graphiccontent

Something I've always wondered about, but never actually had to do. Until now.

I'm trying to re-create this:

The idea is it's a TV set.

What I am trying to do is re-create the outline around the screen which looks to have a white/grey to black gradient.

Any ideas on how to do this in Illustrator?

Would you just trace the shape, or is there a better trick?

And how to make it so it looks like it fades?

learn some gradient mesh techniques, that should to do the job. http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/articles/20-tutorials-to-help-master-illustrators-gradient-mesh

the basic shape is easy though, just a rounded rectangle for the outside shape and the same on the inside but with a larger diameter and some tweaking