In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a microphone illustration with overlapping cable text effect. We’ll use vector shape building techniques, Opacity Masks, Gradients, Effects, Pattern Brushes, and other Adobe Illustrator tools to make this music inspired illustration. Get ready to rock this!
Step 1
Create a 1390px by 670px, RGB document. First, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 2.5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 2.5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.
You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to replace the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
Step 2
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and simply click on your artboard. A new window should open. Enter 102.5 in the width and height boxes then click. This will create a 102.5px by 102.5px shape. Fill it with R=50, G=50, B=50.
Step 3
Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 2.5px by 2.5px square and fill it with any color. The Snap to Grid will ease your work. Select this fresh shape and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the data shown in the first Transform window, click OK then go again to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.
Enter the data shown in the second Transform window, click OK then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting group of shapes and go to Object > Compound Path > Make. This will turn your group into a single path.
Step 4
Open the Align panel (Window > Align). Select the path made in the previous step along with the circle, pick the Selection Tool (V), click on the border of the circle (it should get emphasized), then click on the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons. Now, your shapes should be placed as shown in the second image.
Step 5
Reselect the compound path, fill it with R=88, G=89, B=91. Now add a 0.25pt, aligned to outside stroke and set its color at R=30, G=30, B=30. Reselect the entire path and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 0.5px radius, click OK, then go to Effect > Warp > Fisheye. Enter the data shown below, click OK, then go to the Appearance panel. Make sure that these two effects are placed above the fill and stroke, as shown in he following image.
