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 desk lamp by using some basic tools, vector shape building techniques, complex gradients, duplicated shapes and some effects. So let’s begin!

Final Result

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

Create a Desk Lamp 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 1100 in the width box and 900 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 Lamp Base

2. Start with drawing a 208 by 49px ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L). Keep the ellipse selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a 5px Offset and click OK. Next replace the existing stroke color of the new ellipse with red and then move it 24px down.

3. Before you continue, reselect the black ellipse, duplicate it (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) and then lock the copy (Ctrl +2). Now select four anchor points highlighted with blue and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar. This make two ellipses become four paths. Select two paths as shown in the second image and then remove them. Focus on the fourth image, select two anchor points highlighted with blue and click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar. Likewise, do the same for the two anchor points highlighted with magenta. Finally select the newly created object and fill it with R=91, G=90, B=88.

4. Press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock the black ellipse and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown below. Keep the resulting shape selected, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it and replace the existing color of the copy with R=155, G=155, B=152, then go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather… Enter a 5px Radius and click OK.

5. Now, follow the sequence of images and draw some details similar to the ones from below.

6. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created in the step 5. Now select the shape created in the step 3, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this shape and bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the new shape selected, hold down the Shift and click on the group created in this step, then go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7).

7. With the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 28 by 7px ellipse and then place it to the correct position as shown below. Reselect the new ellipse and go to the Object > Transform > Scale… In the Scale dialog box, check the Uniform and enter a 82 in the Scale box, then click Copy. Replace the existing stroke color of the new ellipse with blue and then move it 30px up. Before you continue, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) two newly created ellipses and then hide the copies. Now focus on the third image, select four anchor points highlighted with black and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar. This make two ellipses become four paths. Select two paths as shown in the fourth image and then remove them. Focus on the fifth image, select two anchor points highlighted with black and click on the "Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar. Likewise, do the same for the two anchor points highlighted with magenta.

8. Before you continue, press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show two ellipses hidden in the step 7. Next fill the red object created in the step 7 with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Fill the blue ellipse with R=128, G=130, B=133 and fill the red ellipse with R=35, G=31, B=32, then move it 1px down.

9. Now, follow the sequence of images and draw some details similar to the ones from below.

10. Create three objects, then fill them and arrange them as shown in the images below.

11. With the Line Segment Tool (\) create seven horizontal lines as shown below. Once your lines are drawn, fill them with none and add a 1px stroke (R=167, G=169, B=172). Now select the biggest shape created in the step 10, make a copy of it and then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the new shape selected, hold down the Shift and click on the seven newly created lines, then go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7). At this point your lamp base should look like in the final image.

12. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created from beginning step 7 to this time, then go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Horizontal and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) to hide the copy behind the original group. Next move the new group down to the position like you see in the second image. Now select the ellipse with feather effect applied in the step 3 and press (Ctrl +C) to copy this ellipse. Next click on the newly created group and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the copy in front of this group. Replace the existing color of the new ellipse with the radial gradient like you see in the fourth image. Make sure that the resulting ellipse is still selected, then go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance) and click on the Feather section. In the Feather box, enter a 10px Radius and click OK.

13. Using the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 24 by 6px ellipse and then place it to the position as shown below. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this ellipse, replace the existing stroke color of the copy with black and then move it 16px up. Do the same as the step 7 to create the red object like you see in the third image. Next fill the black ellipse and the red object with the linear gradient as shown in the fourth and the fifth image. Now select the red ellipse and increase its size a bit, then fill it with R=35, G=31, B=32.

14. To add more detail, first using the Pen Tool (P) and create a curved path as shown below. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (apply the linear gradient within stroke), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting path. The lamp base is ready and looks like you see in the third image below.

15. Next come the base joint. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) create an object as shown below. Once your object is drawn, fill it with R=148, G=150, B=147. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape and replace the existing color of the copy with R=26, G=26, B=22, then press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) to send it backward. Next move this new shape 3px up and 3px to the left.

Create the Dual Struts

16. Using the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 11 by 386px object. Reselect the new rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate… Enter a -18 degrees Angle and click OK, then place the resulting object to the position as shown below. Fill this rectangle with the linear gradient as shown in the third image. Next make a copy of the resulting rectangle, replace the existing color of the copy with R=81, G=81, B=80 and move the resulting rectangle 2px to the left, then press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) to send it backward.

17. With the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 13 by 366px object. Reselect the new rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate… Enter a -18 degrees Angle and click OK, then place the resulting object to the position as shown below. Fill this rectangle with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Next make a copy of the resulting rectangle, replace the existing color of the copy with R=81, G=81, B=80 and move the resulting rectangle 2px to the left, then press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) to send it backward.

18. Now, follow the sequence of images and draw some other dual struts similar to the ones from below.

Create the Elbow Joints

19. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create third ellipses with dimensions: 9 by 9px, 11 by 11px and 18 by 18px, then place these ellipses to the positions as shown below. Now using the Pen Tool (P) create an object like you see in the second image. Once your object is drawn, reselect it and three red ellipses, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Unite button. Focus on the fifth image, using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on two points highlighted with green. Next select the anchor point highlighted with yellow and remove it. Finally using the Direct Selection Tool (A) adjust the shape of the black object like you see in the final image.

20. Place the black object created in the step 19 to the correct position as shown below and then fill it with R=88, G=89, B=91. Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape, replace the existing color of the copy with the linear gradient as shown in the third image and then move it 2px to the right. Make sure that the newly created shape is still 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 R=238, G=238, B=237. Next move the resulting shape 1px up and 1px to the right. Finally arrange the shapes created in this step like you see in the final image.

21. Select three shapes created in the step 20 and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Vertical and click Copy, then place the copies to the correct positions as shown below. Next replace the existing color of the white shape with R=238, G=238, B=237 and then replace the existing color of the black shape with R=34, G=33, B=31.

22. Continue create two objects as shown below and fill them with R=253, G=253, B=250, then send the resulting shapes to back.

23. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 11 by 11px ellipse, then fill it with R=100, G=99, B=95. Make a copy of the resulting shape and replace the existing color of the copy with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Next move it 1px down and 1px to the right. Keep the newly created ellipse selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -2.5px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing color of the new ellipse with R=65, G=65, B=62. Next select three ellipses created in this step and send them to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

24. Let’s work on creation of screws. With the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 7 by 7px ellipse and then fill it with R=0, G=0, B=24. Make a copy of the newly created ellipse, then replace the existing color of the copy with R=225, G=225, B=223 and move the resulting ellipse 0.5px up. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and create a horizontal line as shown in the third image. Fill the line with none and add a 2px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke). Now select the white ellipse created in this step, duplicate it once and then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the new ellipse selected, hold down the Shift and click on the horizontal line, then go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7). Likewise, repeat the same process to draw more screws. Finally place the newly created screws to the positions like you see in the last images below.

Create the Springs

25. With the Line Segment Tool (\) create a horizontal line of length 114px, with a 1px stroke and no fill. Keep the line selected and go to the Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag… Follow the data as shown below and click OK, then replace the existing color of the resulting object with the linear gradient within stroke. Make sure that the resulting object is still selected, rotate it an angle of about -22 degrees and then place it to the position as shown in the fourth image. Next create two curved paths like you see in the fifth image. Once your paths are drawn, fill the red path with none and add a 1px stroke (R=65, G=64, B=66). Then fill the remaining path with none and add a 1px stroke (R=167, G=169, B=172). Now select three objects created in this step and group (Ctrl +G) them, then hide this group behind the screws.

26. Likewise, repeat the same process as the previous steps to draw another spring.

27. At this point your lamp should look like in the next image:

28. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create threes rectangles with dimensions: 19 by 15px, 29 by 14px and 19 by 11px. Now select the black and the magenta rectangle, then rotate these rectangles an angle of about -6 degrees. Next select the red rectangle and rotate it an angle of about 30 degrees. Then place these rectangles to the positions like you see in the third image. After you are done arranging the rectangles, fill them with the linear gradient. To add more detail, first draw a path as shown in the seventh image. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (apply the linear gradient within stroke). Finally select all objects created in this step and send them to back.

Create the Lamp Shade

29. Using the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 190 by 78px ellipse. Make two copies (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) of this ellipse, then replace the existing stroke color of a copy with blue and move the top anchor point of the blue ellipse 76px up. Next select the remaining copy and the blur object, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Back button. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) along with the Shift, adjust the shape of the blue object like you see in the final image below.

30. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 56 by 38px object. With the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), add a point highlighted with green and move this anchor point 18px up, then place the object just edited to the position as shown in the fourth image. Reselect the blue object created in the step 29 and duplicate it once. Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift and click on the red object created in this step, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Back button. Next select the top anchor point of the resulting object and click on the "Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar. Now with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) along with the Shift, adjust the shape of the red object like you see in the seven image below. Finally fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the final image.

31. To add some details, first draw a curved path as shown below. Once your path is draw, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (R=68, G=63, B=55), then apply the Width Profile 1 for the resulting path. Continue create two red objects like you see in the third image. Next fill these objects with R=242, G=242, B=243 and then apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shapes.

32. Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool, simply click on your artboard and enter the data as shown in the first image, then click OK. Make sure that the rounded rectangle is still selected and go to the Object > Expand… Click on the OK when the Expand box appear, then press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup the result. Make two copies (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) of the rounded rectangle and then reduce the width of the two copies. Next place three newly created objects to the positions like you see in the second image. Now reselect these objects and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Set the Axis to Vertical and then click Copy. Drag the copies we have just created to the right. Don’t forget to hold the Shift key on the keyboard for straight dragging. Reselect all six objects created in this step and go to the Effect > Ward > Arch… In the Ward Options box, follow the data like you see in the fourth image and click OK, then go to the Object > Expand Appearance and press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup the result. Now select and remove three objects as shown in the fifth image. Finally fill three remaining objects with R=9, G=8, B=6.

33. To add some details, first create two curved paths as shown below. Next fill these paths with none and add a 1px stroke (R=225, G=224, B=226), then apply the Width Profile 3 for the resulting path. Continue create a vertical line like you see in the third image. Once your line is drawn, fill it with none and add a 2px stroke (R=255, G=255, B=255). Next open the Stroke palette (Window > Stroke) and click on the Round Cap button.

34. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all objects created from beginning step 32 to this time, then go to the Object > Transform > Reflect… Check the Vertical and click Copy. Drag the copy we have just created to the right. Don’t forget to hold the Shift key on the keyboard for straight dragging.

35. Select and group all objects created from beginning step 29 to this time. Next rotate this group an angle of about -28 degrees, then place the resulting group to the position as shown below.

36. Before you continue, reselect the group created in the step 35 and ungoup it. Next select the blue object and fill it with the radial gradient as shown below.

37. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) create three objects and fill them as shown in the images below, then apply the Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shapes. Next reselect these shapes and group them. Now select the shape created in the step 36, duplicate it and bring the copy to front. Keep the new shape selected, hold down the Shift and click on the new group created in this step, then go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7).

38. Fill the red ellipse with the radial gradient as shown below. Make a copy of the resulting ellipse, then remove the fill color of the copy and add a 2px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke). Next pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 60 by 60px object. Place this ellipse to the position like you see in the third image and fill it with R=252, G=251, B=246, then hide the resulting ellipse behind the front of the lamp shade. At this point your lamp should look like in the final image below.

39. It’s time to draw the cords. With the Pen Tool (P) create two objects as shown below. Once your objects are drawn, fill the red object with R=61, G=60, B=55. Next fill the blue path with none and add a 6px stroke (R=65, G=64, B=66). Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting path, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with the linear gradient along stroke and change the stroke weight of it to 1px. Reselect the new shape created in this step and bring it to front. Next select three newly created objects created in this step and then send them to back.

40. Likewise, repeat the same process as the previous steps to draw more cord. In the end your lamp should look roughly like the fifth image. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from beginning step 2 to this time, then name it "Desk_Lamp".

Create a Background

41. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) create a 1050 by 886px object. Next fill this rectangle with the radial gradient as shown below. Then place the "Desk_Lamp" group into the background like you see in the second image.

42. Using the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 218 by 57px ellipse and place it to the position as shown below. Fill this ellipse with R=0, G=0, B=0 and then hide it behind the lamp. With the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 482 by 77px ellipse and then place it to the position like you see in the third image. Fill the new ellipse with the radial gradient as shown in the fourth image and apply a 10px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape, then hide it behind the smaller ellipse created in this step.

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, 1.07 MB)