In today’s tutorial you’ll learn how to create a gold trophy cup icon using two stages of design: 3-D modeling, creating of elements of the icons and coloring with creating glare and shadows on the surface. Let’s get started!

3-D modeling

Step 1

Using the pen Tool (P), create a shape of the cup bowl. At this stage, do not pay too much attention to creating shapes, as it may be edited later in the process of 3D modeling.

I fill the shape with colors that will reproduce the real color of the cup. Although this is not necessary, it just will be easier to perceive the created model.

Step 2

Create a vertical guide which will pass through the leftmost points of the shape created in the step 1. This guide will help us in further construction. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a circle. Center of the circle must lie on the vertical guide. Now take the Scissors Tool (C) and cut the circle in the lower and upper points, and then remove its left side.

Using the Rectangle Tool (L), create five rectangles that will represent the leg and stand of the cup.

Step 3

Group up all the created objects (Command + G), then go to Effect > 3D > Revolve and set the effect parameters shown in the picture below.

Now we can estimate the shape of the elements of our 3D model.

Step 4

You can add new points to the shape of 3D model using the Pen Tool (P), and manage their position with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A). All changes will immediately reflect in the shape of 3D model. This is a very exciting process that resembles turner’s or potter’s work. Using this technique, I changed the shape of cup’s leg.

3D modeling usage in Adobe Illustrator allows you to get not only the right shapes of the objects, but also right intersection lines between their surfaces and to understand how the light will be distributed on these surfaces.

Please note that all the objects in the group must be in the correct sequence in the Layers panel.

Step 5

With the help of two rectangles create the shape of a podium. Unite the rectangles into one shape by clicking on the Unite icon in the Pathfinder panel.

To create the shape of the upper surfaces of the podium build two inclined guides that pass through the points A and B and intersect at the point which is located on the central vertical guide. The point of intersection of the guides is called a vanishing point.

Use the Rotate Tool (R) to rotate the guides.

Step 6

Create a horizontal guide that will limit the upper surface of the podium across the width.

Take the Pen Tool (P) and connect the points of intersection of the guides as shown in the picture below.

The surface of the top step of the podium will not be visible to the viewer as it is above the vanishing point. Select the front of the podium and go to Effect > Stylized > Round Corners and set the radius of the rounding in the dialog window.

Go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 7

Let’s create shapes of the cup handles. Take the Spiral Tool and create a shape shown in the picture below.

You may find it difficult to control this tool, so I’ll give you some useful tips. Before you begin, click on blank area with the tool and set the required direction of spiraling in the dialog window.

Click on OK, and then delete the resulting spiral. When you create a new spiral, use the following shortcuts:

Space – to change the position of the created spiral

Up and Down arrows – to change the number of segments of the created spiral

Command – to control the spacing between the wreaths of the spiral, this parameter is called the Decay

To change the shape of the current spiral, you can also use the Reshape Tool

Step 8

Take the Scissors Tool (C) and cut the spiral at point A, then remove the curved segment AB.

Using the Pen Tool (P), create the bottom part of the handle.

Step 9

Set the stroke width and round cap it the Stroke panel and then take Width Tool and change the width of the stroke as it is shown in the picture below.

Keep the handle selected, go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke.

Now go to Object > Transform > Reflect, select the Vertical Axis in the dialog window and click on the Copy button.

Place the created handle on the left side of the cup.

Coloring (this artwork is done in the RGB color mode)

Step 10

Before coloring convert 3D model into regular vector objects. Select the 3D model and open the dialog window with the effect settings by clicking on the appropriate item in the Appearance panel.

Set No Shading for the Surface type.

Now go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 11

Color the cup surface with different colors for clarity.

To unite different parts of the surface, use the Pathfinder panel.

Delete unnecessary objects that will still not be visible. It is convenient to do so in the Outline view mode (View > Outline). As a result, there should only be left the objects that are shown in the picture below.

Step 12

Select the front of the podium and go to Object > Path > Offset Path and set the offset value in the dialog window.

Move the upper shape down and fill it with a linear gradient which consists of two shades of gray.

Step 13

Add a new shape to the Appearance panel, and apply to it the linear gradient from black to gray color. Grey slider of the gradient has 0% opacity.

Fill the bottom shape of the podium with a linear gradient which consists of various shades of gray. Darker sliders of the gradient should be located to create a shadow on the right side edges of the steps of the podium.

Step 14

Take the Knife Tool and cut the upper shape of the steps in two pieces.

In order to cut with the Knife Tool along a straight line, hold down the Option key. Fill the steps with oppositely directed linear gradients, reproducing the light distribution on them.

Step 15

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create the number 1 on the front of the stand. Fill the rectangle with a complex linear gradient that consists of the shades of brown and yellow colors.

Add a new fill in the Appearance panel and apply a gradient to it that consists of two shades of brown color.

Step 16

Move the brown fill down in the Appearance panel, and keeping the object and fill selected go to Effect > Path > Offset path, then set the offset value in the dialog window.

Create another fill in the Appearance panel, apply light-gray color and the Offset path effect to it.

Now go to Effect > Transform > Transform & Distort and set vertical offset value in the dialog window of the effect.

Step 17

With the help of the Rounded Rectangle Tool create a shape with a dark gray fill. Place it below the objects of the podium.

Create another rounded rectangle and place it below the first one in the Layers panel. Fill this object with light gray color and set 0% opacity in the Transparency panel.

Select both rectangles and go to Object > Blend > Make.

Step 18

Fill the cup holder with linear gradient that consists of black and gray sliders.

Copy the bottom rectangle and paste it back (Command + C then Command + B). Fill the copy with black and move at a few pixels up. Thus, we have created a boundary between the surfaces of the holder.

Step 19

Fill the metal part of the stand with a linear gradient that consists of brown and yellow shades.

Copy and paste back the metal parts. Move the copies a little bit up and fill it with a new linear gradient which contains two brown and one yellow slider.

Step 20

Using the Gradient Tool (U) create a simple gradient mesh on the cup’s leg.

Color the gradient mesh nodes with brown and yellow colors. You can use the Eyedropper Tool (I) for coloring nodes, taking the colors from the gradient of the metal surfaces of the holder. When picking the color, hold down Shift key.

Fill the spherical part of the leg with a radial gradient, which consists of the same colors as the metal parts of the holder.

Step 21

Fill the bowl of the cup with a linear gradient as shown in the picture below.

Using the Pen Tool (P) create shapes of the shadows.

In order to properly assess their position, I apply 50% opacity to this shape. Select the shape of the bowl and shape of the shadows, and then using the Shape Builder Tool delete the parts of the shadow that go beyond the cup shape.

Step 22

Reapply 100% opacity to the shadow shapes and fill them with linear gradients that consist of two shades of brown color.

Apply the Multiply Blending mode to these shapes.

Step 23

Create reflections on the surface of the cup. To create these shapes, I used the Pen Tool (P) and Shape Builder Tool. Shapes of the reflections are filled with black and white gradients, after what the Screen Blending mode is applied to them.

I decided to make the reflection in the bottom of the cup more vivid. Fill it with an elliptical radial gradient from yellow to light brown color, and reduce the opacity in the Transparency panel.

Step 24

Fill the shape of the upper side of the cup with a linear gradient, which consists of yellow and brown shades.

Copy this shape and paste it back. Move the copy a few pixels down and fill it with a new linear gradient consisting of two brown and one yellow sliders.

Step 25

Fill the shape of handles with linear gradient. This gradient contains the colors that we have repeatedly used in this tutorial.

Copy the shapes of the handles and paste them back. Fill the copies with brown color and move them a few pixels down.

Step 26

Create a circle using the Ellipse Tool (L) and fill it with a radial gradient that contains of black and very dark shade of gray. Apply the Color Dodge blending mode to this circle. Thus, we can create additional light spots on the cup.