Create a 3D Push Pin and a Paper Note in Illustrator
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In this tutorial, we’ll show the beginning Adobe Illustrator artist how to create a 3D push pin with the 3D Revolve Tool. We’ll learn how to apply highlights and create shadows for a more realistic effect and add a paper note to it
Final Image Preview
Let’s have a look at the image we’ll be creating.
Step 1
For the 3D Revolve Options in Illustrator, we need to create the front view outline shape of the object we want. It always goes from the center point to the outline of the object. For example, a globe could be revolved by drawing a half circle. I have illustrated a view possibilities in the image below.
Step 2
Lets start with our push pin. Create a new file. Drag a vertical guide onto the artboard. Select the Pen Tool(P), set the fill color to none, and the stroke to black. Note that you can change the color at anytime later on. Then draw a line, as you see in the image below.
Step 2
Select the path and open the Revolve Window under Effects > 3D > Revolve.
Step 3
As you can see, we have quite a few options to apply to our path. Select the Preview option. This will give us a live view of our object. Chose the following settings: X axis of -35 degrees, Y axis of -28 degrees, Z axis of 38 degrees, and leave the Perspective at 0.
Click the More Options Button. Underneath the Revolve tab, you will see the Surface Options. Let’s have a closer look at the options. You can see one Highlight Point that we can move around by clicking and dragging it. We can also change the intensity of the lights. If we choose to, we can add more highlight points by clicking the New light button. In our case, we don’t need to change anything. But you can play around and add more highlights if you’d like.
Step 4
Open the Swatch Palette and go to Open Swatch Library and select the Earthtone swatches. I chose a nice red color. Select the path of the 3D pin and change the color. You can of course choose any color you prefer.
Step 5
Let’s create the metal pin. Draw a shape like you see in the image below. Make sure that the two points are vertically aligned. You can achieve this by selecting them both with the Direct Selection Tool (A), and press Command + Alt + J to open the Average Palette. From there choose Vertical. Then click OK.
Step 6
Select the path and open the 3D Revolve Options again. We’ll choose the same settings, since the pin will have to be aligned with the head, but we will add two more highlights. Align them as you see in the image below. Make sure you have the Preview selected.
Step 7
Move the pin upwards and behind the red pin head. The shortcut for aligning layers and paths is Command + [ (behind) and Command + ] (in front).
Step 8
Select the red head shape and choose Overlay in the Transparency Palette. This will enable us to see the pin and align it better.
Step 9
The pin just looked a little too short, but since we have not expanded any of your 3D effects, we can easily transform the objects. Select the bottom path point with the Direct Selection Tool and lengthen the pin. All our 3D effects will be automatically applied. Then set the red head shape back to Normal.
Step 10
Create a new layer underneath the pin layer and call it “paper.” Create a rectangular shape with the Pen Tool (P). Then choose a light grey color and fill it.
Step 11
Copy the rectangular shape underneath by pressing Command + C. Then press Command + B and color it with a linear gradient from black to medium grey. Transform it slightly with the Direct Selection Tool (A) by selecting the points and handles and dragging it around until the shape is a little bigger than the paper shape.
Step 12
Select the grey pin part and shorten it so it looks like it pierces through the paper. You can do this by selecting the bottom path point with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag the point upwards. The 3D effect will be automatically adjusted.
Step 13
Select the red pin head and make a copy. While still selected, go to Object > Expand Appearance. This will apply the 3D effect.
Step 14
Keep the object selected and open the Pathfinder Palette. Choose Add To Shape Area from the Shapes Modes.
Step 15
Fill the shape with black and go to Object > Path > Simplify. Move the cursor for the Curve Precision to 100%. This will reduce some points that are unnecessary quickly.
Step 16
Select our shadow shape, rotate it, scale it, and skew it until it resembles the image below.
Step 17
Apply a linear gradient that goes from a medium to light grey. This will make our shadow look more realistic.
Step 18
Select the paper shape and make a copy on top of it by pressing Command + C + F. Then open the Swatch library patterns by clicking on the Arrow on the right hand side of the Swatch Palette. In the drop down, choose Open Swatch Library > Patterns > Basic Graphics > Basic Graphic_Textures. I chose the pattern called USGS Sewage Disposal. Fill the shape with the pattern and set the Transparency to Multiply and its Opacity to 8%. Now we have lined paper.
Step 19
Voila, your very own push pin and note paper.
Conclusion
That’s all! You can create as many push pins as desired. Pay attention to light sources and set the highlights accordingly.
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By Simona Pfreundner
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that is how you can use the 3D Revolve Options tool?!
f**k, had i known before…
i’m fine, thanks for the tutorial, really helpful
Didn’t Corey Barker did this on his site?
Nice Technique…
oooooo k? I hope the next few articles aren’t this lame
jealous
you think you are so pro.. zzz
Come on Keith, the final look may not be that exciting but just using this tool in more intricate ways could create some amazing objects with a huge amount of flexibility for an illustrator to use.
Now, now Keith – Something for everyone (beginner to advanced) here.
Have you contributed anything? Don’t give if you can’t take!
Thanks for the tip.
Gotta love the 3d tools… I use them all the time. I’m addicted.
The gradient on the pin is backwards. Lighter to darker (from L->R) would make more sense. Not a big deal at all but just throwing that out there.
I always hate nit-picky posters but technically (in regards to the shadow of the thumbtack) the gradient would be opposite. The darker part of the gradient would be where the tack pierces the paper, and then it would fade to transparent in the other direction. I’m sure you knew, and just did this because it probably looked better. Just thought I’d throw that out there! Great tutorial, I love love love this website
Nice for showing some of the ease of revolve… But the push pins shadow should fade out as it gets farther from the base of the paper… and the shadow should be more correct with the shadow cast by the paper.
Good beginner tut. Nice job Simona.
good job!
Gotta go with Myke on this one, nice eye for detail bro.
This is wicked!!
Forgive me, but when along the way did Illustrator turn into a 3D program, cuz this somee goood s**t.
very nice indeed – like the 3d tool – very useful.
I wouldn’t describe myself as a novice with Illustrator but I’ve never really used the 3D tool as it doesn’t really suit my style but this has given me a little insight so I may well give it a go. Credit where credit’s due and well done on a very useful tutorial.
dude the tutorial is great but you did forgot to apply a gaussian blur to make pin shadow even better, am not Criticizing. just constructional criticism.
Great tut, I used the 3D tool before but not in this fashion. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Well done. The 3d Tool is pretty impressive.
This is great:)
Excelent tuto…!!!
Awesome tut!
I agree with Dexter, to add a little gaussian blur and personally I would prefer to put the opacity of the shadow a little down to make it look more realistic.
thnx anyways!
Nice Job!
The 3D part is well-explained (and I guess that´s the heart of this tut), but the work on the shadows is a little bit sloppy. The reflections on the pin do not correspond with the direction of the pin shadow, which doesn´t correspond with the shadow of the paper. Also, as mentioned before, the pin shadow fades in the wrong direction.
Still, thank you very much for your work!
Nice tutorial!
I never use the 3D tool, it’s powerful
I love these Illustrator 3D tools, are very powerful!
Thanks from Argentina!
I love how simple these are but how effective the end result is.
nice tutorial, continue your good job
thanks for this.. is amazing i made it myself and looks great
Absolutly great! Thx a lot
very nice tutorial, awesome techniques & very useful thank you
=D
Can you include the downloadable psd file with this tutorial? Its a nice tutorial. I know I can do this, but Im just overwhelmed with work…
you want a .psd file from Illustrator????
wow, thank you very much, and the guys who added that constructive criticism about the shadow, thank you too. You have all been very helpful.
Fun! :] I had to do it as an assignment in digital graphics class. :]
nice tut.
This was very informative I had no idea, how ever I think that you missed some steps. As I try doing it on my Mac I encountered numerous problems
regarding your directions.
Nice job – you make it look so easy! oh … it is… haha . Thanks!
Is it only me…? My 3d models just won’t change color, I double click the color I want, but all I see is like a small string of the selected color, not even close to the whole object. Help anyone?
I would appriciate it! 
something’s wrong with the shadow on the paper. the gardient should be inverse. darker on the entrance point.
oh. i’m sorry. someone already wrote about it…