how to draw 3d box in illustrator

Preview

Step 1: Draw a 3D Box

Open upward a new document in Illustrator. Fix it up in the mode you prefer. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) from the Tools Panel.

Depict a foursquare object on the artboard; hold down the Shift key to make a perfect square. Fill the square with gray. Side by side, we will convert the grey box into a 3D shape.

Brand certain the box is selected (if not, apply the Selection Tool) and and so get to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel. For the 3D Extrude & Bevel options, use the settings below. With the shape still selected, get to Object > Expand Appearance.

Now we have a simple 3D box shape.

Stride 2: Describe the Box's Flaps

Select the top side of the box with the Direct Selection Tool (A). With the top side selected, copy it (Cmd/Ctrl + C) and then paste it in front (Cmd/Ctrl + F). We want to increment the size of the copied tiptop side proportionally.

In order to do that, we tin utilise an Offset Path (Object > Path > Offset Path) of 25pt. Nosotros will end up with ii objects, the original superlative side (inner shape) and the 25pt path surrounding it (outer shape). At present nosotros want to subtract the inner shape from the outer shape.

We volition use the Pathfinder Console (Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + F9) for this. Select the two objects and and then click on the Exclude button in the Pathfinder Panel. This will cut out the inner shape.

Make 4 copies of the top side of the box again and then align them with each corner of the shape we just made. Select all shapes and apply the Divide option in the Pathfinder Panel. Then with the Direct Selection Tool (A), delete all unnecessary objects.

Make sure to delete the middle shape because we desire to create a box that is open.

Stride 3: Add Some Colour

Since we are creating a paper-thin box, we want to add some cardboard colors. Select each shape and add together the colors of your liking. For the lighter sides of the box, I used #c19862 and for the darker shade, #6f431e.

Step 4: Create an Edge for the Flaps

Select the flaps shape and make a re-create of information technology underneath (Edit > Copy then Edit > Paste in Dorsum). Fill the duplicated shape with a darker brown (#6f431e).

Footstep v: Add the Inner Walls

Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw the within walls of the box. Draw the paths below all the other objects to hide whatever bad-mannered seams. Make sure that each shape has a dissimilar chocolate-brown color so that we can distinguish each shape and make our shipping box look three-dimensional.

Since the box volition accept some shadows falling into it, nosotros need to simulate that sort of lighting with some simple shapes.

Footstep 5: Correcting and Enhancing the Box'due south Flaps

In a previous stride, nosotros fabricated a copy of the flaps and placed it underneath to support the 3D shape of our box. Notwithstanding, the corners don't look right. We need to prepare that.

With the Direct Option Tool (A), select the corner ballast of the bottom flap and drag information technology inwards and then that it's vertically aligned. Repeat this with each corner where it'southward necessary. On the forepart-facing parts of the flap border, we need to add together some rectangle shapes so we become the thickness of the cardboard.

Simply makes some rectangle shapes (shown in red) with the Pen Tool (P) and fill them with a darker chocolate-brown color.

Step 6: Add Surface Highlights and Packing Tape

Let's requite our box surface a touch of detail. More specifically, we volition give the left side a highlight that volition aid us go on our lighting consistent. Create a triangular shape and identify information technology underneath the flap, and then fill up it with a darker brownish color.

We will tweak the transparency of the triangular shape using the Transparency Panel (Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + F10). In the Transparency Console, fix the Blending Mode to Multiply and reduce the Opacity to 30%. Shipping boxes will usually have record on it to seal it up.

Let'due south make a simple packing tape detail that goes vertically downwards the front of the box. Add a rectangle as a tape strip to the forepart.

Step seven: Create the Box's Shadow

We will now cast a shadow on the floor. Utilise the Pen Tool (P) to create a rectangular path at the front of the box (below where nosotros placed the packing tape). We will use the Gradient Panel (Cmd/Ctrl + F9) to fill the path with a linear black-to-transparent slope angled in such a way as to match the perspective of the box.

Find that since our low-cal source comes from the top left, the shadow is slightly bigger on the correct.

Step 8: Add Torn Packing Record on the Flaps

Let'due south reinforce the realism of our icon past having packing record hanging off the flap to arrive look like an opened box. Create a rectangular shape with the Pen Tool (P) that is aligned with the box'south flap on the left. Add together some extra anchor points to the end so information technology looks similar the tape is ripped off and dangling off the flap.

Then make full the packing tape'due south path with a beige color. Make sure that you placed the shape underneath the flap; you can movement it downward past pressing Cmd/Ctrl + [ if yous drew it on acme.

Footstep nine: Creating a "Frail" Stamp

For an actress added flake of detail, let's add together a crimson stamp that says "Fragile." Often, you lot'll see this in situations where the contents of a parcel are easily breakable, such as computer parts or dishware (e.g. porcelain plates). We'll create a stamp from scratch quickly and easily.

I picked a font called Portago ITC TT. Any stenciled font should work well. All you want to do is employ the Type Tool (T) to blazon out the text in all caps.

Set the color to a ruby-red color. Later, but use the Rounded Rectangle Tool with a red stroke to describe a border effectually the "Frail" text. Then create outlines for the text (Type > Create Outlines or Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + O), select the text and the rounded rectangle, and then grouping them together (Object > Group or Cmd/Ctrl + G).

Place the "Fragile" stamp on the side of the box. Match the perspective/bending of our box by using Issue > Distort & Transform > Free Misconstrue.

Step 10: Finishing Details

I thought the aircraft box would look peachy on a beige background, so I just created a rectangle to serve equally the background below the box and filled it with beige (#e4d0b5). Feel free to add together more details to the box. For case, I added a barcode that was created using black vertical lines set on top of a biscuit rectangle (drawn with the Rectangle Tool).

I used the aforementioned method (Effect > Distort & Transform > Complimentary Distort) to match the bending and perspective of the box.

Tutorial Summary

This tutorial involved producing a 3D shipping box icon in Illustrator. Nosotros used the 3D Extrude & Bevel consequence to create the base shape. We used a nifty technique to draw the flaps using the Offset Path command.

We detailed our box with things similar packing record, a crimson "Fragile" stamp, highlights and shadows. Below, I grouped all the shapes of the box, duplicated the group, and scaled them down in a variety of popular icon sizes. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Download Source Files

• shipping_package_box (ZIP, 1.07 MB)

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Source: https://www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/create-a-3d-shipping-package-box-icon-in-illustrator/

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