Answer
No.
In a 2D drawing program you must force 2 things to match: The geometry and its interaction with light. 2D programs know nothing of the 3D space and how material reflects light there, so it’s up to you to make the things to fit.
Well trained painters and draughtsmen can do it, but the needed amount of talent and practicing is beyond the capabilities of an ordinary punter just like 1st class sport achievements or enjoyable playing of violin or piano. Learning to do it firmly (if it happens) can take years. Check these links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcn0h1MXR58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37-UB4_gJpM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL2twVmeJeQ
Illustrator has gradient meshes and blending which both can be used for perfect coloring, but to see which gradients or blends are needed is anything but trivial. I must admit that the only practical way how I could make plausible complex fabric foldings in Illustrator is to cheat by tracing a photo.
3D programs can do it. If you can define the geometry the program calculates the 2D image for you with nearly zero effort. After defining the geometry only define the material and light conditions.
Even the geometry can be generated half-automatically if one uses physics simulation which calculates how a fabric settles if it’s thrown over an object. Unfortunately learning to use such 3D programs properly takes easily several months.
Elementary level 3D programs can make only simple forms with no physical realism. Also the rendering is only algorithmic and low resolution, it’s not ray-traced photorealistic like in high end programs. An example: A surface is generated by lofting along a curved path between 2 different folding curves:
Of course it’s as defined, but the difficulty is to define complex enough geometry. This is far too simple when compared to how a piece of fabric would settle in reality.
Here’s another not especially realistic attempt in the same 3D program (=Moi3D). It’s still a loft between 2 curves, but the result is twisted:
For clothing designers there exists programs which can show to the designer plausibly what’s the result when someone wears his designs. They can be easier for designers than high end 3D modelling programs because they are made to use clothing industry concepts instead of 3D modelling terms. But still the need of studying and practicing is substantial.
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Source : Link , Question Author : 金馆长 , Answer Author : user287001