10% black) and set a 2px stroke (20% black)

3. Do the same as steps 1, 2 and 3 to get the results as shown below.

4. Fill the shapes below with a linear gradient.

5. Select the green shape as shown the (7_5a) image below. Use 90% black for the fill, and black for the stroke with the settings shown. Now select three green remaining shapes and use the Eyedropper Tool (I) click on the shape selected as shown in the (7_5a) image. Then arrange these shapes to get the result look like the (7_5b) image below.

6. Select two shapes as shown the image below, then fill them with the linear gradient and change the color of the strokes from blue to light gray (20% black).

Fill the shape as shown the image below with the linear gradient (Stroke color: None).

Continue with the Selection Tool (V), select two shapes as shown the (7_6c) image below. Then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the shape highlighted with red arrow.

Do the same with the shape as shown in the image below.

7. Hide the "1" layer and click on the "2" layer from the Layer Pallete. Use the Selection Tool (V) combine with the Shift key to select two shapes as shown in the (7_7b) image. Then fill them with the linear gradient and set a 1px stroke (20% black). Reselect the shape as shown in the (7_7c) image and press Ctrl + Shift + Left Bracket key once time. Do the same with the shapes as shown in the (7_7d) image and the (7_7e) image. Finally select the last blue shape, go to Object menu/ Expand Appearance. Then use 5% black for the fill and 10% black for the stroke (7_7f).

8. Show the "1" layer. The resulting should look like the image shown.

Step 8:

1. Select two shapes as shown in the first image below and go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter 100px in the Distance box and -15 in the Angle and click OK (8_1a). Then drag the vertical guide passes through the point marked by the red circle. Pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down Alt and click on the marked point. In the Rotate box, enter a 75 Angle and click OK (8_1b).

2. Select the darker shape as shown in the (8_2a) image and duplicate it (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F). Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down Shift and select two anchor points highlighted with red circles. Then move current points to points highlighted with green circles. Now use the Selection Tool (V) and reselect the newly created shape. Fill it with the linear gradient and then press Ctrl + Left Bracket key twice time.

3. Continue reselect the shape that selected at the previous step and duplicate it. Repeat the same techniques made in the previous step to create the shape as shown.:

4. Keep working with the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the top anchor points of the newly created shape, hold down Shift and press the Down Arrow key five times.

5. Select the shape as shown in the (8_5a) image and duplicate it. Then pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down Shift and select two anchor points highlighted with red circles. Then move current points to points highlighted with green circles. :

6. Drag the vertical guide in the correct position. Select the shape as shown in the first image then use the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) add two anchor points in the points highlighted with red circles. Reselect the newly created anchor points and move them to correct positions as shown in the (8_6b) image. Repeat the same techniques to create two anchor points as shown in the (8_6c) image. Reselect the newly created anchor points and click on the "Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button. Then hold down Shift and press the Up Arrow key three times.

7. Pick the Selection Tool (V). Select the shape made in the previous step and go to Object menu/ Transform/ Move. In the Move dialog box, enter 5px in the Distance box and 30 in the Copy box then click Copy. Fill the resulting shape with a linear gradient as shown in the (8_7b) image. Finally press Ctrl + Left Bracket key once time.

8, Reselect three shapes was created by steps 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as shown in the first image below, then duplicate them. Group these newly created shapes. Finally place this group as shown in the (8_8b) image.

9. While this group selecting, press Ctrl + Shift + G to ungroup it. Then select the dark shape and press Ctrl + Right Bracket key twice times. Finally select two shapes as shown in the second image below and press Ctrl + Shift + Right Bracket key once time.

10. Select shapes as shown and group them. Name this group is "Drawer"

11. Select the shape as shown in the first image and duplicate it. Bring the newly created shape to front (press Ctrl + Shift + Right Bracket key). Now grab the Pen Tool (P) ( Fill: None, Stroke color: Red) create a shape as shown in the second image below. Fill it with any color. Now select the newly created shape and the "Drawer" group then press Ctrl + 7 to make clipping mask. The resulting shapes should look like the (8_11e) image.

Step 9:

1. Use the Ellipse tool (L) combine with the Shift key to create a circle as shown in the first image. While the shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Scale. In the Scale diglog box, enter 95 % in the Horizontal box and 100% in the Vertical box and click OK (9_1b). Continue go to Object menu/ Transform/ Rotate. Enter a 30 Angle and click OK (9_1c). Duplicate the resulting shape. Hold down Shift, press the Left Arrow key twice times then press the Down Arrow key once time (9_1d). Fill two shapes as shown in the (9_1e) image and the (9_1f) image.

2. Create a (180 x 140)px shape (9_2a). Go to the Effect menu/ Stylize/ Round Corners and enter a 60 Radius and click OK (9_2b). Then go to Object menu/ Expand Appearance (9_2c). Use the Direct Selection tool (A) combine the Shift key to select four anchor points as shown in the (9_2d) image and remove them (9_2e). Now create a (40 x 170)px shape (9_2f) and rotate it -40 degree (9_2g). Place two newly created shapes as shown in the (9_2h) image and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

While the resulting shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Shear. Enter a 15 degree in the Shear Angle box and check Vertical , then click OK.

3. Place the newly created shape as shown in the first image and go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter 20px in the Distance box and 30 in the Angle box and click Copy (9_3b).

Use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select the anchor points highlighted with green circles and then click on the " Cut path at selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar.

Keep working with the Direct Selection tool and combine with the Shift key to select two anchor points highlighted with red circles. Then click on the " Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar (9_3d).

Do the same with two anchor points highlighted with green circles. At this time we’ve just created a shape from the two curves (9_3e).

Repeat the same techniques to create two more shapes from lines segment (9_3f), (9_3g)

Remove the shape as shown (9_3h).

4. Fill the selecting shape with a linear gradient as shown. Then fill two remaining shapes with a 20% black color (9_4a).

Select the last green shape and go to Object/ Path/ Offset Path. Enter a -8px Offset and click OK (9_4b).

While the newly created shape selecting, press Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F to duplicate it. Then select two shapes as shown below and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder panel.

Fill the resulting shape with a linear gradient (9_4d).

Reselect the copied shape in the previous step and fill it with black. Then lowered its Opacity to 70% (9_4e).

Bring the ellipse shape to front (Ctrl + Shift + Right Bracket key) and add a 1px stroke (white). Then go to Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. Enter a -15px Offset and click OK. Then fill the resulting shape with 20% black and stroke 5% black (9_4f).

5. Create a (245 x 130)px shape then go to the Effect menu/ Stylize/ Round Corners. Enter a 40 Radius and click OK (9_5b). With the resulting shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Expand Appearance. Then use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select four anchor points as shown in the (9_5c) image and remove them (9_5d). Now create a (50 x 80)px shape (9_5e) and place it as shown in the (9_5f) image. Select both newly created shapes and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel (9_5g). While the resulting shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Shear. Enter a 15 degree in the Shear Angle box and check Vertical and click OK (9_5h).

6. Place the newly created shape as shown in the first image and go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter 25px in the Distance box and 30 in the Angle box and click Copy (9_6b).

Grab the Horizontal guide in the document and go to Object menu/ Transform/ Rotate. Enter a 30 Angle and click OK. Then place the resulting guide in the correct position as shown (9_6c).

Use the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) add two anchor points in the point highlighted with red circles of the blue shapes (9_6d).

Reselect two newly created anchor points and click on the "Cut path selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar. Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down Shift and click on two positions highlighted with two red arrows. Then select two anchor points highlighted with red circles and click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar.

Select two anchor points as shown below and also connect them. At this time we’ve just created a shape from the two curves (9_6f).

Repeat the same techniques to create one more shape as shown in two images below (9_6g), (9_6h).

Select two shapes as shown below and remove them (9_6i).

7. Fill the selected shape as shown below with the radial gradient (9_7a).

Do the same with two remaining shapes (9_7b), (9_7c).

Bring two ellipse shapes to front (Ctrl + Shift + Right Bracket key) (9_7d).

Select shapes as shown below and group them (9_7e).

Place two Vertical guides and two 30 degree guides in the correct positions as shown below (9_7f).

Duplicate the newly created group and place the copied group in the correct position as shown below. Then send this group to back (Ctrl + Shift + Left Bracket key).

Step 10:

1. Create a (245 x 35)px shape (10_1a). Go to the Effect menu/ Stylize/ Round Corners and enter a 10 Radius and click OK (10_1b). Then go to Object menu/ Expand Appearance (10_1c). While the resulting shape selecting, go to Object menu/ Transform/ Shear. Enter a -30 degree in the Shear Angle box and check Vertical , then click OK (10_1d).

2. Drag the Horizonal guide and rotate it with a -15 degree Angle. Then place this guide and the newly created shape in the correct position (10_2).

3. Reselect the blue shape and duplicate it twice times. Place a copied shape in the position as shown below (10_3). Then lock the remaining copied shape

4. Pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add two anchor points in the points highlighted with red arrow (10_4). Then reselect two newly created anchor points and connect them.

5. Continue add two anchor points in the points highlighted with red arrows as shown below (10_5).

6. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down Shift and click on two positions highlighted with two red arrows. Then select two anchor points highlighted with red circles and click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar (10_6).

7. Remove two selected shapes as shown below (10_7).

8. Reselect the shape created in the step 6 and duplicate it. Lock the copied shape then reselect the original shape and fill it with the linear gradient.

9. With the resulting shape selecting, go to Effect menu/ Texture/ Texturizer. Enter the data shown below and click OK (10_9).

10. Go to Object menu/ Unlock All (Ctrl + Alt + 2). Then fill the selected shape as shown below with the linear gradient (10_10).

11. With the resulting shape selecting, go to Effect menu/ Texture/ Texturizer. Enter the data shown below and click OK (10_11).

12. Reselect the resulting shape and duplicate it. Then remove the Texturizer effect of the copied shape from the Appearance panel. Now select two shapes as shown below then fill them both with none and add a 1px stroke (60% black).

13. Select all shapes created from the (10_1) step to the (10_12) step and group them. Then duplicate this group and place the copied group in the correct position as shown below (10_13).

14. Reselect the group as shown and bring it to front (Ctrl + Shift + Right Bracket key)

15. Now, we’ll add the shading for the resulting shape. Use the Pen tool (P) to create a shape as shown below (10_15a).

Fill the newly created shape with black (stroke : None) and go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 40px Radius and click OK. Finally lowered its Opacity to 50%

The final image is below. I hope you like the tutorial.

Conclusion

As difficult as it looks I’m very sure if you follow my tutorial you will find a lot of help using your skills and images to produce your own creation! Ones again Thank you for using our tutorial, we will be very happy to answer any questions that you may have, You can simply leave a feedback and or a comment bellow.