• Before we start, change the unit preferences to pixels (Edit > Preferences > Units and Undo). Set General to pixels in the dropdown list. If your preferences are in inches, make sure you type "360 px" or any other unit. Since this image is for the web and not for print I'm working in pixels.
• Start a new image in RGB mode.
• Navigate to View > Grid to turn on the grid.
• Navigate to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and set up the grid. Grid every 72 pixels; subdivisions: 4
Body of the Pencil
Step 1. Click on the rectangle tool and click once on the art board to open the rectangle options. Enter 514 pixels for the width and 42 pixels for the height. Click OK.
Step 2. Then change the fill to a gradient, and the stroke to black. Set the stroke width to 0.5 in the stroke palette. Open the Gradient palette and set the type to linear, and the angle to -90°.
Set the left gradient stop to Red 254-Green 142-Blue 0. Set the right gradient stop to Red 166-Green 60-Blue 0.
ILLUSTRATOR 9 Step 3. With the pen tool. Click once on one end of the pencil and then hold the shift key. Click once at the other end of the pencil. Set the stroke weight to 0.50 in the stroke palette and duplicate the line.
ILLUSTRATOR 10 Step 3. Using the Line tool, click once on the artboard to open the line options. Enter 514 pixels for the length and 0° for the angle. Click OK. Copy and paste it so you have two lines. Note: If you don't see the line tool in Illustrator 10, look for the arc or polar grid. If you haven't customized the toolbar it should be directly under the pen tool.
Step 4. Move the lines over the pencil and space them so one is about a third from the top of the pencil and one is about a third from the bottom.
Choose the pencil and both lines, and align them horizontally using the Align palette. Then group them (Object > Group).
Making the Eraser
Step 5. Choose the Rounded Rectangle and click once on the artboard to open the options and set the width to 60, the height to 42, and the corner radius to 12. Click OK.
Step 6. Use the fill we last used, the pencil gradient. The stroke should be 0.50. To make another gradient, open the gradient palette. Set the Type to Linear and the angle to -180°. Set two gradient stops in these colours:
• Left: Red 44, Green 181, Blue 187, at Location 0%
• Right: Red 7, Green 146, Blue 187, at Location 100%
To add the extra gradient stop, click once on the area below the colour ramp about midway between the two original stops.
Step 7. Position the eraser at the right end of the pencil, and navigate to Object > Arrange > Send to Back so it pops behind the pencil.
Select the eraser and the pencil-lines group and go to Object > Group.
Metal Bands
Step 8. With the rounded rectangle click once on the artboard to open the options. Set the options as follows:
• Width 5 pixels
• Height 44 pixels
• Corner Radius 12
Click OK. It will have the last used fill, the eraser gradient. We need to change that.
Keep the metal band selected.
Step 9. Open the gradient palette set three stops:
• At 0% AND 100% set Red 153, Green 153, Blue 153
• At about 40% set Red 255, Green 255, Blue 255 (white)
Set Type to Linear and Angle to 0°.
Step 10. Choose the band with the select tool (black arrow) and drag it to the right. Hold the ALT and SHIFT keys as you drag to make a copy and keep it moving at a 90° angle.
Step 11. Type Control +D two times to duplicate the transformation twice and make 4 bands.
Step 12. Drag a marquee around all four bands to select them and then group them.
Step 13. Drag the group of bands to the pencil and position them on top of the pencil and eraser. Choose all pieces of the band, pencil and eraser.
Step 14. From the Align palette, select the vertical align centre button to align the pieces horizontally.
Group all the pieces.
Point and Lead
Step 15.With the Polygon tool (In Illustrator 9 it's on the ellipse tool flyout, and in Illustrator 10, it is in the rectangle tool flyout.) click once on the artboard to open the polygon options and set the Radius to 42 pixels and the Sides to 3.
Click OK.
Step 16. Open the transform palette, and set the width to 42 pixels and the height to 84 pixels. Press Enter to set the transformation and your pencil point changes shape to this:
Step 17. Keep the point selected. Navigate to Object > Transform > Rotate and then type 90 in the dialog box. Click OK. Leave it selected.
Step 18. Set up a new gradient in the gradient palette with these colours and positions:
• Red 255-Green 204-Blue 153 at location 0°
• Red 255-Green 247-Blue 230 at location 50%
• Red 209-Green 166-Blue 130 at location 100%
• Type: Linear
• Angle 90°
Press Enter to set the fill change.
Lead
Step 19. With the polygon tool to lay down a triangle as before and in the transform palette, change the size to Width: 10 pixels, Height 20 pixels.
Rotate it 90° as before.
Step 20. Use the gradient palette to fill it with a white at 0% to black at 100%gradient, linear type at location 90°.
Step 21. Position it over the pencil's wood point at the end and align it vertically. Then group these two pieces.
Step 22. Drag this group to the pencil and butt it against the left end. Choose all pieces of the pencil and the point and align them vertically as before. Group all the pieces.
Resizing
Step 23. Hold down the shift key to constrain the proportions and drag inward to the size you wish.
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