1.Create a rectangle (81.454mm W x 153.802mm H) using 1.720mm outline. Press 'P' on keyboard to centre the image to page. Set up guidelines in the usual way for 'snap-to' later on. (see Fig.1) Tip: Zoom in to a corner of the rectangle, and align the guidelines vertically and horizontally to the centre of the node.
2. To add the curve to the corners of the rectangle, clickand drag the corner node (see Figs.2and 3). By default, the rectangle will automatically change the offset to all corners at once, which in this case is set at '12? . Tip: use 'snap to guidelines' and manually edit the nodes for projects where the auto-constrain distorts the scale of the corner (e.g. rectangles where the height/width ratio is severe).
3. It's worth mentioning that you can edit the corners separately using the individual settings (see Fig.3). It's not relevant to this project, but useful to know.
4. Once you have the corners sorted out, convert the out line to an object (convert to curves), and select the wireframe view. You will see three lines, the centre one being your original outline, the other two comprising the newly created object. Delete the centre line and go back to normal view (see Fig.4) Tip: The deleted outline is actually an object in its own right, and can be used as a background to the new object. To see it, instead of deleting it, order it to front [Arrange/Order/To Front] in wireframe view, and select a different colour. Go to normal view, and order it to back again. Note: don't use this for current tutorial.
5. Now were ready to add the gradient fill to the object. Open the gradient fill docker, and add the following custom settings (see Fig.5). Settings are as follows. 1. RGB 153/153/153 - 2. 132/130/130 - 3. 223/223/222 - 4. 25/25/25 - 5. 25/25/25. The edge pad is 9 and the angle is 45 degrees. The reason I have chosen RGB over CMYK, is that I wish to use the graphic online. If you need to use this graphic for print, you can convert it to CMYK at any time.
6. Once you have the gradient sorted out, you need to select the object and break it apart. Go to [Arrange/Break apart] (see Fig.6). Go to wireframe view and you will see two objects. Select the inner object (phone's face), order it to front, and fill it black. Tip: You can reverse this process at any time, by combining objects.
7. Caution: As we are working in a single layer document (with multiple layers on object), things can get messy. As it is difficult to work with the 'snap' on permanently, it is best to toggle the 'snap-to' as required. If objects come out of alignment, select them. Press 'Ctrl P' to re-align. Then check the guidelines to make sure they haven't moved and toggle the 'snap-to' as required (see Fig.7). Tip: Working in a single layer document with multiple layers on objects is much faster, and preferable for smaller graphics. If you are creating a complex vector (100 layers upwards), then I advise using multi- layer documents.
8. Now we come to the phone's screen. Create a rectangle (65.024mm W x 86.73mm H) using 0.280mm outline (see Fig.8). Repeat steps 1, 2and 3 for the rectangle and fill the outline object (screen border) grey (RGB: 153/153/153). The actual screen itself needs to be dark grey (RGB: 31/26/23). Note: the screen size is now smaller, as the original dimensions given included the border before it was 'broken apart' and converted to an object.
9. Now you can position the screen (and border) by selecting both, and pressing 'P' on keyboard. To bring the screen up to its correct position at the top of the phone align a single vertical guideline to the corner node of either object. Group the screen and border objects (Arrange/Group), and activate the 'snap to guidelines' tool. Slide the grouped objects up so that there is a 7.78 mm gap between the top of the screen border, and the top of the outer shell. The space from the bottom of the screen to the top of the shell is 85.025 mm (see Fig.9). Tip: The 'snap to guidelines' tool acts as an object, and can be deleted in the same way. Also, by clicking on it twice (not in rapid succession) it can be rotated at any angle.
10. Now we can add a layer and put some transparency onto it. Copy and paste the screen object (not the border), and keeping it selected, activate the interactive transparency tool (see Fig.10). Click and drag the cursor over the selected object (screen) from top left, to bottom right of object. The toolbar at the top of the page will show you the edge-pad and angle settings. These need to be: Angle: -59.603 - Edge-pad: 19. Tip: For high gloss effects, you can keep adding layers and adjusting the transparency.
11. Now we're ready for the buttons. Create a rectangle 21.788 mm W x 5.285mm H (see Fig.11) and repeat stage 2 for the corners. With a small rectangle such as this, you can judge the corner curves by eye. Tip: unless you are used to working in wireframe view, I suggest you keep a hairline border on your objects until they are filled.
12. Now we come to the gradient fill for the buttons. Repeat step 4 using a custom 4 colour gradient (see Fig.12). The settings are as follows: 1. RGB: 255/255/255 - 2. RGB: 156/155/155 - 3. RGB: 114/112/112 - 4. RGB: 31/26/23. You will notice that the gradient stops dramatically in the middle creating a 'line' effect. People who don't know how to use the custom gradient fills generally use two objects to get this effect. This is a much quicker and simple way. Tip: Spend a day playing with the custom gradient tool; you'll be surprised how powerful and versatile it is.
13. Now we're going to use the interactive contour tool to create a highlight layer for the button. Select the object (button), and open to the contour docker (see Fig.13). Clickand drag inside the object to create a contour, making sure that the offset is 0.95 mm and that the step is 1. You now have two objects selected which need to be separated. Click on separate (Arrange/Separate), and fill the inner object (smaller contour) white. Tip: You can create multiple contours inside or outside the object, and select colour palettes for the steps. Spend a day playing with this tool, as it has quite extensive capabilities.
14. We're ready to create the highlight using the interactive transparency tool. With the same object selected (white inner contour) activate the transparency tool using the following settings: Angle: -90 - Edge pad: 43 (see Fig.14). The button is now complete. Make sure that there are no remaining outlines on any of the button's layers. Tip: You can select multiple objects at once, and click the 'X' in the outline tool docker.
15. Now we're ready to position the first button. Make sure that the button and highlight are grouped. Press 'P' on keyboard to centre align the button, and move it down using the snap (as in step 8) so that there is a 32.823 mm gap between the top of the button and the bottom of the phone's face (see Fig.15).
16. Now to add the rest of the buttons. First, you need to set up a guideline that runs horizontally along the bottom of the button. For this, you need to ungroup the button, and select the outer layer. Zoom in and align guideline with the bottom nodes. When this is done, re-group the two button layers (buttonand highlight). Next, copy and paste buttons to right and left of the original (see Fig.16), allowing a 2.956 mm gap between them. Group the 3 buttons (making sure that they are correctly aligned), and paste the second row under the first using the same gap of 2.956 mm between the rows. Copy and paste all remaining buttons in the same manner.
17. Now we're ready to create the scroll button. Copy one of the existing buttons, add a contour (as in step 12), separate the objects, fill the outer contour white, and bring the inner contour to front. You should now see a button with a white outline. Select the inner contour, and change the gradient settings as follows: 1. RGB: 88/85/84 - 2. RGB: 63/60/58 - 3. RGB: 55/52/50 - 4. RGB: 0/0/0. The scroll (forwardand back) icons on the button were created by typing the 'more-thanand less-than keys in 'artistic text' mode, which I then converted to curves (see Fig.17). The font I have used is 'comfortaa' which can be downloaded here free at Dafont.com.
18. Centre the icon within the button, and group all three objects (white outline, button, icon). Size the button at 21.829 mm x 5.944 mm, Copy and paste it so that you have two buttons. Select one of these, and mirror it so that the icon faces a different way for each button. (windows/dockers/transformation/scale and mirror). Position the scroll buttons above the existing ones using a gap of 40.407 mm between the top of the button and the bottom of the phone's face (see Fig.18).
19. I include this section for those who have been creating the objects in different files. We all use the workspace differently, and some like to keep it clean and work from different files. Whichever system you use, make sure that you use the 'centre' command [press 'P'] on every file. Note: if you don't group objects before using the 'centre' command, all the objects will pile into the centre individually. If you are working on the buttons in a different file, position them with the dimensions given, and group them before using the 'centre' command and exporting them (see Fig.19).
20. Now we come to the circular button. Press 'Ctrl' while dragging the 'ellipse tool' to create a perfect circle (rather than an ellipse). The dimensions should be 46.641 mm square. Centre the button and place above the scroll buttons using a gap of 2.791 mm. This should be filled black (see Fig.20).
21. Now we add a contour offset within the circular button. This time we want 2 steps (inside) with an offset of 0.525 mm. Separate the objects and ungroup the two new offset objects. Then combine these two objects, remove the outline, and fill with the same custom gradient as step 11 (see Fig.21).Then copy and paste the combined objects, break these apart and delete the outer circle. Add the new object (metallic ring) to the existing circular button by pressing 'P' and align using the 'snap-to' function.
22. Now we can create the lower highlight element. Copy and paste the metallic ring, and break it apart. Delete the outer circle, and put a contour offset of 0.525 mm inside the remaining one. Separate these, and delete the outer circle. Fill the remaining circle white, and position to the existing button by pressing 'P'. You now have a white inner circle ready to edit (see Fig.22). Note: if the circle is converted to a curve, it cannot be edited using the 'pieand 'arc' functions (which you will need). In this case, manually create a circle 17.141 mm square and centre it in the usual way. Fig. 22 shows 4 highlighted areas: 1: 'pieand 'arc' functions - 2: node - 3 4: node handles.
23. Click on the circle. You will notice that it has a single node at the top commanding the entire curve. Drag the node, and the 'pie' function will automatically follow the line of the curve into whatever 'pie shape' you require. In this case, we need a semi-circle. Make sure that the 'pie' remains intact so that the object can be filled. If a line disappears, that means that the object has converted itself into an 'arc'. If this happens, simply click on the 'pie' button to restore 'pie' (see Fig. 22). Once you have your semi-circle, use the shape using the node handles. Once you have your lower highlight shape, copy the gradient from the metallic ring into it (see Fig.23). Tip: pressing 'Shift and clicking on the object with desired gradient means that when you open the gradient docker, the selected gradient will be there. Click okay to copy the gradient into the new object.
24. Now we can add the upper highlight element. Follow the same procedure as step 22, and manipulate the nodes until you get the desired shape (see Fig.24).Tip: learning to draw using the nodes and different node functions is one of the most difficult to master. Spend a day playing with nodes to understand how they work and what they can do. If you can get your head around nodes, you'll learn everything else much quicker.
25. Now we can add the gradient to the upper highlight, and we need another custom fill for this. Open the gradient docker, and select the following: 1. RGB: 1. 255/255/255 - 2. 191/191/191 - 3. 166/159/159 - 4. 150/150/150. Angle is 90 degrees, and the edge pad is 0 (see Fig.25).
26. Make sure that the individual elements of an object are grouped and positioned correctly and import your files if you are not working from a single document, and there you have it...a cool retro mobile phone (see Fig.26). For the screen detail, I am doing another tutorial in the near future. For now, this one is switched off (and re-charging, just like me).
