• Get a photo reference
• Create your file
• Ruler
• Duplication magic
• Adjust and join
• Adding color
• Blend
• Mask
• Bottle cap
• Blend options
• Detailing
• Cap detail

1. Create a bottle with Blends

This tutorial covers the basics of using the Blend function in Illustrator. The Blend function is a handy tool - not only does it create blends of smooth color that would otherwise be difficult to achieve with gradients, it also can be used to replicate shapes with ease. You can blend shapes, lines, symbols, and even patterns and brushes. There are limitations to what the blend tool can do though, for example symbols with transparencies do not always bend well into one another. As always, toying around with the tool is the best thing you can do to learn more about it, and after a bit you’ll get the hang of knowing when to use it for maximum results.

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Step 1: Get a photo reference

We’re going to vector a bottle – nothing too fancy to start with, but hopefully the techniques covered here can be put to more interesting use later on. To start, grab a reference picture from the excellent library at MorgueFile: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/?display=154359&

Next: Create your file