How to Create a Desk Scenery Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator?
7. Creating the Coffee Mug
Step 1
Move onto the coffee mug layer, and using the Rounded Rectangle Tool create a 14 x 18 px shape with aCorner Radius of 2 px. Set its color to #CCC4C4, and then using the Direct Selection Tool (A) remove its top-center anchor points by selecting them and then pressing Delete.
As soon as you remove the anchors, press Control-J to unite the remaining ones. Next, use the Offset Patheffect to create an outline of 6 px, making sure to position it under the mug itself. Add a 14 x 2 px highlight (white #FFFFFF with Blending Mode set to Overlay and Opacity level set to 60%) and position it towards the top section.
Create the handle by drawing a 7 x 14 px rounded rectangle with a Corner Radius of 2 px. Flip its fill with its stroke (Shift-X) and then change the stroke’s weight to 4 px.
If you’re using the CC (Creative Cloud) version of Illustrator, you can add rounded corners to any anchor points, by selecting it with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then adding the desired value into the Corner Type option. If you’re using an older version of AI then try to use the Pen Tool (P) to draw the desired sections.
Step 2
To create the coffee flavored steam coming out of the mug, you will have to be creative and draw a couple of rounded rectangles of different sizes and widths. For example, I created the base using an 18 x 4 px (2 px Corner Radius) shape, and then created a smaller 11 x 2 px one which has its left and right sections cut out using a 2 x 2 px circle.
Then I added another 16 x 4 px (2 px Corner Radius) shape on top, and then I varied the size of both my round lines and cutout ones, making sure to color them using #797270. When you have something that you like, simply group all of its elements (Control-G) and send them to the back of the mug using the Arrange > Send to Back function.
Step 3
Group both the coffee mug and the steam (Control-G) and then position them on top of the desk, towards the left side at about 14 px from the edge.
8. Creating the MacBook
Step 1
Start by creating a 126 x 6 px rounded rectangle with a 2 px Corner Radius. Color the shape using #E2E0E0and then use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select and remove (Delete) its top-middle anchor points, uniting the remaining ones (Control‑J).
Using the Offset Path effect, create an outline of 6 px and make sure to send it to the back of our MacBook’s base. Then add a subtle highlight towards the top by creating a 128 x 3 px rectangle, which we will position onto the main shape, and then mask by pasting a copy of that onto it and then right clicking and choosing Make Clipping Mask.
Finish the base of the MacBook by adding a 28 x 8 px rounded rectangle (#453F3C) with a Corner Radius of2 px on top of all the other elements, making sure to horizontally align it to the top section of the outline. As always make sure to group all the elements using Control-G.
Step 2
Position the MacBook’s base onto the desk, towards the left side, at a distance of 14 px from the mug’s handle.
Step 3
Start working on the screen section of the device, by creating a 106 x 72 px rounded rectangle (#CCC4C4) with a Corner Radius of 6 px. Remove its bottom-centered anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and then create a copy onto which you will apply an Offset Path effect of 6 px.
Send the resulting outline to the back (right click > Arrange > Send to Back) and make sure to change its color to #453F3C.
Step 4
Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 94 x 54 px shape which will act as the screen. Change the color to #453F3C and make sure to position it right in the center of the top section lid.
Step 5
Now, let’s start adding some details by creating a 106 x 3 px black rectangle and positioning it right at the bottom side of the lid. Change the shape’s Blending Mode to Multiply, and then lower its Opacity to 30%.
Step 6
Move towards the top section of the lid, and using the Ellipse Tool (L) create a 4 x 4 px circle which will act as our webcam. Color the shape using the same outline shade #453F3C, and then position it towards the center of the top side of the lid.
Step 7
Create another 108 x 4 px white rectangle which will act as a highlight, and position it towards the top side of the lid so that it covers half of the webcam circle. Change the shape’s Blending Mode to Overlay and lower its Opacity level to about 60%.
Once you have the rectangle positioned in place, create a copy of the entire lid (not the outline) and paste it on top of highlight, and then with both selected right click > Make Clipping Mask.
Quick tip: In case you’re wondering why the shape is wider than our actual lid, I found that creating larger shapes and then masking their surface to that of the shape underneath creates a more reliable option for when you decide to scale your artwork.
Step 8
Finish up the MacBook by creating two diagonal highlights (one narrower and one slightly wider) and positioning them towards the center of the screen. I’ve created one 4 x 108 px rectangle for the first and another 8 x 108 px for the wider one.
Then I grouped (Control-G) and rotated them at a 45 angle towards the right by pressing R and then dragging their top sections to the right. I then colored them white, setting their Blending Mode to Overlayand their Opacity to 30%.
After positioning them onto the screen, I created a copy (Control-C) of the display, and pasted (Control-F) it on top of the highlights, and used that to create a Clipping Mask.
The result is a nice looking MacBook that anybody would love to use.
