Shiny Metal Effect :) HELP!

[JennyBenny5321]

Hello! I have been researching about how to make realistic super shiny metal objects. Is illustrator the best program to use? What is the best program for this?:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_clo...graph-sign-in-gold-hdtv-format.php?id=6769967

(Ignore the animation)

The gradient metal swatches in illustrator are not cutting it. The gradient looks cheezy! Is it a matter of experience with gradients?

If anyone knows any good tutorials for a VERY VERY realistic shiny metal, the best program for it, or gradient mesh tutorials PLEASE HELP ME!! Thanks!

 

[apepp]

...firstly the best method isn't always the quickest, as usually quick, slap dash means work often ends up awful...

...you certainly can create very realistic metals in illustrator with the gradient mesh tool, but this tool takes great care and patience to use efficiently, below are some examples, with experience, of what the gradient mesh tool can achieve, a great deal of time is often required, so no quick "one button click" method will ever do it...

...the contours of the object you want to make shiny metal need to be taken into account to make 3D:

http://www.khulsey.com/masters_yukio_miyamoto.html

...the most usual method for the rest of us is to render in a dedicated 3D application, using proper real world lighting and correct materials, but even with 3D it can still take a bit of time, but probably a lot less painstaking...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...and yes, practice, practice, practice is about the best advice for great gradient work in illustrator...

...all comes down to determination and how well you can fight through the frustration of the mesh tools behavior, it is arguably the hardest tool to master in illustrator....

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...here is a nice gradient mesh tutorial to build your skills upon:

http://vectortuts.com/tutorials/illustration/illustrate-a-pair-of-sweet-gradient-mesh-cherries/

Andrew

 

[apepp]

..quite often, to create even more realistic reflections is to apply a real photograph (slightly blurred) to the object and blend over the top using blending modes and opacity, much like a real 3D application would do when it renders in a given environment...

Andrew

 

[JennyBenny5321]

Thanks everyone