3D lightening icon

Today, you will be creating a 3D lightening icon in Fireworks CS5. Look at what you will be creating.

Step 1
Create a canvas with a 480x503 size. Next, import the sketch using File > Import or Ctrl + R. The sketch will be used as a guide to create the different pieces and not an exact replica for the final results.

Step 2
Using the rectangle tool (U), create a rectangle 98x67. Now skewing, distorting, rotating using the free transform tool Ctrl + T, make a rectangle as shown. Again remember you will use your judgment to create a rectangle as you see fit. Name it “top rectangle” with a blue color.

Step 3
To get the smaller piece, duplicate the “top rectangle”, , Ctrl +C > Ctrl + V, call it “small rectangle” and give it a green color. Now nudge down a bit and using the Scale tool(Q), resize it to 67x48 or how you see fit matching the top rectangle and sketch.

Step 4
Using the pen tool (P), start at the top rectangle right end, draw the side part. Make sure when you reach the “small rectangle” that it matches the edges around. Name this piece “side3D” and give it a red color as shown.

Step 5
Using the same technique as creating the “side3D”, create the front part, making it match each part. Name it “frontzap”, give it a grey color and where necessary if points have to be tweaked such as areas near the small triangles, please do. Put it all together you should come up with something like this.

Step 6
We are going to apply some effects to areas starting with “top rectangle” (the blue top piece) and apply the gradient below.

Step 7
Next to illuminate it more, we create a highlight top it. Taking “top rectangle” make a copy Ctrl +C > Ctrl + V and apply gradient and other settings below. ** Yes, I know you can’t see it but it’s there.

Step 8
For the “front lightening”, it will be the same as top rectangle but with a different the gradient as shown.

To give front lightening a more punch, apply gradient and settings as shown
Blend Mode > Freeze
Opacity > 44%
Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > 2.5

Step 9
For the “small rectangle”, it will be the same as the front side but with a different the gradient as shown. Add a highlight as in Step 7

Step 10
For the piece called “side3D” apply the gradient and add a highlight as in Step 7.

Step 11
At this point the zap needs some smoothing at the corner. To do this draw a section as shown and apply the settings given:
Fill > White Solid White
Blend Mode > Normal
Opacity > 50%
Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > 1.8

Here is the Final Product