Illustrator Tutorial: How to Create a Zippo Lighter
Doing anything in Adobe Illustrator really does take two times longer as it can be a little tricky to get your hands around. In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a zippo lighter in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters you will use basic tools (Rectangle, Ellipse, Pen tools) and some basic vector shape building techniques (Transform, Pathfinder, Offset Path…) you will easily create the shapes that you need. Next, you’ll see how you can add depth and shading for your shapes using complex gradients, the Blend options and some effects (Gaussian Blur, Grain…).
Final Result
Let’s see what you will be creating in this tutorial.
Create a Zippo Lighter in Illustrator
Create a New Document
1. Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 800 in the width box and 855 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 Bottom Case
2. The first thing to do is pick the Rectangle Tool (M) from the Tool palette and then use this tool to create a 152px by 64px shape. Next reselect the newly created shape and go to the Object/ Transform/ Shear…Enter the data as shown in the second image below and then click OK.
3. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Stylize/ Round Corners…Enter a 10px Radius and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Expand Appearance.
4. Select and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) the shape once time. Next move the copy 235px up.
5. Now pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and then use this tool to create a 300 by 235px shape. Next place this shape to the correct position as shown below.
6. Select two right anchor points and then move them 26px down.
7. Select the top yellow shape and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it once time. While the copy selected, hold down the Shift, click on the red shape, release the Shift, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and then click on the Minus Back button.
8. Select the bottom yellow shape and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it once time. While the copy selected, hold down the Shift, click on the red shape, release the Shift and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.
9. Select and remove four anchor points highlighted with blue of the newly created shape.
10. Fill the top yellow shape with the linear gradient.
11. Fill the red shape with the linear gradient.
12. Keep the result selected, go to the Effect/ Texture/ Grain…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Effect/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur…Enter a 3 pixels Radius and then click OK.
Create the Lid of the Zippo
13. Next come the Lid of the Zippo. First select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 1 to this time. Next go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy.
14. Select and lock (Ctrl +2) all shapes (except the newly created group). Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag a boundary as shown below. Next move newly selected anchor points 110px up.
15. Send the newly edited group to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).
16. Pick the Lasso Tool (Q) from the Tool palette. Next use this tool to draw a shape as shown in the first image below.
17. Move newly selected anchor points 3px up and then move them 4px to the left.
18. Ungroup the newly edited group (Ctrl +Shift +G). Next select the shape like you see in the image below and go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Expand Appearance.
19. Select all shapes as shown below and then rotate them an angle of about -6 degrees.
20. Select and lock (Ctrl +2) the shape created in the step 18. Next select the shape behind the newly locked shape and then replace the existing color of this shape with new linear gradient.
21. Replace the existing color of the shape selected as shown below. Keep the result selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path...Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the newly created shape with new linear gradient.
22. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) from the Tool palette and then use this tool to create a 10px by 11px shape. Next rotate this ellipse an angle of about 20 degrees.
23. Fill the ellipse with the linear gradient.
24. Keep the result selected, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy (Ctrl +3). Next reselect the newly created ellipse and go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy.
25. Select two newly created ellipses and go to the Object/ Blend/ Blend Options…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object/ Blend/ Make (Ctrl +Alt +B).
26. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the shape hidden in the step 24. While this shape selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 80 in the Scale box and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the result with new linear gradient.
27. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 22 to this time. Next place this group to the correct position as shown in the first image below. Finally press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the second image.
28. Press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock all shapes locked in the previous step. Next select the shape like you see below and then go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -1px Offset and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the result with R=0, G=0, B=0.
29. Select the newly created shape and go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the result with the linear gradient.
30. Reselect the newly created shape and go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform, enter a 93 in the Scale box and then click Copy. Next move the result 9px up and then replace the existing color of it with the linear gradient. Finally reselect the newly edited shape, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy (Ctrl +3).
31. Create a blend between two newly created shapes.
32. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the shape hidden in the step 30. Next replace the existing color of this shape with the radial gradient.
33. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and then use this tool to create a 50px by 110px shape. Next pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and then use this tool to create a 24px by 24px shape.
34. Select the newly created ellipse and go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next press (Ctrl +D) once time to get the result as shown below. Finally select the middle ellipse and then replace the existing color of it with yellow.
35. Select and group (Ctrl +G) three newly created ellipses. While this group selected, hold down the Shift, click on the green rectangle, release the Shift, open the Align palette (Window/ Align) and click on the Vertical Align Center button and then click on the Horizontal Align Center button.
36. Keep the results selected, duplicate them once time and then move the copies to new position. Now select the newly created rectangle and then click on the Transform section at the Properties bar. In the pop-up menu, follow the data as shown below. Finally select and ungroup (Ctrl +Shift +G) the group created in the step 35 (include three ellipses).
37. Select two green ellipses, duplicate them once time and then move the copies 42px to the right. Next select the red rectangle, hold down the Shift, click on the yellow ellipse, release the Shift and click on the red rectangle again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.
38. Select four shapes created in the step 35, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and then click on the Minus Back button. Next select six shapes created in the step 37 and then click on the Minus Back button.
39. Reselect the newly created shape and go to the Object/ Transform/ Shear…Follow the data as shown below and then click OK.
40. Place the result to the correct position as shown below.
41. Keep this shape selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) once time to send the copy backward.
42. Place the green shape created in the step 38 to the correct position as shown below.
43. Reselect the green shape and then reduce width of it like you see in the images below.
44. Reselect the green shape, pick the Shear Tool from the Tool palette and then click on the left side of the green shape. Next hold down the Shift and then drag the mouse anywhere in the document window in an up direction. In the end your shape should look roughly like the second image. Finally, reselect the result and then send it backward (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket).
45. Fill newly created shapes with the linear gradient.
46. Reselect the newly filled shape and then add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for it.
47. Pick the Pen Tool (P) from the Tool palette and then use this tool to create a green shape as shown below.
48. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and then use it to create a 13px by 187px shape.
49. Now select the green shape (created in the step 47), hold down the Shift, click on the yellow rectangle (created in the step 48), release the Shift and then click on the green shape again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.
50. Reselect two newly created shapes, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and then click on the Minus Front button. While the result selected, press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungoup it.
51. Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.
52. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create two shapes as shown below.
53. Set the data for these shapes like you see in the image below.
54. Continue working with the Pen Tool (P). Use this tool to create an shape and then set the data for this shape as shown in the images below.
55. Keep working with the Pen Tool (P). Use this tool to create shapes and then set the data for them as shown in the images below.
56. Reselect the shape created in the beginning step 55 and then add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for it.
57. Select and group (Ctrl +G) two newly created shapes and then duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) this group once time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) once times to send the copy backward and then place it to the correct position as shown in the second image.
Create the Flint Wheel
58. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 75px by 82px shape. Next rotate this ellipse an angle of about 22 degrees.
59. While the result selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Follow the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next reselect two newly created shapes, duplicate them once time and then hide the copies (Ctrl +3).
60. Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.
61. Create a blend between two newly filled shapes.
62. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show two shapes hidden in the step 59. Next select the shape as shown in the second image, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy. Now reselect two yellow remaining ellipses, open the Pathfinder palette (Window/ Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button.
63. Fill the result with the linear gradient.
64. Reselect the newly filled shape and go to the Effect/ Texture/ Texturizer…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for the result. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency) and select the Overlay in the Blending Mode.
65. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the yellow shape hidden in the step 62. While the shape selected, go to the Object/ Path/ Offset Path…Enter a -6px Offset and then click OK.
66. Set the data for two newly created shapes as shown in the images below.
67. Reselect the newly filled shape and then add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for it. Next open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency), select the Overlay in the Blending Mode and enter a 70 in the Opacity box.
68. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created form beginning step 58 to this time. Next place this group to the correct position as shown in the first image. Finally press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the second image below.
69. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 26px by 28px shape. Next rotate this ellipse an angle of about 22 degrees.
70. Fill the result with R=0, G=0, B=0 and then place it to the correct position as shown below.
71. Keep the result selected, duplicate it once time and move the copy 1px to the left. Next replace the existing color of the copy with the linear gradient.
72. Add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for the newly edited shape.
Create the Tube Insert
73. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 40px by 20px shape. Next fill this ellipse with the linear gradient.
74. Select the newly created shape and go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 92 in the Scale box and then click Copy. Next move the copy 5px up and then replace the existing color of it with new linear gradient. Finally reselect the newly filled ellipse, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy.
75. Make a blend between two newly created ellipses.
76. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the ellipse hidden in the previous step. Next replace the existing color of this ellipse with new linear gradient.
77. Keep the newly edited ellipse selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 78 in the Scale box and then click Copy. Next replace the existing color of the copy with new linear gradient.
78. While the newly edited ellipse selected, duplicate it once time and then move the copy 7px up. Next replace the existing color of the copy with new linear gradient. Finally reselect the result, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy.
79. Make a blend between two newly created ellipses.
80. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the ellipse hidden in the previous step and then go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 84 in the Scale box and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the result with R=0, G=0, B=0.
81. Add the Gaussian Blur effect for the newly edited ellipse.
82. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 73 to this time. Next place the group to the correct position as shown in the first image. Finally press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many time to send this group backward.
83. In the end your artwork should look like the image shown.
Create the Cam
84. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and then use this tool to create an shape as shown in the first image. Next fill the shape with the linear gradient.
85. Add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for the newly filled shape.
86. Continue working with the Pen Tool (P). Use this tool to create two shapes and then set the data for them as shown in the images below.
87. Select two newly created shapes and go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Follow the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) twice times to send the copies backward.
88. Replace the existing color of the shape selected as shown below with new linear gradient.
89. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an shape as shown below. Next fill this shape with the linear gradient.
90. Select the newly filled shape, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy. Next reselect the newly filled shape again and then go to the Object/ Transform/ Move…Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next send the copy backward (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket).
91. Make a blend between two newly created shapes.
92. Show the shape hidden in the previous step. Next replace the existing color of it with new linear gradient. Finally add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for the result.
93. Select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 89 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to send this group backward.
94. Duplicate two shapes selected as shown below once time and then move the copies to the new position.
95. While the copies selected, go to the Object/ Transform/ Scale…Check the Uniform and enter a 78 in the Scale box and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the copy selected as shown in the second image with new linear gradient.
96. Reselect two newly created shapes and then place them to the correct position as shown below.
97. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 89 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown in the second image.
Create a Logo for the Zippo
98. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an shape as shown below.
99. Fill the newly created shape with R=35, G=0, B=0.
100. Reselect and duplicate the newly filled shape once time. Next replace the existing color of the copy with R=67, G=49, B=29. Finally move the result 2px up and then move it 4px to the right.
101. Select two anchor points highlighted with yellow and move it 1px up and then move them 4px to the right.
102. Continue select two anchor points highlighted with yellow and move it 1px up and then move them 4px to the left. Next reselect the newly edited shape, duplicate it once time and then hide the copy.
103. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create two green shapes as shown below.
104. Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.
105. Add the effects (Grain and Gaussian Blur) for two newly filled shapes.
106. Show the shape hidden in the previous step. Next replace the existing color of this shape with the linear gradient.
107. While the newly edited shape selected, go to the Effect/ Texture/ Stained Glass…Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for the result. Finally open the Transparency palette (Window/ Transparency) and select the Overlay in the Blending Mode.
108. Open the Character palette (Window/ Type/ Character) and then enter the data as shown below. Next pick the Type Tool (T) from the Tool palette, click on the document and enter the text " ippoLighter".
109. Reselect the newly created text and double-click on the Shear Tool icon from the Tool palette. Enter the data as shown below and then click OK.
110. Place the result to the correct position as shown below. Next select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 98 to this time.
111. In the end your artwork should look roughly like the image.
Create the Flame for the Zippo
112. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an shape as shown in the first image below. Next fill this shape with the radial gradient.
113. Add the Gaussian Blur effect for the newly filled shape. Next lowered the Opacity of the result to 90%.
114. Continue use the Pen Tool (P) to create two shapes as shown below.
115. Set the data for two newly created shapes as shown in the images below.
116. Continue create an shape as shown below.
117. Fill the newly created shape with the radial gradient. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for the result.
118. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create an shape as shown in the first image. Next fill this ellipse with R=255, G=255, B=196. Finally add the Gaussian Blur effect for the newly filled shape.
119. Keep working with the Ellipse Tool (L). Use this tool to create an shape as shown below.
120. Fill the ellipse with the radial gradient. Next add the Gaussian Blur effect for it and then lowered its Opacity to 80%. Finally send the result to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).
121. Continue use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 208px by 222px shape.
122. Fill the ellipse with the radial gradient.
123. Add the Gaussian Blur effect for the resultk, lowered its Opacity to 20% and then send this shape to back.
124. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 112 to this time. Next press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) many times to get the result as shown below.
125. In the end your artwork should look like the image shown.
Create the Background
126. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 800px by 855px shape. Next fill this rectangle with the radial radient.
127. Now select all shapes (except the newly created rectangle) and then place them to the position as shown below.
128. Select the shape created in the step 3 and then fill it with R=0, G=0, B=0 (Stroke =none).
129. Select shapes like you see in the image below and then duplicate them once time.
130. Move the copies down to the correct position as shown below.
131. Press (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket) to send newly created shapes to back. Next press (Ctrl +Right Square Bracket) to bring them forward.
132. Select the group created in the step 110 and then double-click on the Reflect Tool icon from the Tool palette. Check the Horizontal and then click OK.
133. Keep the result selected, double-click on the Shear Tool icon from the Tool palette. Follow the data as shown below and then click OK. Next move the result 23px up.
134. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an shape as shown below.
135. Fill the newly created shape with the radial gradient.
The final image is below.
Final Result
Here’s the final result. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson. I hope you’ve discovered some useful things in this tutorial. The final result image is below. Enjoy!
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.
Download Result Source Files
- Download .ai Source File (.zip, 15.70 MB)
This is awesome! the final zippo lighter looks more like a real photographed image than what was designed from the scratch. This is really good.
Thank you ..
Great article, thank you. You presented those concepts in such accessible way. It helped me a lot. Best regards.
Pleasant course,,, i hope i’m able to understand considerably more from the another course. Cheers for giving your expertise as well as experience! Incredibly comprehensive as well as effectively considered. thank you..