Image: light_bulb (Jasmina Stanojevic)
Begin by establishing the foundation of your artwork by creating a new Illustrator document with dimensions of 500×500 pixels.
This tutorial utilizes a light bulb photograph as a reference, which you can download and import into Illustrator.Secure the photo layer to prevent accidental movement.
Establish a new layer above the reference image for your illustration.Commence by outlining the light bulb using the Pen Tool (P) and tracing its left side.
Select the created path with the Selection Tool (V) and utilize the Reflect function under Object > Transform > Reflect to generate a mirrored image.Hold Shift while clicking on the mirrored path and dragging it to the right to maintain horizontal alignment.Utilize the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the upper anchor points of both the left and right paths, and join them by right-clicking and choosing Join from the contextual menu.
Join the lower anchor points by using the Pen Tool (P) to click on each anchor point, closing the vector path.Next, design the lower portion of the light bulb, known as the screw cap.Utilize the Pen Tool (P) to draw the top part of the screw cap where it meets the bulb.
The middle section of the screw cap can be challenging to draw but should follow the cap’s shape and maintain smooth lines and curves.
Continue drawing until all primary components of the metal cap are complete.
Create the screw cap’s threads by selecting the Rounded Rectangle Tool and drawing the specified rectangle.
Apply a slight distortion to the rectangle by selecting it and navigating to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp.
In the Warp Options dialog, choose Arc for the Style, Horizontal for the option, and set Bend to -9 to bend the rectangle in half.
Select the four middle anchor points of the rectangle using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and nudge them a few pixels to the left to add realism.
Use the Selection Tool (V) to select the rectangle and expand it using Object > Expand.
Duplicate the rectangle several times and position the duplicates as shown.With the correct metal color gradients, enhance the realism of the lower part of the light bulb and add depth to the illustration.Open the Gradient Panel (Window > Gradient or Ctrl/Cmd + F9) to apply gradients.
For the electrical contact, use a simple radial gradient.
Continue applying metallic gradients until the desired appearance is achieved.
Highlight some edges to improve the metallic appearance of the screw cap.duplicate the top part of the cap twice and adjust its position and scale before using the Minus Front button in the Pathfinder Panel.
Apply a linear gradient to the new shape.
Repeat the process for the lower part of the cap.
Utilize the reference photo to create elements within the glass portion of the light bulb.Begin by drawing with the Pen Tool (P) and follow the shape of the object you are drawing. Adjust individual anchor points as needed.
To create the coiled tungsten filament, apply the Zig Zag effect to the top path and set the appropriate parameters.
With the reference photo, your illustration should appear as follows:
Our light bulb appears flat and requires some color to bring it to life. Apply a blue gradient to add depth.Create a white outline for the glass using Object > Path > Offset Path and set the Offset to -3.
Duplicate the inner shape of the glass and set the Stroke colors accordingly, then apply a blend to create the glass effect.
Set the Fill color of the smaller shape to a light blue and apply a radial gradient to the circle at the center of the glass.
With the light bulb now looking more realistic, let’s add some reflections and shadows to complete the look.duplicate the blue shape of the light bulb and create reflections using the Minus Front button in the Pathfinder Panel.
