Vector printer tutorial Illustrator

Hello! Welcome to a new Logolitic tutorial. In this tutorial you will learn how to make a realistic vector printer in Adobe Illustrator.

As you can see I didn`t need to explain too complex because the images contain all you need to know! Images speaks from themselfs.

The result Image:

Let`s start!
Step 1:

First thing you have to do is to make a a square using Rounded Rectangle Tool. Now select Pen Tool and make over the square a shape looking like the yellow one in the next image. It don`t needs to be perfect, just to give the impresion of “3D”.

Now fill them with the following gradients:

Step 2:

Make a new square using the same tool: Rounded Rectangle tool over the gradiented one. Now over the “orange gradiented” square do a line and bring it to front. Select the line and the yellow square and trim them. You will get something like this:

Fill the square with the following gradient:

OBS: I made stroke just to see it better, you don`t need to do it

Step 3:

Using Pen Tool draw the following shape that will be the support of the files:

Fill it with the following gradient:

Step 4:

Under the support, using the same tool: PenTool make the 3D look of the support:

Add the following gradient:

Step 5:

Make a square using Rectangle Tool like I did in the next image:

Add the following gradient:

Step 6:

On this step we are going to make the files. Using Pen Tool make a file shape like I did in the next image.

Add the following gradient:

Duplicate the file did earlier, select Free Transform Tool and holding CTRL+SHIFT drag to the right.

Add the same gradient to the files. Now using Pen Tool make the file shadow. Draw arround the file a shape ( like a stroke but not quite a stroke) and apply the next effects:

Repeat the process and drag the files one to right, one to left etc. You will get something like that:

Using Pen Tool make under the last file a shape that will be the shadow of the files. It`s like you are going to do the stroke of the files on the support. Apply the next effects:

Now you will make the shadow of the files on the right wall of the printer interior. Fill it with a darker gray.

To make the wall of the printer interior looking more realistic, draw using Pen Tool a shape like I did in the next image:

Apply the next gradient:

Now we have to make the left wall looks more realistic too! Draw a shape using Pen Tool and fill it with a darker gray, This will be the shadow of the left wall of the printer exterior.

Step 7:

Using Pen Tool make a rectangle over the printer. This will be the top side of the printer.

Add the following gradient:

Step 8:

Make sure that the square in the previously step is centred. Now in the center of the square make a sharped shape as I did in the next image:

Step 9:

Using Rectangle Tool make inside the previously shape (using like corners the sharped lines of the shape) like in the next image:

Add the following gradient:

Over the sharped shape make a thin line using Pen Tool. It will give the impression of hole, interior.

Add the following gradient:

Step 10:

In this step we will make the files on top. Make using Pen Tool a file shape looking like that:

Add the following gradient:

Duplicate the file, make it smaller (from up to down) and use the bottom files method.

Repeat the process until you will have 3-4 files:

Step 11:

Make the shadow of the top side and reduce the opacity to 15%

Step 12:

In the left side of the files, make a shadow as I did in the next image, and apply the following effects

Step 13:

Make shadow of the files using Pen Tool and apply the following effects:

Step 14:

Add an effect to the white square like I did in the next image and apply the following effects:

Step 15:

Now let`s add some light effects on the both sides of the printer. Using Pen Tool draw a shape like I did in the next image and add the following effects:

Step 16:

Now make 2 shadow shapes to give the impression of “hole” and apply the next effects:

Step 17:

Make in the left side of the printed a shape using Pen Tool and apply the following color. Duplicate it and put it to the right side too.

Step 18:

On the front side of the printer, draw a shape using Pen Tool, fill it with white, duplicate it apply a Black&White gradient, radial coming from top and add layer mask. If you don`t know how to add a layer mask you can see a Layer Mask tutorial HERE :