INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Popsicle

Summer is here and things are getting hot. Create this popsicle to stay and look cool with your Illustrator skills.

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Start with a rectangle for the body of the popsicle.

Use the DIRECT SELECTION Tool to select the top 2 corners, them drag the corner widgets into the center to the maximum amount. 

Direct Select the bottom corners and pull the widgets in a small amount to form the rounded corners.

Create 4 rectangles the same width as the body of the popsicle. 

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Use the Selection Tool to shorten some of the rectangles, keeping the tops aligned. 

Use the Pathfinder Panel to Unite all 4 shapes together. 

Direct Select JUST he lower section of the united block and pull the corner widgets into the center the maximum amount to create the drips.

Add a fill and stroke to the shape the color you want the popsicle to be. Copy this shape for a later step. 

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Fill and stroke the body the same colors and stroke weight. Click the Draw Inside Button at the bottom of the tool bar. 

Draw Inside is the 3rd button. Draw Normal is the first button.

Paste the copied shape "into" the body. Click the Draw Normal button to get out of Draw Inside Mode. 

Double-Click to isolate the "drips" from the background shape. Open the Appearance panel. Click on the Fill section and click on the triangle "twirly" to show the opacity of the fill.

Click on the Opacity link in the Fill section of the Appearance Panel and set the blending mode to Multiply. 

Multiply will darken the color over the body. 

Here, the Lighten Blending Mode lightens the color over the body. 

Create the stick. Make a rectangle, fill and stroke it with darker wood tone colors. 

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Use the DIRECT SELECTION Tool to select the bottom 2 corners, them drag the corner widgets into the center to the maximum amount. ​

Use the Arc tool to create highlight "noodles" for the top and the stick. Use the Appearance Panel to set the opacity of the white highlights to 80%

Cap the ends of the highlight noodles with rounded ends…"hot dogging" the ends.

And here is your cool, refreshing popsicle.