Shadows of a Cross

[Jamicah]

I am needing to make a geometrically sound cross using the shading on the sides of it, if that makes sense. What is the best way to tackle this in Illustrator. It basically will be the shading from a 3-D cross which produces the white space look.

[ylaenna]

Here's how I would approach it:
1. Draw your cross. Make sure it's one solid object (not a compound path or group of objects).
2. Duplicate it and drag it off to the side a little, to where the shadow would be.
3. Lock both objects. (CTRL/CMD+2)
4. Hit CTRL/CMD+U to activate smart guides.
5. Draw a third object that 'fills' the areas between the the two crosses, creating the connecting lines you need between top and bottom cross.
6. Unlock the objects.
7. Select bottom cross and 3rd object, and merge them.
8. Subtract the top cross from the merged object.

That should leave you with a compound path that forms just the shadows of the cross.

THINGS GO WELL AH MAHT BE SHOWIN HER MAH OH FACE...

[Jamicah]

Thanks Ylaenna!!! Worked perfect!!

[ylaenna]

Neato. :)

THINGS GO WELL AH MAHT BE SHOWIN HER MAH OH FACE...

[REDeye]

ylaenna, you should be a tutorial author.