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Open up a new document in Illustrator and set the color mode to RGB. Then select the Rectangle
Tool (M) and draw a rectangle with width of 346 pt and height of 237 pt.
With the rectangle still selected, apply some rounded corners (20 pt) by going to Effect > Stylize
> Rounded Corners.
Now we have some rounded corners. We want them to be expanded, so go to Object > Expand
Appearance. This will remove the Style.
Select the rounded corner shape and apply an Offset Path to it. To do so, go to Object > Path >
Offset Path and enter a negative number (-25pt). This will proportionally shrink the rectangle.
Once that is done, ungroup the two shapes (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G), select the smaller inner
rectangle and apply another round corner effect with the Radius of 5 pt.
Afterwards, expand the appearance again ( Object > Expand Appearance).
Create a similar shape for the top part of the framework and also give it a linear gradient.
And then create another highlight at the bottom. As you can see, our clock is already coming to
life.
For the corners, create small, semi-rounded shapes and fill them with a gradient.
Here is our digital clock icon thus far with all the gradients.
Then make a copy of it below by copying the shape (Cmd/Ctrl + C) and using the Paste in Back
command (Cmd/Ctrl + B). Fill the new shape with black. Move it towards the right and bottom
so it sticks out a little.
Select both objects, group them together (Cmd/Ctrl + G), duplicate the group by copying it
(Cmd/Ctrl + C), paste (Cmd/Ctrl + P) it, and then reflect the duplicated group horizontally by
going to Transform > Reflect, choosing Horizontal for the Axis option in the dialog window that
appears. This will be the handle for the other side of the clock, so move it across to the other
side.
Then place the shape with the outer glow behind your digital clock so that it looks like its
casting a shadow (you might have to reorder your layers so that the back shape with the outer
glow is below all of the digital clocks parts).
Not bad so far, our digital clock is coming along, its just a little flat at this point.
Then place the shape on top of all other shapes by selecting it and going to Object > Arrange >
Bring to Front (Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + ]).
Allow the contours and shapes of the clock face to shine through the shape by setting the layer
mode to Overlay in the Transparency Panel.
Once that is done, select the reflected group and apply an Opacity Mask so that the bottom part
of it fades away.
Duplicate the background by copying it (Cmd/Ctrl + C) and then pasting it in front (Cmd/Ctrl +
F). Fill it now with a transparent white gradient.
Tutorial Summary
This is it. A glossy digital clock designed solely in Illustrator.Though some might think that
Photoshop is an easier way for creating icons with lots of reflective elements and color gradients,
I hope this tutorial showed you that Illustrator is not only capable of such design styles, but that
it actually does a great and efficient job at it.
Using Illustrator also makes you more flexible as you can increase and decrease the icons size
without loss of quality. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.