In this tutorial, we'll show the advanced Adobe Illustrator artist how to create a realistic looking soccer ball with mesh objects. You'll learn how to create reflections with the Opacity Mask. We'll also make our own swooshes and custom brushes.

In the following tutorial, you'll learn how to create a lock icon with some effects, opacity masks, gradients, and simple shapes in Illustrator. Many of these techniques can be applied easily to other icon designs.

I will be showing you how to draw a 3d gear easily in this tutorial. To make things more interesting, I will be using opacity mask to show through the wireframe of the gear. After this tutorial you will have a better understanding on drawing gears and 3D extrude tool in illustrator.

Create and control complex clipping and opacity masks in illustrator.