The Xara Trompe L'Oeil Room Page 9
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In this next part of the tutorial, we will create what I hope you will agree, is a pretty realistic chrome threaded base for the bulb.

We'll create this section larger and when we are finished, reduce it down to the correct size.

Create a rectangle to the size shown and apply a multicolored Linear Fill.

What makes this rectangle appear to be a shiny metal cylinder is the shapes within are sharp, and the gradations smooth. Placing colors 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 close together (use the Zoom Tool to get in real close) makes these look like sharp reflections in a highly polished surface. (Kind of reminds one of a salt shaker!)

 

Draw another rectangle the same width as the cylinder but 15 pixels tall.

Convert to Editable Shapes (Arrange menu).

Using the Shape Editor Tool, one at a time, select the bottom, outside points and move them toward the center until the lines are about at a 45 degree angle.

Zoom in close and using the Shape Editor Tool, gently drag the bottom and sides into a very slight curve.

Apply a Circular Fill using the three colors shown. Position the center of the fill to the left of center.

TIP: If you find I have indicated the wrong color values, you can use the eyedropper tool in the Color Editor to sample the appropriate colors on the illustration.

Next we will use duplicates of the bottom shape to create a reflection and a highlight.

Make four duplicates of the bottom shape.

Position two shapes as shown on the top so that only a portion of the bottom shape shows on the left side. Combine Shapes > Subtract Shapes. Use the Shape Editor Tool to remove the sliver left over on the right side by selecting and deleting the extending points.

Using the other two duplicate shapes, repeat this last step and create the shape shown bottom right. Again, use the Shape Editor Tool to remove the sliver portion that extends on the left side.

Fill the tiny shape with the warm gray color shown then apply a Linear Transparency. Angle the transparency up and right as shown.

Select the larger shape and apply a 3-color Circular Fill. Position both shapes as shown.

NOTE: While it would be easier to use shades of black (gray) for the chrome colors, real chrome is either warmer or cooler and not neutral gray. Besides, mixing all these colors is good practice. I had to do it too.

Duplicate the smaller shape, flop it and position it on the right of the reflection as indicated by the red arrow and the word Duplicate.