Curtain Tutorial

In this tut I will show you how to create a curtain in Illustrator. I will teach you how to use a new tool called the Mesh Tool.

1. First Steps:

Select Rectangle tool from the Tools Pallet and draw a simple rectangle.

2. Mesh:

From the Tools Pallet select Mesh Tool.

Using the Mesh Tool, click on the bottom edge of the rectangle. You will see a vertical line appear on the rectangle with white points at both the ends (top and bottom). Click on the bottom edge of the rectangle multiple times, keeping almost the same distance from the previous point, to create a mesh like shown below. While clicking be careful about hitting exactly the edge.

Now select the Direct Selection Tool (the white arrow) from the Tools Pallet and select any point of the mesh on the bottom edge of the rectangle. Holding down the Shift key, click on the point on top edge of the rectangle which is on same vertical line of the bottom point. While both of these points are selected, select the black color in the Color window (Window: Color OR press F6). You will notice the black color appears between those points forming the shadow in the curtain’s wrinkle. Repeat this process multiple times keeping some gaps in between as on my image.

Using Direct Selection Tool select a top and a bottom point in the gaps between two shadows and double click on the Fill box in the Tools Pallet. From the Color Picker window that opens, select a darker shade of the same color and press OK. You will see a darker shade appears in the gaps between the shadows. Repeat this process to add a darker shade in all the gaps between the shadows.

3. Last Bits:

Cool! Now make it more like the real thing. Again with the Direct Selection Tool just select any point on the top edge of the rectangle and move it near to the adjacent point. Move the anchor point on its vertical line to give a curve to this line as seen below.

Similarly adjust almost all the points on the top as well as bottom edge of the rectangle to get a desired result of wrinkles of the curtain. If you did it right, you'll see something like on my example.

Well done! Wish you happy times with the Mesh Tool and home decoration!