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Illustrator Tutorial: Love Cassette Tape

final effect

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a very realistic and detailed cassette tape using simple tools and techniques like the Pathfinder, Align, Blend, Clipping Mask, etc. in Adobe Illustrator. Let’s start!

Create the Cassette

1. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) from the Tool Palette and create a 472px by 300px object.

2. Keep the rectangle selected. Go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -14px Offset and then click OK.

3. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and use this tool to create a 30px by 30px object. Next, duplicate (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) this ellipse three times and place four ellipses to the correct positions as shown in the image below.

4. Reselect the bigger green object and go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners. Enter a 15px Radius and click OK. While the result is selected, go to the Object > Expand Appearance.

5. Select the four yellow ellipses, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) them and hide the duplicates (Ctrl +3). Next, open the Pathfinder Palette (Window > Pathfinder) and reselect the four yellow ellipses and the bigger green object. Click on the Unite button.

6. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use it to create a 414px by 300px object.

7. Open the Align Palette (Window > Align). Next, select the newly created object, hold down the Shift key and click on the green object. Release the Shift key and click on the green object again (to fix its position). Then click on the Horizontal Align Center button from the Align Palette and click on the Vertical Align Center button. Finally, press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the four ellipses hidden in the previous step.

8. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use it to create a 330px by 74px object.

9. While the newly created object is selected, hold down the Shift key. Click on the blue rectangle, release the Shift key and click on the blue rectangle again (to fix its position). Next, click on the Horizontal Align Center button from the Align Palette and then click on the Vertical Align Top button.

10. Select the left-bottom anchor point of the newly created rectangle and move it 20px to the right. Next, select the right-bottom anchor point and then move it 20px to the left.

11. Now double click on the Line Segment Tool (\) from the Tool Palette. In the Line Segment Tool Options, enter the data as shown in the image below and then click OK.

12. While the newly created object is selected, hold down the Shift key. Click on the green rectangle, release the Shift key and click on the green rectangle again (to fix its position). Next, click on the Horizontal Align Center button from the Align Palette and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.

13. Move the newly created line 12px down.

14. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and use this tool to create a 45px by 45px object. Next, duplicate (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F) this ellipse and place the two ellipses to the correct positions as shown in the image below.

15. Select and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) the two newly created ellipses once again and hide the duplicates (Ctrl +3). Reselect the two green ellipses and the yellow object and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder Palette.

16. Fill the result with R=51, G=48, B=38 and send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

17. Reselect the newly created object and duplicate it. Next, go to the Effect > Texture > Texturizer. Enter the data as shown in the image below and click OK. Finally, lower the Opacity of the result to 40%.

18. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the two green ellipses hidden in the previous step. While the two green ellipses are selected, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) them. Keep the duplicates selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the blue rectangle. Click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder Palette.

19. Fill the result with R=13, G=12, B=10. Next, press (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket) to send the result to back and then press (Ctrl +Right Square Bracket) to bring it forward.

Create the Rolled Tapes

20. Reselect the right green ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 4px Offset and then click OK.

21. Add a 8px Stroke (R=167, G=169, B=172) for the newly created ellipse. Keep this ellipse selected. Open the Appearance Palette (Window > Appearance) and click on the Add New Stroke button (at the left-bottom corner of the Appearance Palette). This will add a second stroke for your object. Fill it with R=209, G=211, B=212 and change the stroke weight to 7px. Next, click on the Add New Stroke button again, fill the third stroke with R=128, G=130, B=133 and then change the stroke weight to 3px.

22. Reselect the right green ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 21px Offset and then click OK. While the result is selected, duplicate it and then hide the copy (Ctrl +3).

23. Add a 3px Stroke (R=209, G=211, B=212) for the newly created ellipse (Fill = none).

24. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to shown the green ellipse hidden in the previous step. Next, select the two right green ellipses and duplicate them. Hide the duplicates. Now, reselect the two right green ellipses again and then click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder Palette.

25. Fill the result with R=188, G=190, B=192 (Stroke =none). Keep the result selected, press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) several times to get the result as shown in the image below.

26. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and use it to create a 7px by 7px object.

27. Show the Rulers (View > View Rulers > Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R). Next, drag a horizontal and vertical guide from the Rulers (if the guide’s locked, go to the View > Guides > Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Now select the object created in step 25, hold down the Shift key and click on the two newly created guides. Release the Shift key and click on the object created in step 25 again (to fix its position). Open the Align Palette (Window > Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button.

28. Select the Red Ellipse, pick the Rotate Tool (R) and hold down the Alt key. Click on the intersection of two guides. In the Rotate box, enter a 20 degree Angle and click Copy. Press (Ctrl +D) sixteen times to get the results as shown in the third image. Finally, hide the guides (View > View Guides > Hide Guides) or (Ctrl + ;).

29. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use this tool to create a 70px by 70px object. Next, rotate this object to an angle of about 45 degrees.

30. Place the newly created object to the correct position as shown in the image below. Select and remove the top red ellipse.

31. Now move the left anchor point of the newly created object 30px to the right. Then move the right anchor point 30px to the left.

32. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the two green ellipses hidden in the previous step. Reselect the smaller green ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 10px Offset and then click OK.

33. Keep the newly created object selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the biggest green ellipse. Click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder Palette.

34. Keep the result selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the yellow object. Click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder Palette.

35. Now select the newly created object and the two red ellipses as shown in the image below. Click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Palette.

36. Fill the result with the radial gradient.

37. Reselect the newly filled object and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it. Keep the duplicate selected. Select the two anchor points highlighted with yellow and then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” button from the Properties Bar.

38. Select and remove the top object. Next, select the remaining object and add a 2px Stroke (R=13, G=12, B=10) for it (Fill = none).

39. Select all the red ellipses and the object created in step 25 and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder Palette. Press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) three times to get the result as shown in the second image.

40. Now press (Ctrl + 😉 to show the two guides hidden in the previous step. Next, select and group (Ctrl +G) all the objects created from step 20 up to this time (except the green ellipse). Pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt key and click on the intersection of the two guides. In the Rotate box, enter a 20 degree Angle and then click OK.

41. Keep the result selected. Continue working using the Rotate Tool (R) and hold down the Alt key. Click on the intersection of the two guides. In the Rotate box, enter a 120 degree Angle and then click Copy.

42. Place the duplicate to the correct position as shown in the image below.

43. Select the left green ellipse, bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket) and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 11px Offset and then click OK.

44. Reselect the smaller green ellipse and duplicate it. Lock the duplicate (Ctrl +2). Next, select the two remaining green objects and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder Palette.

45. Fill the result with R=230, G=231, B=232.

46. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and use this tool to create a line as shown in the image below.

47. Set the data for the line as shown in the image below.

48. Select the two newly created objects and press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) several times to get the result as you see in the image below.

49. Select the right green ellipse, bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket) and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 62px Offset and then click OK.

50. Reselect the smaller green ellipse and duplicate it. Lock the duplicate (Ctrl +2). Next, select the two remaining green objects and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder Palette.

51. Fill the result with R=42, G=20, B=15.

52. Now press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock the objects locked in the previous steps. Next, select the left green ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 27px Offset and then click OK.

53. Keep the result selected. Select the right anchor point and the bottom anchor point and then click on the Horizontal Align Right button from the Align Palette.

54. Select the bottom anchor point and move it 70px down.

55. Keep the bottom anchor point selected. Pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C) and reduce to zero the right handle. Move the left handle up to get the result as shown in the second image. Next, pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and select the left anchor point. Click on the bottom handle, hold down the Shift key and move it down as shown in the third image below.

56. Reselect the newly edited object and go to the Object > Transform > Reflect. Select Vertical and click Copy. Next, move the duplicate to the correct position as shown in the second image.

57. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\) from the Tool Palette. Use this tool to draw six lines of 18px length, two lines of 36px length and two lines of 72px length. Next, place all the newly created lines to the positions as shown in the image below.

58. Select all the newly created lines again and click on the Horizontal Distribute Center button from the Align Palette.

59. Keep the lines selected. Hold down the Shift key and click on the red line. Release the Shift key and click on the red line again (to fix its position). Then click on the Vertical Distribute Center button.

60. Select and lock all the objects (Ctrl +2). Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an object as shown in the image below.

61. Add 5px Stroke for the newly created object (Fill = none). While the object is selected, go to the Object > Expand. Press OK when the Expand box appear.

62. Press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock all the objects. Select the two green objects created in step 56 and duplicate them. Hide the duplicates. Reselect the two green objects again and the newly created object and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Palette.

63. Select the object created in step 16. Copy it and bring the duplicate to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).

64. Keep the duplicate selected. Hold down the Shift key and click on the newly created object and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder Palette.

65. Fill the result with R=51, G=48, B=38.

66. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and use this tool to create two vertical straight lines as shown in the image below.

67. Add a 1px Stroke (R=35, G=31, B=32) for these lines.

68. Reselect the two newly created lines and go to the Object > Blend > Blend Options. Enter the data as shown in the image below and click OK. Next, go to the Object > Blend > Make or (Ctrl +Alt +B).

69. Continue working using the Line Segment Tool (\). Use this tool to create two horizontal straight lines as shown in the image below.

70. Set the data for the two newly created lines as shown in the image below.

71. Create a blend between the two newly created lines.

72. Select the object created in step 65. Duplicate it and then bring the duplicate to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).

73. Select the newly created object and the two newly blended objects. Go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make. Lower the Opacity of the result to 20%.

74. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the two green objects hidden in the previous steps. Bring them to front.

75. While these objects are selected, duplicate them and replace the existing color of the duplicates with yellow. Now, select the four anchor points highlighted with red and click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” button from the Properties Bar.

76. Remove the two objects selected as shown in the image below.

77. Set the data for the two remaining yellow objects as shown in the image below.

78. Select the right green ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -8px Offset and then click OK.

79. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 9px by 18px object. Place the newly created object to the correct position as shown in the image below.

80. Keep the red rectangle selected. Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and select the left-bottom anchor point. Move it 2px to the right. Next, select the right-bottom anchor point and then move it 2px to the left.

81. Select the smaller green ellipse. Copy it and hide the duplicate. Next, select the two right green ellipses and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder Palette.

82. While the result is selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the newly created red object. Click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder Palette. Fill the result with the linear gradient.

83. Now show the guides (Ctrl + ;). Reselect the newly filled object and pick the Rotate Tool (R). Hold down the Alt key and click on the intersection of the two guides. In the Rotate box, enter a 60 degree Angle and then click Copy. Next, press (Ctrl +D) four times to get the result as shown in the third image below.

84. Reselect and group (Ctrl +G) the six newly created objects. Duplicate this group and rotate it to an angle of about 30 degrees. Place it to the correct position as shown in the image below.

85. Now select the four remaining green objects and bring them to front.

86. Reselect the two left green objects and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder Palette.

87. Fill the result with the linear gradient.

88. Repeat the same techniques for the two right green objects.

89. By this time, your artwork should look like the image shown below.

90. Select the blue object and fill it with the linear gradient.

91. Create an object and set the data for it as shown in the image below.

92. Reselect the object created in step 90 and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Next, replace the existing color of the newly created object with R=51, G=48, B=38 and then move it 2px up.

93. While the result is selected, duplicate it and then go to the Effect > Texture > Grain. Enter the data as shown in the image below and click OK.

94. Keep the result selected. Go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 3 pixels Radius and then click OK. Lower the Opacity of the result to 80%.

95. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 6px by 84px object.

96. Move the right-top anchor point of the newly created object 5px down. Then move the right-bottom anchor point 5px up.

97. Place the result to the correct position as shown in the first image. Fill it with R=25, G=24, B=19.

98. Create a vertical straight line and set the data for it as shown in the images below.

99. Reselect the two newly created objects and double click on the Reflect Tool (O) from the Tool Palette. Select Vertical and click Copy. Next, move the duplicate to the correct position as shown in the image below.

100. Create straight lines and set the data for them as shown in the images below.

101. Now reselect the four yellow ellipses and bring them to front.

102. Reselect the right-top ellipse and go to the Object > Transform > Scale. Select Uniform and enter a 77 in the Scale box and then click OK.

103. Fill the result with the radial gradient and add a 1px Stroke (R=92, G=89, B=81).

104. Reselect the newly filled object and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -3px Offset and click OK. Next, replace the existing color of the result with the new radial gradient.

105. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and use this tool to create the two straight lines as shown in the image below.

106. Reselect the two newly created lines and go to the Object > Expand. Press OK when the Expand box appear. Keep the results selected and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder Palette.

107. Fill the result with the radial gradient.

108. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) the three newly created objects. Duplicate this group four times and then place the duplicates to the correct positions as shown in the image below.

109. Rotate the objects with cross shape as shown in the image below.

110. Create a 20px by 20px ellipse and set the data for it as shown in the images below.

111. Reselect the result and duplicate it. Next, move the dupliate 7px down and then move it 48px to the right. Finally, reset the data for this ellipse as shown in the image below.

112. Reselect the newly created ellipse and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset and click OK. Reset the data for the result as shown in the image below.

113. Show the Rulers (View > View Rulers > Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R). Next, drag a vertical guide from the Rulers to the center of your artwork (if the guide’s locked, go to the View > Guides > Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Now select the three newly created ellipses. Pick the Reflect Tool (O), hold down the Alt key and click on the newly created guide. In the Reflect Tool box, select Vertical and click Copy.

Create the Shadow of the Cassette

114. Create a 452px by 12px rectangle.

115. Keep the rectangle selected. Go to the Effect > Stylize > Round Corners. Enter a 10px Radius and then click OK. Next, go to the Object > Expand Appearance.

116. Fill the result with R=0, G=0, B=0. Add the Gaussian Blur effect for it and send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket).

117. By this time, your artwork should look roughly like the image shown below.

Create Some Tape Outside the Cassette

118. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and use this tool to create an object as show in the images below.

119. Set the data for the newly created object as shown in the image below. Next, copy this object and hide the duplicate (Ctrl +3).

120. Reselect the newly created object and go to the Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel. Enter the data as shown in the image below and then click OK.

121. Press (Ctrl +Alt +3) to show the object hidden in the previous step. Next, move it 5px up and then reset the data as shown in the image below.

122. Now reselect the two newly created objects and duplicate them. Select the 3D copy and open the Appearance Palette. Click on the 3D Extrude & Bevel section. In the 3D Extrude & Bevel Options, reset the data as shown in the image below and click OK.

123. While the result is selected, reset the data for it as shown in the image below.

124. Reselect the remaining duplicate and reset the data for it as shown in the image below.

125. Now we’ll hide a part of the two newly created objects (two objects with dark color). First, create an object as shown in the image below.

126. Next, select the newly created object and the two objects need to be hidden (with dark color) and then go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

127. Reselect the 3D object with the lighter color and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the data as shown in the image below and then click OK.

Create the Background

128. Now we’ll create a background for our artwork. First, create a 600px by 700px rectangle. Next, fill it with the radial gradient.

129. Place your artwork to the background. Congratulations! You have completed the tutorial on creating cassette tape using illustrator. I hope you’ve discovered some useful things in this tutorial. Enjoy!

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