Can you create a plastic/rubber tube like structure in Photoshop with a specific path?

Question

I need to learn a skill to design a circular tube like this in a circular path (I might need to distort the path a bit, so not perfect circle).

By specific path, I mean I should be able to make it of any shape, like O, P, S, 7, 8, oval, rectangle, circle etc. from any view (top, side etc.) Not just circle.

Also, I don't want to use a 3D software. If it is possible using Photoshop or Illustrator (2nd choice) that will be helpful.

Further, I don't want it to be very realistic. I know Photoshop has many blending options and effects, so it can be possible, but I don't know how to use them.

For example, today, for a different project, I made a BP monitor's tube, which is non transparent. And it followed the specific path I defined it before giving it the effects. (I used Inner shadow blending option on a specified stroke).

This is what I know so far.

Is it possible to design it using Photoshop? (Not necessarily very realistic)

PS: Circular is not necessary, what is important is a way to draw the shape in any shape as mentioned above. If effect is there, I guess I would be able to manipulate the path. It's basically a side view of a curved pipe.

EDIT: Those who are saying to add what I've tried: See, if I was able to draw something close, I wouldn't ask this question. If you see my past questions, wherever possible, I've added what I've tried so far. And according to their logic, many many question would deserve down votes, because they haven't shown their efforts and what they have tried so far.

Answer 1

If absolute realism isn't necessarily the goal, I'd use Illustrator for this. Although, you can get pretty close to realism with enough care.

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You can simply use a Gradient on a path in Illustrator....

The gradient stops have varying opacities.

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If you want to be more intricate with the "tubelike" appearance you could use an Artbrush.

• Draw two rectangles on top of each other - one black with a white rectangle on top.

• Select both rectangles and choose Object > Blend > Make

• Select each rectangle individually with the Direct Selection tool and adjust its opacity.

• Drag the Blend to the Brush Panel and create an Artbrush of the blend.

• Apply that Artbrush to a path.

You'll need to split and align paths for any "overlaps" of the tube. But that shouldn't be too difficult. (The circle shape above is actually 2 paths to accommodate the overlap)

Then, if you need it in Photoshop, copy/paste.

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The blend in the Artbrush can slow the appearance redrawing in Illustrator. What I've shown here is a simple 2 object blend and it still takes a couple seconds for AICS6 to draw the shape (CC may be better). It is possible to take more care with the blend for added realism, it will simply be slower to redraw.

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I did think this may be possible with stroking paths in Photoshop and a custom brush, but, well, that proved to be more troubling and time consuming due to how Photoshop brushes work. I lost interest in trying to sort it out in Photoshop alone.

Answer 2

The questioner wrote that it should be made in Photoshop or mostly in Illustrator. That's no problem for a person who has seriously trained few years drawing and painting. With sharp eyes and some real talent he can pick the curves, glosses, shadows and transparency by watching a real thing or existing image a while and output them to a paper or into his computer.

The rest of us must have some help. Unfortunately Photoshop and Illustrator cannot make the glosses and shadows right except in very few cases. The apparent projection must be straight on the face without perspective. Then one can use for ex. stretch along a path a gradient or a drawn piece of tube.

Drawing it like a non-shaded technical line drawing is one possibility, but I guess it's not acceptable elsewhere than in technical documents. A cartoon style drawing with solid colors, outlines and some glosses is the next level in complexity, but integrating it into realistic image is a style problem.

One Photoshop trick can be useful: The mixer Brush. It can create the shading of the tube with relatively low effort. No photorealism nor plausible transparency, but the simplest possible light and shadow:

The gradient rectangle in top right is the loading area of my Mixer Brush. It was used only once because I set my brush never exhausting.

The stroke in top middle is painted with the mouse. The dark stays in the bottom side as long as the drawing direction isn't upwards. Complex curves and windings must be drawn in pieces, because one cannot draw upwards - at least not with a mouse. Brush rotating advanced graphic tablets are different, but I haven't one and that functionality isn't in my legacy Photoshop.

The loop in the bottom is made to several layers by stroking paths. They are drawn to the right directions with the Pen and stroked to different layers to be able to fine tune their placings and layering order. With paths the result is smooth without having a graphic tablet.

As you can see, some shadows are missing - the turns of the tube loop do not know of each other. But it's easy to insert a couple of shadow layers where one can paint a little transparent black on:

As said, it's not a realistic plastic tube - there's no transparency nor complex glosses. One can try to make a more complex mixer brush loading gradient, have a color and insert a drop shadow. But it will still be better for drawing toothpaste or sausages. Half a second look at a 3D CAD rendering proves it with no doubt:

It also proves that painting it without practicing years to develop the needed skills is impossible.

Answer 3

I wouldn't try to create whole thing at once. IMHO there is no need (as people won't notice) and it add to the difficulty.
First I draw a path and stroke it with black. Black because when I stroke it again with gray the black will create thin black outline.

Then I would repeat the process how many times you want. Each time making a little different shape on different layer.

Then I would make a simple shape underneath them all that would act as end of tube

Then add a little bevel& emboss Make for one layer then copy and paste style for all others.

Then select all layers, and on ANOTHER extra layers add some shadow and highlights. I've also played with some opacity of each layer and added hue/saturation for a blueish hue. But you could also just use some light blue instead of gray.