In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a fun icon made up of mesh object and blends. This is a fairly easy tutorial, although you should be familiar with the mesh tool. Let's get started!
Final Image Preview
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Step 1
Open up a new document and draw a similar shape as you see in the image below with the Pen Tool (T). This will be the basic ice cream shape.
Step 2
I picked several shades of brown and grouped them in the Swatch Palette. This is optional, since you might want to create a vanilla or strawberry flavor of ice cream. Fill the shape with the darkest brown.
Step 3
Select the Mesh Tool (U) and start adding mesh points by clicking on the outline of the shape in a vertical manner. If you make a mistake, you can easily undo this by pressing the Alt key and clicking on the mesh point.
Step 4
Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A) and click on the outer point top-left. Then fill the point with a lighter brown. We just created our first highlight.
Step 5
Keep adding mesh points and select them and give them a different color.
Step 6
Start adding mesh lines on the horizontal. Keep in mind that you should place three mesh lines close together. Then pick a mesh point on the middle mesh line and fill it with a lighter brown. This will create the highlight.
Step 7
Repeat this with several other lines on the horizontal with this. Go by feeling and set the highlights like you have in mind.
Step 8
Sometimes you might want to add another mesh point and set it close to another and fill it with a darker brown.
Step 9
Once you move up on the shape, place the mesh points closer together and create more highlights.
Step 10
Sometimes you might have to go back and change the colors around, from dark to light or light to dark.
Step 11
You want to make sure that you place a light point next to a dark point. Select only one mesh point on a mesh line. This will keep the highlight more natural looking.
Step 12
This is how the mesh shape should look like.
Step 13
And here is a preview without the shape selected.
Step 14
Let's move on to the cone. Create an ellipse shape with the Ellipse Tool (L) and fill it with a golden brown linear gradient. Set the Stroke to a darker brown.
Step 15
Make a copy of it and scale it down. Choose a slightly darker gradient.
Step 16
Select both ellipses, go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and choose Specified Steps. The number will depend on how far apart the shapes where placed.
Step 17
Create a path like you see in the images below. Set the Stroke to the same color as the ellipse and duplicate it several times.
Step 18
Create a copy of the blend shape and expand the appearance. Then set the fill to none and place it on top of the shapes you just duplicated.
Step 19
Select all the lines and the cone outline and apply a Clipping Mask to it (Command + 7).
Step 20
Place the clipped shape on top of the cone shape.
Step 21
Place the mesh shape over the top of the cone. As you can see, we need some slightly melted ice cream on the side.
Step 22
Create a droopy looking shape and add a mesh point in the middle. Give it a lighter brown by selecting the point with the Direct Selection Tool (A)
Step 23
Just because that was so much fun, let's repeat this. Add another drop of ice cream.
Step 24
Select the clipped shape of the cone and add a Drop Shadow to it. (Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow).
Step 25
Create a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool (M) and fill it with a yellow to blue radial gradient. Set the gradient yellow highlight towards the top-left corner. Place this shape behind all the other shapes.
Step 26
Duplicate the mesh shapes on top and set the Layer Mode to Multiply with an Opacity of 70%.
Step 27
Duplicate the small mesh drop on top and set the Layer Mode to Multiply with an Opacity of 100%.
Step 28
This step is the quickest way to create a starburst. Create a circle and fill it with the blue from the background. Set the Layer Mode to Multiply at 25%.
Step 29
Then select it and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > ZigZag, with 100pt size, Absolute, Ridges per segment at 100, and Points set to corner.
Step 30
There you go. The fastest way of creating a simple starburst.
Step 31
Create a shape like you see in the image below. This will resemble the sand. Fill it with a beige linear gradient and place it behind the cone shapes.
Step 32
Repeat Step 31 and place the shape this time in front of the cone shape. Offset it a little to the left or right.
Step 33
Duplicate it again and place it in front again
Conclusion
This is it. I created a small stylized border (you might say it resembles a stamp) and cut out a window allowing the ice cream and background to look through. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
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