Adobe Illustrator can be a little tricky to get your hands around, particularly after getting used to the workflow of applications like Photoshop. The differences between layer use and the creation of objects and shapes can be really strange at first hand.

In the following tutorial you will learn to create a Super Nintendo Controller by using some basic tools, the Align palette, vector shape building techniques, gradients, duplicated shapes and more. So let’s begin!

Final Result

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

Create a Realistic 3D Super Nintendo Controller 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 716 in the width box and 500 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 Shapes

2. Start with drawing a 276 by 276px using the Ellipse Tool (L). Duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) this ellipse once and then move the copy 380px to the right. Next pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use this tool to create a 380 by 242px object, then place it to the correct position like you see in the second image.

3. Select the left ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -63px Offset and then click OK. Next select the right ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -15px Offset and then click OK. Now select two biggest ellipses, hold down the Shift, click on the rectangle and open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder), then click on the Unite button.

4. Make sure that the newly created object is still selected, pick the Add Anchor Points Tool (+) and add four anchor points highlighted with blue (pic.1). Next select and remove two anchor points highlighted with magenta (pic.3). Now pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), hold the Shift, click on the left anchor point highlighted with red (pic.5) and drag it to the right. Next hold down the Shift, click on the right anchor point highlighted with red and drag it to the left.

5. Fill the biggest object with R=168, G=170, B=170. Next fill the small ellipse with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting shape selected, go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -3px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing color of the new shape with R=163, G=165, B=164.

6. Draw an object with the Rounded Rectangle Tool like in the image. Keep the new object selected, hold down the Shift, click on the red ellipse, release the Shift and then click on the red ellipse again (to fixed its position). Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align) and click on the Vertical Align Center button. Now reselect the new object and the red ellipse and open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder), then click on the Minus Front button. Make sure that the new shape is still selected and double-click on the Rotate Tool. In the Rotate box, enter a -38 degrees Angle and then click OK. Finally fill the resulting object with R=113, G=118, B=121 and add a 1px stroke (R=65, G=64, B=66).

Create the Buttons

7. With the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 64 by 96px object. Remove the top-right anchor point of the new object and then move the bottom-right anchor point 48px up. Reselect the new object, pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt and click on the anchor point highlighted with red. In the Reflect box, check the Vertical and then click Copy. Next reselect two newly created objects, open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Unite button. Now select the shape created in the step 6, hold down the Shift, click on the new object, release the Shift and then click on the object created in the step 6 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.

8. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), hold down the Alt and click on the right anchor point of the new object. In the Ellipse dialog box, enter a 61 in the Width box and enter a 61 in the Height box, then click OK. Keep the new ellipse selected, go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -7px Offset and then click OK. Reselect two newly created ellipses, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) them once and then move the copies 80px to the right.

9. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 80 by 61px object and then place it to the correct position like you see in the image below. Keep the new rectangle selected, hold down the Shift, click on two bigger ellipses and open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder), then click on the Unite button. Make sure that the resulting object is still selected, hold down the Shift and click on two remaining ellipses. Next pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the left anchor point of the blue object. In the Rotate box, enter a 38 degrees Angle and then click OK. Keep the resulting objects selected, duplicate them once and move the copies 46px up, then move them 64px to the right. Finally remove the blue object.

Create the Crossed Area and the Buttons

10. Using the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 112 by 40px object. Select the ellipse created in the step 5, hold down the Shift, click on the new rectangle, release the Shift and then click on the ellipse created in the step 5 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. Reselect the rectangle and double-click on the Rotate Tool. In the Rotate box, enter a 90 degrees Angle and then click Copy. Reselect two new rectangles and click on the Unite button from Pathfinder palette. Make sure that the new object is still selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Keep the new object selected, go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK.

11. Show the Rulers (View/ View Rulers /Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R), then drag a horizontal and vertical guide from the Rulers (if the guides locked, go to the View/ Guides/ Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Next select a cross object, hold down the Shift, click on two newly created guides, release the Shift and then click on the cross object again (to fixed its position). Open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Now pick the Ellipse Tool (L), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of two guides. In the Ellipse dialog box, enter a 28 in the Width box and enter a 28 in the Height box, then click OK.

12. With the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 26 by 24px object. Keep the new rectangle selected, hold down the Shift, click on the smallest cross object and then click on the smallest cross object again. Next open the Align palette (Window/ Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Bottom button. Now remove the bottom-right anchor point of the new rectangle and then move the bottom-left anchor point 13px to the right. Reselect the new triangle, pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt and click on the intersection point of two guides. In the Rotate box, enter a 90 degrees Angle and then click Copy. Next press (Ctrl +D) twice times to get the results like you see in the final image below.

13. Select the yellow object created in the step 9 and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… In the Scale dialog box, check the Uniform and enter a 44 in the Scale box, then click Copy. Next place the copy to the correct position as shown below. Keep the new object selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -5px Offset and then click OK. Now reselect two newly created objects, duplicate them once and then move the copies 70px to the right.

14. Select all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… Check the Non-Uniform and enter a 94 in the Vertical box, then click OK.

Fill the Objects at the Right Area

15. It’s time to fill the objects created in the previous steps. Fill two yellow objects created in the step 9 with R=162, G=163, B=160 and add a 1px stroke (R=65, G=64, B=66). Next fill four ellipses with R=0, G=0, B=0. Keep the resulting ellipses selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1px Offset and then click OK. Next replace the existing color of the copies like you see in the third image below. Reselect four newly created ellipses, duplicate them once and then move the copies 4px up. Next replace the existing color of the copies like you see in the fourth image below. Finally make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of four newly created ellipses and then hide the copies (Ctrl +3).

16. Select two yellow shapes of the bottom button and go to the Object > Blend > Blend Option… Follow the data as show below and then click OK. Next go to the Object > Blend > Make (Ctrl +Alt +B). Likewise, repeat the same techniques for the remaining three buttons. In the end it should look like the third image shown.

17. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show four ellipses hidden in the previous step. Keep these ellipse selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow…Follow the data like you see in the image and then click OK.

18. We are going to start making highlights on the buttons to give them more of a 3D look. First draw four curved paths with the Pen Tool (P) like in the image. Once your paths are drawn, select the curved path of the top button, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (apply the radial gradient within stroke), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the result. Now, follow the sequence of images and fill the curved paths of the remaining three buttons similar to the ones from below.

Fill the Objects at the Crossed Area

19. Focus on the acrossed area, select the smallest across object, four triangles and the ellipses, then hide them (Ctrl +3). Now select the biggest across object and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners…Enter a 4px Radius and click OK, then fill the resulting object with R=116, G=107, B=104. Next select the remaining across object and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners…Enter a 3px Radius and click OK. Then fill the resulting object with R=35, G=31, B=32 and move it 1px down.

20. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show objects hidden in the step 19 and then move them 5px up. Reselect the across object and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners…Enter a 2px Radius and click OK. Fill the resulting object with R=60, G=51, B=49, then duplicate it once and hide the copy. Now reselect two smaller across shapes and create a blend between them. Next show the across shape hidden in this step and replace the existing color of it with the radial gradient.

21. Fill the red ellipse with the radial gradient as shown below. Next select four triangles and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners…Enter a 5px Radius and click OK, then fill the resulting objects with R=65, G=61, B=58. Keep the resulting shapes selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1px Offset and then click OK. Replace the existing color of the top copy and the right copy with R=66, G=66, B=66. Next replace the existing color of the bottom copy and the left copy with R=61, G=61, B=61.

22. We are going to start making highlights on the acrossed area to give it more of a 3D look. First draw a curved paths with the Pen Tool (P) like in the image. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (R=168, G=176, B=178), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the result. Continue draw four other curved paths with the Pen Tool (P). Once your paths are drawn, fill them with none and add a 0.5px stroke (R=191, G=177, B=163), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the results.

23. With the Line Segment Tool (\) create three horizontal paths. Next fill these paths with none and add a 0.5px stroke (R=248, G=248, B=248), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the results. Keep the resulting objects selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 1px Radius and then click OK. In the end your controller should look roughly like the third image.

Fill the Objects at the Center Area

24. Focus on the center of the controller, select the bigger object of the left button and fill it with the linear gradient. Next fill the remaining object with R=9, G=9, B=8. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing color of the new shape with the radial gradient as shown in the third image. Now with the Line Segment Tool (\) create a path like you see in the fourth image. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 2px stroke (R=97, G=105, B=104), then apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the result.

25. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created in the step 24. Make a copy of the new group and then move the copy 70px to the right. Finally remove two yellow objects.

Add the Text

26. Now pick the Type Tool (T), open the Character palette (Window > Type > Character) and set the data as shown below. Next simply click on your artboard and add the text "A", "B", "X" and "Y", then place them to the positions as shown below. Now repick the Type Tool (T), open the Character palette (Window > Type > Character) and set the data as shown in the second image. Next add the text "SELECT", "START" and then place them to the position like you see in the second image.

27. Continue with the Type Tool (T), set the data in the Character palette as shown below and add the text "SUPER NINTENDO", then place this text as shown in the first image. Next create a 160 by 10px object with the Rectangle Tool (M), fill this rectangle with R=54, G=58, B=58 and then place the resulting shape to the position like you see in the second image. Repick the Type Tool (T) and add the text "ENTERTAIMENT SYSTEM". Use the same font with the text "SUPER NINTENDO", but decrease the font size and replace the existing color of the new text with R=183, G=184, B=184. Finally place this text to the correct position as shown in the third image.

28. Select the biggest shape created in the step 5, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) it twice and hide a copy. Next replace the existing color of the remaining copy with the linear gradient as shown below. Once we are done with this gradient, move the resulting shape 20px down and then send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

Adding some Highlights and Shadow on the Controller

29. Show the shape hidden in the step 28, remove the fill color of this shape and then add a 1px stroke (red color). Keep the new object selected, select two anchor points highlighted with black and then click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar. Now reselect the top path, fill it with none and add a 2px stroke (R=109, G=110, B=113), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the result. Next select the remaining path, fill it with none and add a 2px stroke (R=230, G=231, B=232), then apply the Width Profile 1 and 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the result.

30. With the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 172 by 19px object and fill this object with the linear gradient. Continue create another object with the Pen Tool (P) like you see in the third image, then fill this object with R=241, G=231, B=229. Now reselect two newly created shapes and apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect for them.

31. Select and group (Ctrl +G) three blurred objects created from beginning step 29 to this time. Next select the biggest shape created in the step 28, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it once and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the new shape selected, hold down the Shift, click on the new group and go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7).

32. Select the biggest shape created in the step 5 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data as shown below and then click OK.

Create the Cable

33. Draw a curved path with the Pen Tool (P) like in the image. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 15px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke), then go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Follow the data as shown in the second image and then click OK. Next send the result to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). Finally select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created from beginning step 2 to this time.

Create the Background

34. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 716 by 500px object. Next fill this object with R=241, G=242, B=242. The last thing to do is place the new group to the position as shown in the second image. We are done with the controller for the moment. I hope you enjoy this tutorial.

Final Result

Here is what the completed design looks like. Hope you enjoy this 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 below.

Download Result Source Files

• Download .ai Source File (.zip, 0.90 MB)