How to Create an Algerian Independence Day Illustration in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

Did you know that it’s not just the USA that has an Independence Day in July? Algeria has one too! That’s why I decided to create this Independence Day illustration, and now I want to show you how to create it.

We will use basic shapes and warp effects. We will also use an option which allows you to repeat your last movement as many times as you want. You will learn how to create a new layer and lock it, as well as many other different things which could be helpful to you in your future projects.

If you like tutorials with a national note, you would probably like my tutorial about Oktoberfest. Or maybe you would like to browse some images about travel. PhotoDune has a good collection of such images.

Whenever you are ready, let’s start!

1. How to Create the Background

After creating a new document, we will start by creating the background. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter Width and Height 850 px and press OK. A big square will appear on your artboard, which is going to be the background. Make sure the background stays in the middle of your artboard and has no stroke color and the fill color shown below. You can set the color on the Color panel (Window > Color).

If you are afraid of accidentally moving the background, it’s better to lock the layer right where it is. Be sure the Layers panel is open (Window > Layers). Lock the layer where the background is (a lock sign should appear on the left side of the layer’s name), and create a new layer (press the Create New Layer button on the panel) where you will create everything else.

how to create the background

2. How to Create the Flag

The Algerian flag has green and white colors in the background. Hit the Rectangle Tool (M) again and create a green rectangle in the middle. The width and height don’t matter very much here—just make sure it’s not too big.

After that, while keeping the green rectangle selected, create a new copy of it in front (Control-C, Control-F). Using the Right Arrow, move the new copy to the right. Change its fill color to the one shown below. It is okay if the two rectangles slightly overlap each other, so you won’t have a gap between them.

how to create the flag

3. How to Create the Dove

Step 1

Let’s start to create the dove from an ellipse. Hit the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a small ellipse. Rotate it a little bit to the left.

Then, add a tiny brown circle as an eye.

how to create the doves head

Step 2

Now we are going to create the beak. Again, you need to draw an ellipse.

Grab the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) (or in the newer version of AI: Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C)), and click on the right anchor point of this ellipse. It will turn from a smooth side to sharp corner, and that’s what we want.

how to create the beak

Place the beak behind the dove’s head. For this, select the beak, cut it off (Control-X), and place it behind (Control-B).

how to place the beak

Step 3

On to the body. Start with a newly created ellipse and, while keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Inflate. Enter the options shown below in the new dialogue window. Then press OK.

It’s very important to expand this shape (Object > Expand Appearance) because if you don’t and then start to rotate the shape, it will turn into a weird shape.

how to create the body

Place the shape you just created on the dove’s head, as shown below. You actually don’t need the black stroke—I created it for you so you can see how the shapes have to be placed a bit better.

how to place the body

Step 4

Let’s create the wing. Again, you want to create an ellipse. While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Flag. Enter the options shown below in the new dialogue window. Then press OK.

Expand this shape: Object > Expand Appearance.

Add many small ellipses as feathers. Remember, you don’t need the black stroke—I created it just for better visibility.

Finally, group the whole wing (right-click > Group).

how to create the wing

Step 5

Place the wing on the dove.

Create a copy of the wing, and change its fill color. Now, place it behind the dove’s body.

how to place the wing and create another one

Step 6

The last thing we need in order to finish off our dove is the tail. Create a few ellipses and place them as shown below.

It’s better to group the whole dove: select it, and then right-click > Group.

how to create the tail

Transfer the dove to the left corner of the Algerian flag.

how to place the dove on the flag

4. How to Create the Banner

Step 1

Delete the fill color and set the stroke color shown in the image below. Grab the Line Segment Tool (/) and draw a line.

To create a triangle, you need to take the Polygon Tool and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter Sides 3 with any Radius, and hit OK.

Turn the triangle upside down and set a green fill color without a stroke.

While holding the Shift and Alt buttons together, start to move this triangle to the right. You’ll notice that you’ve just got a copy of your triangle perfectly aligned.

After that, press Control-D a few more times to fill up the brown line. The Control-D buttons repeat your last movement.

Using the Selection Tool (V), select every second triangle on the banner. Then, change their fill color to the one shown below.

how to create the banner

Step 2

Group the whole banner.

While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Arc and, in the new dialogue window, enter the options shown below.

It is very important to expand your banner (Object > Expand Appearance) as you will rotate the banner later on.

how to warp the banner

Place the banner on the right corner of the flag, opposite the dove.

how to place the banner

5. How to Create the Moon and Star on the Flag

Step 1

To get a perfect moon shape, start with an even circle. To create an even circle, hold the Shift button while creating it using the Ellipse Tool (L).

Create a new, smaller circle and make these two circles overlap as shown in the image below.

Select both of them and then press the Minus Front button on the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). See the moon shape?

how to create the moon

Step 2

Grab the Star Tool and create a small star with the same fill color. Rotate it a bit to the right and place it as shown below.

how to create the star

Transfer the moon and star onto the flag.

how to place the star and moon

6. How to Create the Floral Decorations

Step 1

To create a flower, we will need the Polygon Tool again. So grab this tool and click on your artboard. Now enter 6 Sides with any Radius, and press OK.

While keeping the created hexagon selected, go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Pucker & Bloat. Then enter the options shown below.

Finally, add a yellow circle in the middle. The flower is ready!

how to create the flower

Step 2

Make more flowers in a different color as they will be our decoration, so we need variety.

how to create more flowers

Step 3

Delete the fill color and set the stroke color shown below. Hit the Arc Tool and create a curve. I like also to check Round Cap on the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke).

To make the green stroke color the fill color, press Shift-X. Then, draw many small ellipses as the leaves, thus forming a palm leaf.

Group the whole palm leaf.

how to create the palm leaf

Give one palm leaf to the dove. Notice that the leaf is behind the dove’s beak.

Place the previously created flowers on the flag. Add the palm leaves behind the flowers. Feel free to play around with the arrangement if you like.

how to place the palm leaves and flowers

7. How to Create the Fireworks 

Step 1

Set the new fill color shown below and draw a star using the Star Tool. Add a tiny circle under it. 

While holding the Shift and Alt keys together, shift the circle down. Press Control-D once, and a new copy of the circle will appear at the same distance from the previous one.

While holding the Shift and Alt keys, move the star down. Then, make it smaller. Create a new line from the tiny circles using the same method as before.

how to create the firework

Step 2

Group the whole line of stars and circles. Take the Rotate Tool (R) and, while holding down the Alt key, click under the line. In the new dialogue window, enter a value around 30 degrees and hit Copy.

Press Control-D a few times to finish off the fireworks.

how to rotate the firework

Step 3

Using the same method as before, create another line of ellipses, circles and stars for the future fireworks. Feel free to create any shapes you want for it.

how to create the firework

Step 4

Using the Rotate Tool (R) while holding down the Alt key, create a new firework effect.

how to rotate the firework

Step 5

Make a few copies of the yellow fireworks. Change the fill color of few of them to the ones presented below. Be sure each set of fireworks is grouped separately.

different colors fireworks

Place all of them behind all the objects, but in front of the background. For this, you can select the fireworks together with the background, cut them off (Control-X), and place them behind (Control-B).

how to place the fireworks

Conclusion

Thank you so much for sticking with me until the end. I hope you learned something new and will share your experience with others. And, as always, make sure to check out GraphicRiver for more ideas, inspiration, art, and more.

Now that you know how to create this piece of art, you can create much more using the same shapes, warp effects, and tools that I showed you how to use. Hopefully you enjoyed this tutorial and I will see you in my next one! Bye!

final

What Are Variable Fonts?

Formatting typography to fit your exact purposes can be a time-consuming process. So imagine instead being able to make a font subtly bolder or more italicised just by adjusting a slider in Illustrator. 

variable font

Variable font technology now allows you to do just that. These individual font files actually behave like multiple fonts, allowing you to adjust the weight, width and slant of type as you work. 

But are variable fonts actually useful for designers, or a fun but pointless gimmick? Here we take a look at how you can use variable fonts in Illustrator CC and how you can best apply them in your design work.

On the hunt for more cool fonts? Check out the huge range of display styles, serifs and sans serifs over on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.

What Are Variable Fonts?

A variable font is an OpenType font format that includes new technology called OpenType Font Variations

Jointly developed by four of the most influential technology companies—Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe—these font files contain a huge amount of extra data, compared to your average OpenType font. 

A variable font can contain a font’s entire glyph set, or individual glyphs with up to 64,000 axes of variation, including weight, width, slant, and, in some cases, specific styles, such as Condensed, Bold, etc.


OK, But… Why?

Alongside Color Font technology, variable fonts can seem to the uninitiated a little, well, pointless. Many typographers would argue that the process of manually formatting fonts is the most professional and satisfactory way to go about things. 

  • Color fonts are set to take over the graphic design world in 2018, but what are they, and how do you use them? Learn all about color fonts in this tutorial.

  • Creating fonts has never been so easy as with Fontself—a powerful extension for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Learn how to make color fonts with Fontself!

However, variable fonts are a natural progression for the field of typography, which is increasingly reflective of developments in responsive web design. Designers are demanding more convenience and interactivity from their design tools, and fonts which you can adjust with the roll of a slider are meeting this demand.

  • Variable fonts provide designers with a single font file that behaves like multiple fonts. The new OpenType format allows us to quickly adjust certain…

Variable fonts offer flexibility and immediate results, which makes them a welcome novelty for the time-strapped typographer. 

They’re also great for adjusting typography ‘live’. So if, for example, you’re showing a client a design on a screen, you can adjust the formatting of a header before their eyes instantly.

How Do I Find Variable Fonts?

You can use a limited range of pre-installed variable fonts in Adobe Illustrator CC and Adobe Photoshop CC, including:

  • Acumin Variable Concept
  • Minion Variable Concept
  • Myriad Variable Concept
  • Source Sans Variable
  • Source Serif Variable
  • Source Code Variable

Independent typeface designers are also starting to release their own variable fonts, though many of these are still only available as prototypes. Check out Gingham, a minimal sans serif by Christoph Koeberlin, or Jabin, a variable take on Gothic type styles by Frida Medrano.

You can also find a beta website, v-fonts.com, which features an ever-growing list of new variable fonts. 

variable fonts site

How Do I Use Variable Fonts?

Here, we’ll look at how to use variable fonts in Illustrator CC. 

The process is really easy. Simply select the Type Tool (T) and drag to create a text frame on the page. Place your cursor into the frame and type in your text. 

With either the frame selected or the type highlighted, choose a variable font from the normal font menu in the Character panel (Window > Type > Character)

Click on the small double-T symbol to the right of the font weight menu. When you hover over the symbol, you’ll see ‘Variable Font’ appear next to your cursor. 

character panel

Clicking on this opens a pop-out window with sliders to adjust three options, which are detailed below.

Weight

Adjusting this slider makes the type appear thinner or bolder. Depending on the variable font, this can range from ultra-thin to a very heavy or fat weight. 

This is a great option for playing with the visual impact of headers or sub-headings, allowing you to define just the right amount of boldness for your text.

Note that increasing the weight of the font can also expand the overall width of the text, purely due to the increased size of each character. 


Width

To give your type a condensed (or squashed) look, or stretch it to give it a broader appearance, adjust the Width slider.  

While this has an aesthetic effect on your text, it’s also a really nifty method for banishing any stray orphans or widows in your typography if you don’t want to spend a long time adjusting tracking or kerning manually.


Slant

Although applying false italicisation to text is often considered a big no-go in typographic circles, the Slant slider actually replicates a large variety of authentic italic weights. 

This gives you the professional look of actual italics, but the wide variety of options you can often only achieve by applying false italics. 


Where Should I Use Variable Fonts?

Variable fonts have been designed with web design in mind, and they are supported by Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The web is the natural home for variable fonts because they are uniquely tuned to responsive sites and apps. You can play around with different variable fonts to see how they would appear online on the Axis-Praxis site.

axis praxis

By storing information about multiple font families within just one font file, variable fonts also offer a space-saving solution for web designers. 

However, variable fonts also present an exciting new way of formatting typography for print designers. Because adjusting the fonts is so quick and convenient, they make a brilliant timesaver for print designers as they work on drafts. 

Conclusion: Are Variable Fonts a Gimmick or Here to Stay?

For web designers, variable fonts represent another exciting development in responsive typography. Along with color fonts, variable fonts allow web designers to be more flexible and creative in their designs, making typography the focal point of websites rather than a mere necessity. 

For print designers, the jury is still out as to whether variable fonts are useful enough to replace manual typography formatting. Until a very wide range of variable fonts are made available in Adobe software, it seems unlikely that they will replace the standard method of formatting type for most designers. 

Looking for more great fonts? Check out the selection of typefaces on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver, or read our edited lists of some of the best fonts out there:

  • Get started on incredible designs for 2018! Check out this selection of brand new typefaces from Envato Market and Envato Elements.

  • Get the best retro fonts for your projects! Check out this list of premium goodies exclusively picked from Envato Market and Envato Elements.

If you want to learn more, why not try our new course, Up and Running with Variable Fonts.

Illustrator in 60 Seconds: How to Create an Emoji Icon

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

Welcome to our Illustrator in 60 Seconds series, in which you can learn an Illustrator skill, feature, or technique in just a minute!

Illustrator in 60 Seconds: How to Create an Emoji Icon

In today’s video, we’re going to quickly learn how to create a cute little emoji icon, using nothing more than some basic shapes that we’re going to adjust here and there.

So, assuming you already have Illustrator running in the background, bring it up and let’s get started!

Also, don’t forget you can always expand your collection by heading over to Envato Elements, where you’ll find a great selection of emojis.


How to Create an Emoji Icon

Start by setting up a new web document, which we will adjust by setting both its Width and Height values to 96 px.

setting up a new document

Create the main shape for
the body using an 88 x 88 px circle (#FFDA64),
which we will color using yellow and then center align to the larger Artboard.

creating the emojis main body

Add the mouth using a smaller
64 x 64 px circle (#8E735C), which we will color
using brown and then adjust by selecting its top anchor point using the Direct
Selection Tool (A)
and then immediately removing it by pressing Delete.

adding the main shape for the mouth

Create the teeth using a
white (#FFFFFF56 x 8 px rectangle, followed
by the tongue using a 40 x 20 px ellipse which we will color using orange (#F9914B). Group and then mask the two using a
smaller 56 x 56 px circle.

adding details to the mouth

Finish
off the icon by adding the eyes using two 12
x 12 px
circles with a 4 px
thick Stroke (#8E735C), which we will position 20 px from one another. Then remove their bottom anchor points.

Position the resulting shapes at a distance of 14 px from the mouth’s top edge, making
sure to set their Cap to Round.

finishing off the emoji

Learn More From Our Awesome Tutorials!

Want to expand your icon-building skills? Start now by checking out these in-depth tutorials that will help you bring your icon game to the next level!

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  • Today I have something special prepared for you. We are going to compare two essential Illustrator tools, the Layers panel and the Artboards one, and talk…

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How to Draw a Set of Various Polypropylene and Plastic Packages in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool and Blend in Adobe Illustrator to create a set of plastic packaging!

If you’d like to skip the tutorial and just use this vector in your work, you can go ahead and purchase the Big Set Of Polypropylene Plastic Packaging from GraphicRiver!

set of packaging

1. How to Draw the Polypropylene Tray

Step 1

Draw a rectangle with rounded edges and fill it with #D5D6D7.

Step 2

Take the Mesh Tool (U) and create a Mesh grid inside the object.

Then color the nodes just like in the screenshot below. You will need these colors:

  1. #E6E6E6
  2. #F6F6F6
  3. #E8E9EA
  4. #C9C9C9
mesh tutorial

Step 3

Add another rounded rectangle, color it with #E8E8E8, and then set it to Screen and 40% Opacity.

Step 4

Draw another rounded rectangle, and then make its Stroke a Linear Gradient from #CECECE to #FFFFFF. Select the result and go to Object > Expand to expand the stroke.

gradient

Step 5

Construct the tray.

plastic tray

Step 6

Draw a triangular element with Mesh (#050505 and #FFFFFF), and then set it to Screen with 60% Opacity.

mesh cones

Step 7

Add a few variations of the element by changing its size or opacity.

opacity

Step 8

Similarly draw one final element. Set it to Screen and 60% Opacity.

mesh cone

Step 9

Assemble the elements as shown below, and then add a Clipping Mask in the size of the tray.

Place the elements over the top of the tray to simulate a clear foil. Check your Transparency settings if the result doesn’t look like the one below!

mesh tray

Step 10

Begin drawing a Blend shadow. Create two objects, one filled with #777777 and another one with #9D9D9D, and place them together as shown below.

blend

Step 11

Make the bigger object completely transparent, and then go to Object > Blend > Blend Options. Set it to Specified Steps, 30.

adobe illustrator blend tutorial

Step 12

Select both objects and go to Object > Blend > Make.

Set the result to Multiply with 70% Opacity.

blend shadow

Step 13

Place the shadow under the tray.

Polypropylene tray with clear foil

2. How to Draw the Plastic Packets

Step 1

Begin by drawing one of the packets with Mesh!

Create a #E9E9E9 rectangle, and then, using the Mesh Tool (U), add #A3A3A3 stripes along the top and bottom edges of the rectangle (add Mesh rows very close to each other, alternating the color to create stripes).

Shape the rectangle into a packet with the same tool (manual dragging of nodes), and color the nodes indicated below with #CECECE. Finally, add some #FFFFFF nodes.

packet

Step 2

Finish coloring the packet by following the step in the screenshot below.

You will need these colors:

  1. #A7A7A7
  2. #BEBEBE
  3. #DDDCDC
packet

Step 3

Create a smaller version of the packet by scaling a copy of it.

vector packet tutorial

Step 4

Begin drawing another plastic packet with Mesh.

  1. #E1E1E1
  2. #FCFCFC
  3. #F4F4F4
  4. #FFFFFF
plastic packet mesh

Step 5

Finish the packet, and set it to 60% Opacity.

  1. #CFCED0
  2. #F2F2F2
plastic packet mesh

Step 6

Draw the seal for the packet.

  1. #74D7E5
  2. #88DFE9
  3. #37888F
seal

Step 7

Create a Blend shadow for the seal with #828282 and #E3E3E3 objects.

Consult Part 1, Steps 10-12 for the process.

blend

Step 8

Add the same shadow to a #E3E3E3 strip.

shadow

Step 9

Draw a red strip with Mesh. Add a shadow to it.

  1. #FF4D6B
  2. #FFABB9
  3. #661024
mesh

Step 10

Finish two packets using the seals.

plastic packet

3. How to Draw the Sacks

Step 1

Begin drawing the first sack with Mesh.

  1. #E9E9E9
  2. #A3A3A3
  3. #EDEDED
  4. #B3B5B4
  5. #F9F9F9
sack

Step 2

Draw the top.

  1. #D9D9DA
  2. #F5F5F6
  3. #CCCDC
  4. #F6F6F6
sack

Step 3

  1. #CCCDCD
  2. #F6F6F6
  3. #CCCCCC
sack mesh

Step 4

  1. #DCDDDF
  2. #F6F6F6
  3. #C9C9C9
mesh

Step 5

Assemble the top of the sack.

sack

Step 6

Draw the tie.

  1. #00C9E8
  2. #0482A9
  3. #00ADCD
  4. #00B8D8
tie

Step 7

Draw a Blend shadow for the tie with #565656, #DCDDDF, and the same settings as before.

blend

Step 8

Assemble the sack and set it to 80% Opacity.

mesh sack

Step 9

Create a copy of the lower part of the sack and start bending it with Effect > Warp > Arc Lower, using 80% Bend. Go to Object > Expand Appearance to expand the result.

arc lower

Step 10

Continue bending with Effect > Warp > Inflate, using -14% Bend and -24% Horizontal Distortion. Expand Appearance.

inflate

Step 11

Create a copy of the top of the sack and bend it with Effect > Warp > Arc and 17% Bend.

Expand Appearance.

arc

Step 12

Finally, take a copy of the blue tie and recolor it with Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors.

  • Red: 75%
  • Green: -60%
  • Blue: -63%

Step 13

Assemble the second sack.

vector mesh sack

4. How to Draw the Plastic Cup

Step 1

Begin drawing the main part of the cup with Mesh. Set it to 70% Opacity.

  1. #D0D0D0
  2. #DBDBDB
  3. #FFFFFF
  4. #B1B1B1
mesh cup

Step 2

Begin drawing a part of the lid.

  1. #CBCBCB
  2. #E5E5E5
mesh lid

Step 3

Draw another part of the lid.

  1. #CBCBCB
  2. #B6B6B6
  3. #F8F8F8
lid mesh cup

Step 4

Add the final part of the upper lid.

  1. #CBCBCB
  2. #E8E8E8
  3. #B5B5B5
  4. #F9F9F9
mesh cup

Step 5

Construct the upper part of the lid.

lid

Step 6

Draw some more parts.

  1. #D9D9D9
  2. #BDBDBD
  3. #FEFEFE
  4. #F0F0F0
  5. #C7C7C7
mesh cup

Step 7

  1. #D9D9D9
  2. #B6B6B6
  3. #FFFFFF
  4. #EEEEEE
  5. #D2D2D2
mesh cup

Step 8

  1. #CACACA
  2. #DFDFDF
  3. #D5D5D5
mesh cup lid

Step 9

  1. #CBCBCB
  2. #ABABAB
mesh cup lid

Step 10

Construct the whole lid.

cup lid

Step 11

Add the lid to the cup.

coffee cup tutorial vector mesh

5. How to Draw the Plastic Bottle

Step 1

Draw the main part with Mesh.

  1. #CECECE
  2. #989898
  3. #DCDCDC
  4. #F1F1F1
  5. #C2C2C2
  6. #CDCDCD
bottle mesh

Step 2

Finish the main part.

  1. #FFFFFF
  2. #D2D2D2
mesh

Step 3

Add a #B2B2B2 strip.

bottle

Step 4

Begin drawing the lid.

  1. #DDDEDE
  2. #FFFFFF
  3. #C0C0C0
bottle lid mesh

Step 5

Draw another part.

  1. #DDDEDE
  2. #FDFDFD
  3. #C1C1C1
mesh

Step 6

Make the third part out of a copy of part 2.

mesh adobe illustrator

Step 7

Draw a #9B9B9B strip.

bottle

Step 8

Create a Blend from a #525151 strip to a #717071 strip, using Specified Steps, 9.

(Object > Blend > Blend Options into Object > Blend > Make)

specified steps

Step 9

Create another Blend with #BBBBBB and #7C7C7C objects.

blend

Step 10

Assemble the elements as shown, and set them to 60% Opacity.

blend

Step 11

Assemble the lid of the bottle.

lid

Step 12

Add the lid.

plastic bottle vector

Step 13

The set is all done!

set of plastic Polypropylene packaging tutorial vector mesh

Step 14

You can add a checkered background to really showcase the transparency of the packages!

transparent plastic Polypropylene packaging tutorial gradient mesh adobe illustrator

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!

What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile, or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below!

Big Set of Polypropylene Packaging
Big Set Of Polypropylene Plastic Packaging

How to Create a Pineapple Seamless Pattern in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

In this quick tip, you will learn how to create a pineapple seamless pattern in Adobe Illustrator. We will be using basic shapes, Warp effects and the Pattern > Make option to create this trendy pattern.

This tutorial is designed for beginners, so it is very easy to recreate. If you want some inspiration as well as motivation, then check out GraphicRiver, especially their collection of patterns.

And now, let’s start!

How to Create a Pineapple Pattern

Step 1

I assume you have already opened up Adobe Illustrator and
created a new document with 850 px Width and Height

First, we want to create the tiny segment that
makes up most of the pineapple. Delete the stroke color if you have one, and set the fill color to R=239, G=177, B=3

Then take the Rounded Rectangle Tool
and create a very small rounded rectangle. Probably by default you have
the option that when you draw a small rounded rectangle, it has very rounded
corners, and the more you stretch it, the sharper the corners will
be. If not, try to adjust the corners of your rounded rectangle by
dragging them inside by using the Corner Widget (View > Show Corner Widget).

After you’ve created the shape you need, we want to rotate it 45 degrees. Hold the Shift button and rotate the rounded rectangle using the Selection Tool (V). The Shift button allows you to rotate it exactly 45 degrees.

Don’t take off the selection, but create a new copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Change the color of the new copy to R=255, G=200, B=32.

how to create the segment of the pineapple

Step 2

Then draw a circle with any fill color, which should overlap the two rounded rectangles as shown in the image below, on the left side of the rounded rectangle. To create an even circle, hold the Shift button while creating it. Don’t be confused by the black strokes as I drew them just for better visibility—you don’t actually need them.

Next, hold the Shift and Alt buttons together and move the circle to the right. You’ll notice that you just created a new copy of the circle which is perfectly aligned. Now, select both circles, but not the rounded rectangles, and unite them: press the Unite button on the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).

And the last action you need to do is to select the united circles (which are now one shape), and select the upper copy of the lighter rounded rectangle. Finally, press the Minus Front button on the Pathfinder panel. The tiny segment is ready!

how to create the segment of the pineapple

Step 3

Now that you have a segment of the pineapple, we want to multiply it. While pressing down on the Shift and Alt keys, and while using the Selection Tool (V), move the segment to the right.

Then press Control-D a few times to get a line of these segments. The Control-D combination repeats your last movement.

Make sure your Smart Guides are on: View > Smart Guides. Then select the whole segment line and move it down and diagonally. The Smart Guides will help you to place it evenly. Now you have two segment lines.

Select the two segment lines and, while holding the Shift and Alt buttons, move the lines down. Just straight down. Press Control-D a few more times, until you get a rectangle from the segments.

how to create more segments

Step 4

It is very important to group the whole segment rectangle (right-click > Group).

While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > FishEye. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below. Press OK, and set it aside.

how to warp the segments

Step 5

Next, we want to create the pineapple shape. Start with a rounded rectangle (fill color R=204, G=130, B=0) with very rounded corners. Use the Rounded Rectangle Tool for it.

While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Inflate. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below. Press OK. Expand the shape: select it and go to Object > Expand Appearance.

how to create the pineapple shape

Step 6

Take the two elements you created so far: the pineapple shape and the rectangle made of segments. Place them one over another, as shown in the image below. Be sure that the pineapple shape is smaller than the rectangle that is completely made of segments. Also make sure that the two elements are expanded.

Then select the pineapple shape, and make a copy of it in front (Control-C, Control-F). You created a copy directly in front of it, but we want to have this copy in front of the rectangle made of segments. So cut the copy (Control-X), and place it in front of the segments rectangle.

While keeping the two upper shapes selected, press the Crop button in the Pathfinder panel.

how to create the pineapple

Step 7

Let’s add some leaves to our pineapple. Draw a green ellipse (R=48, G=158, B=131) using the Ellipse Tool (L).

Take the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on its top and bottom anchor points. They will become sharp.

Create a copy of it in front (Control-C, Control-F), make the copy smaller and darker (R=1, G=107, B=87), and shrink it down.

how to create the pineapples leaves

Step 8

Group the leaf (right-click > Group), and create a new copy of it, because we want to have two leaves.

Select the new copy and warp it: Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter the options you see below and press OK. Now, expand the shape (Object > Expand Appearance).

how to warp the pineapples leaf

So now you have two leaves:

how should look two leaves

Step 9

Place the straight leaf behind the pineapple. Then, place the warped leaf behind the pineapple, on the left side.

After that, take the Reflect Tool (O) and, while holding down the Alt key, click in the middle of the pineapple. In the new dialogue window, enter Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees and then press Copy. That’s how you’ll get the third leaf.

Make sure the leaves stay in the middle of the pineapple, and then create a copy of them behind (Control-C, Control-B). Shift the three new copies up, and make them a bit smaller. Change the fill color of the new leaves to R=0, G=133, B=106 (you can leave the inner, darker part unchanged). The pineapple is done!

placing the leaves on the pineapple

Step 10

Let’s create a background for our pattern. We’re creating it separately—that’s why you can easily change its color later.

Hit the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter 850 px Width and Height. Change the fill color to R=249, G=226, B=112.

how to create the background

Step 11

Select your pineapple, and go to Object > Pattern > Make. You’ll get a look which will be something similar to the one below. 

Enter the options you see below. The most important parts here are the options Brick by Column and Move Tile with Art, but other options will be different than mine. Feel free to play around with them and choose what you like the most. When you like how your future pattern looks, press the button that says “Done” (it’s located over by the Pattern Options window).

After that, you can safely delete your pineapple, because it’s already stored in the memory of your computer.

how to create the pattern

Step 12

After using the Rectangle Tool (M), click on your artboard again and enter 850 px Width and Height. Place the new rectangle in the middle of the artboard.

From the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches), choose your new pattern. And watch the magic!

final

Awesome Work, You’re Done!

And you are all done! I hope you enjoyed creating this seamless just as much as I did. If you want to keep on drawing but don’t know what to draw, then check out Graphic River. They have a huge selection of images and patterns. 

As you can see, it is not that hard to create amazing images in Adobe Illustrator. I really hope you liked this tutorial and I will see you next time! 

final

If you enjoy pattern tutorials, I’d like to recommend two I’ve created here on Envato Tuts+:

How to Create a Cactus Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

In the following steps, you will learn how to create a cactus text effect in Adobe Illustrator. For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid and how to create a pattern brush.

Moving on, you will learn how to create and save a pretty complex pattern. Taking full advantage of the Appearance panel, you will learn how to create the first piece of your cactus and how to save its attributes. Using two simple shapes and some effects, you will learn how to create the pots. Finally, for the background, you will learn how to apply a radial gradient a built-in pattern.

For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final text effect, you can find plenty of resources at GraphicRiver.

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up Grid

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width box and 500 in the height box, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 1 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, and enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-“ keyboard shortcut.

You can learn more about Illustrator’s grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator’s Grid System.

You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

setup grid

2. How to Create a Pattern Brush

Step 1

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and focus on your toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke, and then select the fill and set its color to R=255 G=188 B=53. Move to your artboard and simply create a 25 x 14 px shape—the grid and the Snap to Grid should make it easier.

rectangle

Step 2

Change the fill color to R=93 G=74 B=27 and pick the Ellipse Tool (L). Create the five squeezed circles shown below and place them exactly as shown in the following image.

Once you’re done, select all these new shapes and turn them into a compound path (Control-8).

ellipses

Step 3

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 25 x 7 px shape, and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new rectangle along with your compound path and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).

minus front

Step 4

Pick the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C), focus on your brown shapes, and simply click the top anchor points as shown in the first image.

Select the yellow rectangle and remove the fill color.

anchor point tool

Step 5

Select all the shapes made so far, open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes), and click the New Brush button. Check the Pattern Brush box and click OK to open the Pattern Brush Options window. Type a name for your new brush, enter all the attributes shown below, and click OK to save your new brush.

new brush

3. How to Create a Pattern

Step 1

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 50 px square and fill it with yellow.

square

Step 2

Using the Pen Tool (P), draw two simple paths and place them on the right edge of your yellow square as shown below. Make sure that both paths are selected and open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance).

Remove the fill color, set the stroke color to R=93 G=74 B=27, and open the Stroke fly-out panel. Increase the Weight to 2 px and select Width Profile 1.

With one of these shapes still selected, open the Graphic Styles (Window > Graphic Styles). Click the New Graphic Style button to save the appearance of your selected path.

width profile

Step 3

Make sure that the two paths made in the previous step are still selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

transform

Step 4

Using the Pen Tool (P), draw five simple paths and place them on the top edge of your yellow square as shown below. Apply your graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel to all these paths.

Select only the second and the fourth paths from this set of new paths. Go to the Appearance panel and change the Weight to 1 px, and then go to the Graphic Styles panel and save a new graphic style.

pen tool

Step 5

Make sure that the two paths made in the previous step are still selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

transform

Step 6

Using the Pen Tool (P), create the five paths shown in the first image and apply your first graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel.

Using the same tool, create the eight paths shown in the second image, and apply your second graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel.

paths

Step 7

Select all your tiny brown shapes and go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke, and then turn the resulting shapes into a compound path (Control-8).

compound path

Step 8

Select your yellow square along with the brown compound path and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Simply drag the resulting shapes inside the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save them as a pattern.

new pattern

4. How to Create a Graphic Style

Step 1

Disable the Grid (Control-“) and the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-“).

Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Insaniburger font and set the size to 200 px.

Simple click on your artboard, add the “Cactus” piece of text, and set the color to R=78 G=174 B=99. Place your text as shown below, and then go to the Layers panel and lock it.

text

Step 2

Focus on the first letter of your text. Using the Pen Tool (P) or the Brush Tool (B), draw a simple path roughly as shown in the following image. Make sure that it stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel.

Be sure that there’s no fill color and select the stroke. Set its color to R=93 G=58 B=20, increase the Weight to 4 px, and select Width Profile 1 from the Stroke fly-out panel.

stroke

Step 3

Make sure that your round path stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, and set the fill color to R=75 G=147 B=106.

fill

Step 4

Make sure that your round path stays selected, keep focusing on the Appearance panel, and add a second fill using the Add New Fill button. Select it, set the color to R=78 G=174 B=99, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

add new fill

Step 5

Make sure that your round path stays selected, keep focusing on the Appearance panel, and add a third fill. Select it and set the color to white (R=255 G=255 B=255). Lower its Opacity to 30%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and go to Effect > Pathfinder > Add, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -7 px Offset and click OK.

white fill

Step 6

Make sure that your round path stays selected, keep focusing on the Appearance panel, and add a fourth fill. Select it, apply your pattern from the Swatches panel, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

apply pattern

Step 7

Make sure that your round path stays selected, keep focusing on the Appearance panel, and add a second stroke using the Add New Stroke button. Select this new stroke and apply your pattern brush from the Brushes panel, and then drag it below the other stroke.

With your round path still selected, go to the Graphic Styles panel and save a new graphic style.

apply pattern brush

5. How to Create the Cactus Text

Step 1

Using the Pen Tool (P) or the Brush Tool (B), draw a new path roughly as shown in the first image. Make sure that it stays selected and apply your last graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel.

apply graphic style

Step 2

Make sure that the path made in the previous step stays selected, and focus on the Appearance panel. First, select the bottom two fills and replace the existing colors with the ones shown below, and then click the Transform effect applied for the top fill and adjust the Rotate Angle as shown below.

With this path still selected, go to the Graphic Styles panel and save a new graphic style.

adjust graphic style

Step 3

Keep focusing on the first letter from your text and draw more round paths along that letter, as shown below.

apply graphic styles

Step 4

Select those new round paths and apply the last two graphic styles from the Graphic Styles panel. Try not to have two paths with identical styles one after the other. Also, select these paths one by one, open the Transform effect applied for the top fill (in the Appearance panel), and adjust the Rotate Angle to match the orientation of the selected path.

apply graphic styles

Step 5

Select the smaller cactus pieces and focus on the Appearance panel. Open the Transform effect applied for the top fill, drag both Scale sliders to 50%, and click OK.

scale pattern

Step 6

Move on to the other letters from your text and follow the same techniques used for the first letter. First, create the round paths and apply the graphic styles, and then adjust the pattern rotation and the pattern scale for the smaller paths.

cactus text

6. How to Create the Cactus Flowers

Step 1

Using the Pen Tool (P) or the Brush Tool (B), draw three simple paths as shown in the first image. Fill them with R=239 G=75 B=74 and add a 3 px stroke. Set its color to R=93 G=58 B=20, increase the Weight to 3 px, and don’t forget to select Width Profile 1. Once you’re done, save these attributes as a graphic style.

cactus flower

Step 2

Using the Pen Tool (P) or the Brush Tool (B) along with the graphic style saved in the previous step, add the cactus flower for the other letters. Once you’re done, go to the Layers panel, unlock your piece of text, and delete it.

cactus flowers

7. How to Create the Pot

Step 1

Enable the Grid (Control-“) and the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-“). For the following steps, you will need a grid every 5 px. Just go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and enter 5 in the Gridline every box.

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 75 x 20 px shape, fill it with yellow, and place it as shown in the following image.

yellow rectangle

Step 2

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 65 x 40 px shape, fill it with blue, and place it as shown in the first image.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A) and focus on the bottom side of this new rectangle. Select both anchor points, go to the control panel, and enter 20 px in that Corners box. Once you’re done, send this shape to back (Shift-Control-[).

blue shape

Step 3

Select your yellow shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the yellow with R=188 G=117 B=71 and then add a second fill. Select it, set the color to R=214 G=146 B=97, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

add new fill

Step 4

Make sure that your rectangle stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a third fill and select it. Set the color to white, lower its Opacity to 25%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -8 px Offset, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

offset path

Step 5

Make sure that your rectangle stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a 4 px stroke and set its color to R=92 G=59 B=28.

stroke

Step 6

Make sure that your rectangle stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Select the entire path (simply click that “Path” piece of text from the top of the panel) and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5 px Radius, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

rounded corners

Step 7

Select your blue shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the blue with R=188 G=117 B=71 and then add a second fill. Select it, set the color to R=214 G=146 B=97, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

new fill

Step 8

Make sure that your bottom shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a third fill and select it. Set the color to white, lower its Opacity to 25%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

new fill

Step 9

Make sure that your bottom shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a 4 px stroke and set its color to R=92 G=59 B=28.

stroke

Step 10

Make sure that your bottom shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a new fill and drag it to the bottom of the panel. Set the color to black, lower its Opacity to 60%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light, and then go to Effect > Convert to Shape > Ellipse. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the settings shown in the following image and click OK.

ellipse effect

Step 11

Make sure that your bottom shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Select the entire path and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5 px Radius, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

roughen

8. How to Multiply Your Pot

Step 1

Duplicate the two shapes that make up your pot and place the copies as shown in the first image. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the anchor points highlighted in the first image, and drag them to the right as shown in the second image.

Keep focusing on these copies, select only the bottom shapes, and focus on the Appearance panel. Open the Transform effect applied to the top fill and the Ellipse effect applied to the bottom fill and adjust the settings as shown below.

hotchpotch

Step 2

Create another four copies of your smaller pot, and place them as shown in the following image.

hotchpotches

9. How to Create the Background

Step 1

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create an 860 x 510 px shape, and fill it with R=195 G=224 B=177. Make sure that this rectangle covers your entire artboard and send it to back (Shift-Control-[).

rectangle

Step 2

Open the fly-out menu from the Swatches panel and go to Open Swatch Library > Patterns > Basic Graphics > Basic Graphics_Textures.

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a new 860 x 510 px shape and place it on top of the existing rectangle, as shown in the following image. Fill this new shape with the USHS 22 Gravel Beach pattern, lower its Opacity to 50%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light, and then go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.

film grain

Step 3

Make sure that the rectangle made in the previous step is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill and select it. Lower its Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then apply the radial gradient shown below. Use the Gradient Tool (G) to stretch your gradient as shown below.

radial gradient

Congratulations! You’re Done!

Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don’t hesitate to share your final result in the comments section.

Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at GraphicRiver, with interesting solutions to improve your design.

final product

How to Create a Medical Banner With Icons in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Adobe Illustrator to create a set of medical icons and make them into three banners.

If you want to skip the tutorial and just use this vector in your work, purchase Three Medical Banners With Icons from GraphicRiver!

Three Medical Banners with Icons
Three Medical Banners with Icons

1. How to Create the First Banner

Step 1

Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, create a pill-shaped object by adjusting the settings.

Draw a second object in the shape of half a pill. Place it on top of the first one as shown below, and then, in the Pathfinder panel, choose the Exclude function to complete the icon.

Change the pill’s color to #F1B14F.

vector pill

Step 2

Next, you’ll need a circle and a narrow rectangle. Place the rectangle behind the circle as pictured below and choose Minus Back in the Pathfinder panel.

Color the resulting object with the same color, #F1B14F.

vector pill

Step 3

Using the Polygon Tool, draw a hexagon and fill it with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF at an angle of -36.3°.

Place the pills inside the polygon as pictured below.

medical icon

Step 4

Begin creating a shadow for the icon with Blend.

You will need two hexagons, the smaller one colored with #2B2B2B and the bigger one with #D7D7D7. Arrange them as shown.

blend shadow

Step 5

In the Transparency panel, set the bigger hexagon’s Opacity to 0%.

Proceed to Object > Blend > Blend Options, choosing Specified Steps, 30.

Then apply the function to both objects with Object > Blend > Make.

blend shadow

Step 6

Place the shadow under our first icon. Make sure to create a bunch of copies of it or just keep one aside to copy later—we will be using this shadow with each of the polygonal icons.

medical icon

Step 7

Draw the icon of a tooth by beginning with an outline of the left half. With Object > Transform > Reflect, create a reflected copy of it and attach it perfectly to the other one.

Merge both outlines by using Unite in the Pathfinder panel.

vector tooth

Step 8

Fill the result with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

vector tooth

Step 9

Create another hexagon, the same size as the first one, and apply a Linear Gradient from #1E9CA8 to #60C2D6 at an angle of -54°.

Place the tooth inside, and then add the shadow we made earlier.

medical icon

Step 10

Take a rectangle, colored with #E59489, and create a few copies of it with the Object > Transform > Rotate function, using angles of 60° and 120°.

Unite the shapes.

vector star

Step 11

Place the icon on top of a copy of the hexagon made in Step 3.

medical icon

Step 12

Begin drawing the briefcase using rounded rectangles.

For the handle, first use a Stroke, and then Expand it. Unite both objects.

vector briefcase

Step 13

Draw a cross with two rectangles and the Unite function.

vector cross

Step 14

“Cut out” the cross in the briefcase using the Exclude function in the Pathfinder panel.

Fill the resulting object with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

vector doctors briefcase

Step 15

Draw another hexagon, filling it with a Linear Gradient from #236185 to #6B9ABF at an angle of -60.5°.

Place the briefcase inside and add a shadow.

medical icon

Step 16

Begin drawing the icon of a “beating heart” by drawing half of it and adding a line, as shown in the screenshot below.

Expand the Stroke of the line, and then place it behind the heart and apply Minus Back.

vector heart

Step 17

Create a copy of the object with Reflect, and then Unite both halves.

pathfinder panel

Step 18

Color the heart with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF, and then place it inside a cyan hexagon (see Step 9).

medical icon

Step 19

Begin drawing the vial by first Uniting a rectangle and circle to create the outline, and then Cropping another circle as pictured below.

Use the Pathfinder panel for the mentioned functions.

vector vial

Step 20

Create a highlight by applying a specific Stroke Profile to a curve, then Expanding the Stroke.

Place the shape on the right side of the object we just made and cut it out with Exclude.

vector vial content

Step 21

Unite the vial outline and contents, and then apply a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

vector vial

Step 22

For the vial’s background, use a hexagon filled with a Linear Gradient from #A92D1D to #D7775F, using an angle of -60.5°.

medical icon

Step 23

Draw a drop by Reflecting half of the shape, Uniting both, and finally Excluding a highlight in the object.

Look for the functions in the Pathfinder panel or consult earlier parts of the tutorial if you are confused.

vector drop

Step 24

Fill the drop with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF. Place it on a cyan hexagon.

medical icon

Step 25

Begin drawing a clipboard using a rounded rectangle (apply a stroke, then expand). Then add a shape made out of a rounded and regular rectangle, combined in the Pathfinder panel, as well as some rectangles.

Unite the outline of the object, and then use Object > Compound Path > Make (Control-8).

vector clipboard icon

Step 26

Color the clipboard with #EDB264 and place it inside a gray hexagon.

medical icon

Step 27

Draw a cross (like in Step 13) and apply a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

vector cross

Step 28

Color a new hexagon with a Linear Gradient from #BB7110 to #E4B14B. Use a -60.5° angle and place the cross inside.

medical icon

Step 29

Use the icons we made to assemble the first part of a banner!

medical banner vector

Step 30

Draw a waveform. Apply a Stroke to it, and then Expand it and create two copies: one bigger and wider, one smaller.

Color the wider version with #992617 and the narrower one with #1E5451.

Set both to Screen in the Transparency panel.

vector waveform heartbeart

Step 31

Create a grid using the Rectangular Grid Tool with a Width of 640 px, Height of 200 px, and with 9 Horizontal and 31 Vertical Dividers.

vector grid

Step 32

Expand the grid, and then make it into a Compound Path with Object > Compound Path > Make (Control-8).

Use a Linear Gradient from white to #414128. Set it to Screen with 40% Opacity.

vector grid

Step 33

Begin drawing a simple mesh background for the banner.

Take a 640 x 200 px rectangle, filled with #B4BEC0, and with the Mesh Tool (U) position a few mesh nodes as pictured below.

Select a few center nodes, coloring them with #F8F9F9, and then continue by coloring the upper right nodes with #F1F3F4. Finish by adding a few dark edges with #839395.

Follow the screenshot to see which nodes to color.

mesh banner

Step 34

Draw a new mesh shape using these colors:

  1. #000000
  2. #FDFDFD
  3. #8E8E8E

Set the result to Screen.

mesh shape

Step 35

Add a copy of the Mesh curve and reduce its Opacity to 60%. The Blending Mode should be left at Screen.

Arrange the shapes inside a 640 x 200 px outline, and then select everything and use Make Clipping Mask after right-clicking.

vector medical banner mesh

Step 36

Place the grid, the waveforms and the curves onto the mesh rectangle, and then add the icons on top.

medical banner

Step 37

Create another blend shadow out of #333333 and #F9F9F9 rounded rectangles.

Make the white shape transparent, and then go to Object > Blend > Make (using Specified Steps, 30).

Set the shadow to Multiply.

blend shadow

Step 38

Place the shadow under the medical banner.

medical banner

2. How to Create Two More Banners

Step 1

Begin drawing an icon of a doctor.

Crop out a part of an ellipse, and then cut out a cross in a trapezoid with Minus Front.

doctor hat vector

Step 2

Create the doctor’s body with Crop and Minus Back.

doctor icon vector

Step 3

Select all the pieces and create a Compound Path out of them. Apply a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

doctor icon vector

Step 4

Add a Blend shadow out of #352F2A and #FFFFFF objects.

blend shadow

Step 5

Fill a circle with a Linear Gradient from #A92D1D to #D7775F, and then add the doctor icon inside and add a shadow.

medical icon

Step 6

Draw a #B2CECD heart and place it inside a circle filled with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

heart vector icon

Step 7

Add a cyan, #1E9CA8 to #60C2D6 gradient to a circle, and then place the heart icon we made earlier inside.

medical icon

Step 8

Assemble the icons into a group.

Any icons that you may be missing can be simply assembled out of elements you’ve already made (maybe recoloring them into other solid colors).

medical icons group

Step 9

Draw another mesh banner. You will need these colors:

  1. #EEF1F3
  2. #7E8C8F
  3. #D8DEDF
mesh vector

Step 10

Add the grid from the first section, then the icons.

medical banner vector

Step 11

For the third and final banner, take a copy of the vial from earlier and change its Gradient to #A92D1D#D7775F. Place it inside a grey hexagon.

medical icon

Step 12

Similarly recolor the clipboard with a Linear Gradient from #E2E3E4 to #FFFFFF.

Use an orange hexagon.

medical icon

Step 13

Assemble a group of icons.

set of icons medical vector

Step 14

Draw a new banner with mesh.

  1. #DDE1E2
  2. #849295
  3. #FCFCFC
vector mesh

Step 15

Place the icons onto the banner, and then add a few transparent polygons to the background (30% Opacity).

medical banner vector

Step 16

Add some waveforms.

The top one should be filled with a Linear Gradient from white to #414128 and set to Color Dodge with 60% Opacity.

The waveform on the bottom of the banner should be filled with #2B474C and set to Overlay.

medical banner vector waveform heartbeat

Step 17

Great job! The only thing that’s left is to put all the banners together.

set of three medical banners vector

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!

What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below.

Three Medical Banners with Icons
Three Medical Banners with Icons

How to Create a Retro Poster With an Astronaut Child in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

In this tutorial you will learn how to create an astronomy-inspired retro poster. We will use the Clipping Mask a lot, as well as Warp Effects, and at the end we will apply a texture to add a vintage look to our poster. Feel free to browse a big collection of textures on GraphicRiver, and choose the one you like the most.

Without any further ado, let’s get started!

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:

1. How to Create the Head of the Astronomy Child

Step 1

In a new document in Adobe Illustrator, take the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw an ellipse. You’ll probably have a white fill color and a black stroke. Now you need to change it: delete the stroke color and set its fill color to R=234, G=226, B=206 on the Color panel (Window > Color). During this tutorial, we won’t use any stroke colors.

Then, add a smaller, darker ellipse (R=209, G=196, B=167) inside the first one.

While keeping that last ellipse selected, go to Object > Path > Offset Path… A new dialogue window will pop up, where you need to enter Offset -8 px. By default, the options will be Joints: Miter, Miter limit: 4. Press OK. You just created a third ellipse, which is the face of the child. Change its fill color to R=178, G=131, B=107.

how to create the head

Step 2

To create some bangs, we’ll take the Rectangle Tool (M). Draw a brown rectangle (R=99, G=64, B=55) and while keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the options presented below, and press OK.

Expand this shape: Object > Expand Appearance.

how to create the bang

Step 3

Put the bangs on the child’s face. Place them so that just the bottom part is on the face, and the upper part (the two top anchor points) will be beyond the face.

Then we will use the Clipping Mask. Select the face, make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F), cut that new copy off (Control-X), and place it over the bangs (Control-F).

To see the bangs more clearly under the newer face copy, it is better to delete the fill color of the face copy and use any stroke color (I marked it with red stroke).

Select the face copy (in my case it’s the red stroke ellipse) together with the bangs. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7). Then the upper part of the bangs should be hidden.

how to create the clipping mask for the bang

Step 4

For the eyes, make sure you have the same fill color as the bangs but without any stroke. Hit the Ellipse Tool (L) and, while holding down the Shift key, draw a small circle for the eye.

Create another small circle as the second eye. Make the second eye smaller, as we’re trying to create three-quarters of the visible face.

Now for the cheeks. Add a new small ellipse under the first eye (the fill color should be R=160, G=108, B=85).

Create a same ellipse for the second cheek. Rotate it slightly to the right, and make it a bit smaller.

how to create the face

Step 5

Now for the mouth. Set the fill color to R=234, G=226, B=206 and create two ellipses: first a vertical one, and then a horizontal one. They have to overlap as shown in the image below.

Go to the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and press the Minus Front button while the two ellipses are selected. You’ll end up with a crescent shape, which is the mouth of the child.

how to create the mouth

Place the mouth between the two cheeks. Rotate it slightly to the right.

how to place the mouth

Step 6

The helmets of spacesuits usually have parts that look like headphones, so let’s create them. Draw an ellipse on the left side of the head. The fill color should be R=209, G=196, B=167. Also rotate it a little to the left.

Add a smaller red (R=211, G=122, B=95) ellipse, which should also be rotated to the left.

Then add one more grey ellipse on other side of the child’s head, behind the head. Finally, add one more red ellipse behind the head, and behind the grey ellipse. The head is done!

how to create the headphones

2. How to Create the Body, Arms, and Legs

Step 1

Let’s make the body. Take the Rounded Rectangle Tool and draw a rounded rectangle (R=234, G=226, B=206). While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Arc. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below. 

how to create the body

Put the body behind the head.

how to place the body

Step 2

Now for the arm. Using the same fill color as for the body, draw an ellipse with the help of the Ellipse Tool (L). Go to Effect > Warp > Arc. You can see the options below.

After that, expand it (Object > Expand Appearance).

how to create the arm

Step 3

Place the arm on the left side of the body.

Add a tiny ellipse as the thumb. In the image below it is marked by a black stroke color, which you don’t need in your illustration.

Make a copy of the whole arm, change its fill color to R=209, G=196, B=167, and create a vertical reflection of this new copy: while keeping it selected, press the O key on your keyboard and then press Enter

In the new dialogue window, Axis Vertical is checked by default. Press Enter one more time. This maneuver should make a vertical reflection of the second arm. Remember this for your future projects: select the object you want to reflect, press the O key and then Enter twice, and that’s it.

Place the second arm behind the body (Control-X, Control-B).

how to create another arm

Step 4

Let’s make the belt for the spacesuit. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), draw a rectangle. Then warp it: Effect > Warp > Arch.

Expand the shape.

how to create the belt

Place the belt in the right place.

how to place the belt

Step 5

We’re going to create the leg in a similar way to the arm, but this time create an ellipse which should be slightly bigger and thicker.

Warp the ellipse (Effect > Warp > Arc), and then expand it.

how to create the leg

Step 6

Place the leg under the belt.

Make a copy of the belt, and change its fill color: using the Eyedropper Tool (I), take the color from the second arm and place it on the leg.

Add a small ellipse as shown below for the kneecap.

how to create the kneecap

Step 7

Now on to the foot. Create a new ellipse, which should have the same fill color as the body.

Add a rectangle with any color. The rectangle must cover the bottom part of the ellipse.

Select both shapes and, on the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), press the Minus Front button. You’ll end up with the top part of the ellipse.

how to create the foot

Step 8

Place the foot on the leg.

Create a new copy of the whole leg, and make it darker: the fill color for the second leg should be R=209, G=196, B=167, and the fill color for the new kneecap should follow these numbers: R=191, G=171, B=130.

Place the second leg behind the body.

Group the child (right-click > Group) and set the illustration aside.

how to create another leg

3. How to Create the Background

Step 1

Hit the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter Width 850 px and Height 1000 px. Set the fill color to R=231, G=220, B=186.

how to create the background

Step 2

While keeping the rectangle selected, go to Object > Path > Offset Path… In the new dialogue window, enter Offset: -30 px, Joints: Miter, Miter limit: 4, OK. You’ll get a new rectangle aligned perfectly in the middle of the previous one. Change its fill color to R=67, G=74, B=81.

how to create the inside background

Step 3

Hit the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a circle (it doesn’t have to be perfect) as shown in the image below. Just the upper part of the circle should overlap the background. Change its fill color to R=209, G=196, B=167. This will be the moon.

how to create the clipping mask for the moon

Step 4

Now we’ll use a clipping mask again: select the dark blue rectangle, and make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Cut it (Control-X) and place it in front of everything (Control-F). Select the dark blue rectangle and the planet, as well as the new copy. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

how the background should look after the clipping mask

Step 5

Place the astronomy child on your poster.

how to place the child on the background

Step 6

Let’s add some craters, so that it will look more like a moon! Start with a horizontal ellipse (R=234, G=226, B=206).

Add a second ellipse over the previous one (R=191, G=171, B=130).

And add a third ellipse, which should overlap the previous one (R=209, G=196, B=167).

Make the Clipping Mask (Control-7) so the third ellipse will be inside the second one. This will be the crater.

how to create the crater

Place a few craters on the planet. Feel free to rotate them and resize them.

how to spread the craters

Step 7

It would be nice to have some stars in the sky, so let’s create them. Take the Star Tool and click on your artboard. Enter Radius 1: around 10 px, Radius 2: around 50 px, Points: 4. Set the fill color to R=234 G=226, B=206.

Create a copy of this star in front (Control-C, Control-F) and, while holding down the Shift key, rotate it 45 degrees. The Shift key allows you to rotate it exactly 45 degrees.

how to create the star

Spread the stars in the sky.

how to spread the stars

Step 8

If you would like to, you can add some tiny circles near the stars with red, yellow and the light grey color we used for the stars. The circles will add a sparkling effect.

how to create the sparkling effect

Step 9

To add an old look to our poster, let’s apply a texture to it. I used one of these textures:

the texture for an old effect

Step 10

Place the texture over your poster so that it will stay inside the texture and under it. Make a Clipping Mask for the texture.

Finally, on the Transparency panel (Window > Transparency), lower the Opacity to around 15%. And we are done!

how to create the for the texture

Conclusion

Great job! Today you’ve learned how to make Clipping Masks, which will help you in your future projects. I hope you like this tutorial and learned a lot of stuff—or maybe you just polished your skills. Now you know how to use Adobe Illustrator as well as a lot of effects and tools. 

final

How to Create a Retro Science-Themed Icon Pack in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

Ever wondered what it must feel like to be
a mad scientist creating all sort of mysterious inventions?  If that’s the case, wonder no more, since in today’s tutorial we’re going to get our geek on and create a little retro science-themed icon pack using some of the most basic shapes and tools that Illustrator has to offer.

Also, don’t forget you can always expand the project by checking out GraphicRiver where you’ll find literally pages upon pages of science-themed icon packs.

1. How to Set Up a New Document

Since I’m hoping that you already have
Illustrator up and running in the background, bring it up and let’s set up a New Document (File > New or Control-N)
using the following settings:

  • Number
    of Artboards:
    1
  • Width:
    800
    px
  • Height:
    600
    px
  • Units:
    Pixels

And from the Advanced tab:

  • Color
    Mode:
    RGB
  • Raster
    Effects:
    Screen (72ppi)
  • Preview Mode: Default
setting up a new document

2. How to Set Up a Custom Grid

Since we’re going to be creating the icons
using a pixel-perfect workflow, we’ll want to set up a nice little Grid so that we can have full control
over our shapes.

Step 1

Go to the Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid submenu, and adjust
the following settings:

  • Gridline
    every:
    1 px
  • Subdivisions: 1
setting up a custom grid

Quick
tip:
you can learn more about grids by reading this
in-depth piece on how Illustrator’s Grid System works.

Step 2

Once we’ve set up our custom grid, all we
need to do in order to make sure our shapes look crisp is enable the Snap to Grid option found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter Pixel Preview mode.

Now, if you’re new to
the whole “pixel-perfect workflow”, I strongly recommend you go through my how
to create pixel-perfect artwork
tutorial, which will help you widen your
technical skills in no time.

3. How to Set Up the Layers

With the New Document created, it would be
a good idea to structure our project using a couple of layers, since this way
we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one icon at a time.

That being said, bring up the Layers panel, and create a total of four
layers, which we will rename as follows:

  • layer
    1
    : reference grids
  • layer
    2
    : glassware
  • layer
    3
    : microscope
  • layer 4: lamp checker
setting up the layers

4. How to Create the Reference Grids

The
reference grids (or base grids)
are a set of precisely delimited reference surfaces, which allow us to build
our icons by focusing on size and consistency.

Usually, the size of the grids determines
the size of the actual icons, and they should always be the first decision you
make on you start a new project, since you’ll always want to start from the
smallest possible size and build on that.

Now, in our case, we’re going to be
creating the icon pack using just one size, more exactly 128 x 128 px, which is a fairly large one.

Step 1

Start by locking all
but the “reference grids” layer, and then grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 128 x 128 px orange (#F15A24) square, which will help define the
overall size of our icons.

creating and positioning the main shape for the reference grid

Step 2

Add another smaller 120 x 120 px one (#FFFFFF) which will
act as our active drawing area, thus giving us an all-around 4 px padding.

creating and positioning the main shape for the active drawing area

Step 3

Group the two squares composing the
reference grid using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut, and then create three copies at a distance of 40 px from one another, making sure to align them to the center of
the Artboard.

Once you’re done,
lock the current layer and move on to the next one where we’ll start working on
our first icon.

creating and positioning the remaining reference grids

5. How to Create
the Glassware Icon

Assuming you’ve
already moved on to the next layer (that would be the second one) after
creating the reference grids, let’s kick off the project by zooming in on our
first reference grid, where we will start working on the little stand of glass test tubes.

Step 1

Start working on the first tube by creating a 12 x 88 px rectangle, which we will color using #56C1AD and then
position at a distance of 2 px from
the active drawing area’s top edge and 30
px
from its left one.

creating and positioning the main shape for the glassware icons first tube

Step 2

Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by setting the Radius of its bottom corners to 6 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties.

adjusting the shape of the glassware icons first tube

Step 3

Give the resulting shape an outline using the Stroke method, by creating a copy of it (Control-C) which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then adjust by first changing its color to #5B4032
and then flipping its Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X), making sure to set its Weight to 4 px.

adding the outline to the glassware icons first tube

Step 4

Add the tube’s lip using a 20 x 4
px
rectangle (#5B4032), which we will position onto the upper section of
its outline, center aligning it to the previously created shapes.

adding the lip to the glassware icons first tube

Step 5

Give the tube a hard shadow using a 12
x 6 px
rectangle (#5B4032) which we will center align to the larger fill
shape’s top edge. Once you’re done, select and group all four shapes together
using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.

adding the hard shadow to the upper section of the glassware icons first tube

Step 6

Create two copies of the tube that we’ve just finished working on (Control-C > Control-F twice),
and then distribute them on its right side, positioning them at a distance of
4 px from one another. Once you’re
done, select and group all of them together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

creating and positioning the remaining glassware icons tubes

Step 7

Start working on the wooden rack by creating its base using a 104 x 16 px rectangle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we
will center align to the active drawing area’s bottom edge.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the bottom section of the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 8

Add the little label using a 20 x
8 px
rectangle (#5B4032) to the sides of which we will add two smaller 8 x 4 px ones (#5B4032). Select and
group (Control-G) all three shapes
together, center aligning them to the larger wooden section, making sure to
create another group afterwards.

adding the label to the bottom section of the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 9

Create the rack’s side sections using two 10 x 64 px rectangles (#AF7245) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will individually group (Control-G) and then position on top of
the previous section, aligning them to its outer edges.

creating and positioning the side sections for the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 10

Add the rack’s upper section using a 104 x 12 px rectangle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G) and then position on top of
the previously created shapes.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the upper section of the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 11

Add the little screws using two 4
x 4 px
circles (#5B4032) which we will position on top so that they align
with the rack’s side sections. Once you have them in place, select and group (Control-G) them to the underlying
section.

adding the little screws to the upper section of the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 12

Next, take a couple of moments and add in the hard shadows using two 10 x 6 px rectangles (#5B4032) for the
wooden rack’s side sections, followed by three 12 x 6 px ones (#5B4032) for the suspended glass tubes.

adding the hard shadows to the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 13

Create the horizontal section holding the tubes using a 108 px wide 4 px thick Stroke line
(#5B4032), which we will center align to the rack, positioning it at a distance
of 20 px from its upper section,
making sure to send it to the back afterwards (right click > Arrange > Send to Back).

adding the horizontal tube holding section to the glassware icons wooden rack

Step 14

Finish off the rack, and with it the icon itself, by drawing in the
little diagonal structural arms using a 4
px
thick Stroke with the color
set to #5B4032. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of its composing sections together, doing the same
for the entire icon afterwards.

finishing off the glassware icon

6. How to Create
the Microscope Icon

Assuming you’ve
finished working on the first icon, lock its layer and then move on up to the
next one (that would be the third one) where we will start working on the
little microscope.

Step 1

Create the lower section of the base using an 80 x 12 px rectangle (#6B5B51) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the
underlying active drawing area’s bottom edge.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the bottom section of the microscopes base

Step 2

Add the base’s upper section using a 96 x 12 px rectangle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G) and then position on top of
the previously created shapes.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the upper section of the microscopes base

Step 3

Create two 108 px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines (#5B4032) which we will position over the top and
bottom edges of the outline, adding one more to the center of the fill shape
afterwards. Once you’re done, select and group all of the upper section’s
shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.

adding the horizontal detail lines to the upper section of the microscopes base

Step 4

Cast a hard shadow over the bottom section of the base, using an 80 x 6 px rectangle (#5B4032), which we
will center align to its upper edge. Once you’re done, group (Control-G) the shadow to its section,
doing the same for the entire base afterwards.

adding the hard shadow to the bottom section of the microscopes base

Step 5

Start working on the arm by creating a 12 x 72 px rectangle, which we will
color using #82756C and then position over the base at a distance of 30 px from its left edge.

creating and positioning the main shape for the vertical section of the microscopes arm

Step 6

Create a smaller 12 x 14 px rectangle
(#82756C) and position it onto the left side of
the taller one from the previous step, uniting the two into a single larger
shape using Pathfinder’s Unite Shape Mode.

uniting the main shapes of the microscopes arm into a single larger shape

Step 7

Select the lower section’s top-left anchor point
using the Direct Selection Tool (A)
and then push it to the bottom by a distance of 6 px using the Move tool
(right click > Transform > Move
> Vertical > 6 px
).

adjusting the lower section of the microscopes arm

Step 8

Give the resulting shape a 4 px thick outline using the Stroke
method, making sure to set its color to #5B4032.

adding the outline to the microscopes arm

Step 9

Add the little screw using a 4 x
4 px
circle (#5B4032), which we will position at the bottom of the arm, leaving a 4 px gap
around it. Once you’re done, select all three shapes and group them together
using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.

adding the little screw to the base of the microscopes arm

Step 10

Start working on the upper tightening screw by creating an 8 x 8 px rectangle (#5B4032), which we
will position on top of the microscope’s arm.

creating and positioning the bottom section of the microscopes tightening screw

Step 11

Create the screw’s thinner section using a 4 x 2 px rectangle (#5B4032) (2), on top of which we will add a 16 x 4 px rectangle (#5B4032) (3) followed
by a slightly narrower 12 x 4 px one
(#5B4032) (4). Position all three shapes on top of the rectangle from the
previous step, selecting and grouping (Control-G)
them together afterwards.

adding details to the microscopes tightening screw

Step 12

Create a 16 x 8 px rectangle
(#5B4032), which we will position onto the left side of the microscope’s arm,
at a distance of 12 px from its
upper edge.

adding the horizontal connector segment to the microscopes arm

Step 13

Add the support rod using a 4 x
68 px
rectangle (#5B4032), which we will also position onto the left side
of the arm, making sure to send it to the back of all the other shapes
afterwards (right click > Arrange
> Send to Back
).

adding the support rod to the microscopes arm

Step 14

Add the little adjustment wheel using a 16 x 16 px circle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), on top of which we will add a smaller
4 x 4 px circle (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all three shapes together
and then position them in the center of the microscope’s arm, at a distance of 22 px from the larger base.

adding the adjustment wheel to the microscopes arm

Step 15

Give the wheel a hard shadow by creating a 14 x 14 px square (#5B4032) which we
will adjust by setting the Radius of
its bottom-right corner to 14 px from
within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties.
Position the resulting shape over the wheel’s lower half, making sure to align
it to its right side.

adding the hard shadow to the microscopes adjustment wheel

Step 16

Mask the shadow using a copy (Control-C)
of the arm’s fill shape as a Clipping
Mask
, which we will paste in front (Control-F)
and then right click > Make Clipping
Mask
. Once you’re done, send the shadow to the back of the wheel using the Arrange > Send Backward, selecting
and grouping (Control-G) all of the
arm’s composing sections together.

adding the hard shadow to the back of the microscopes adjustment wheel

Step 17

Start working on the microscope’s main body, by creating an 18 x 40 px rectangle (#6B5B51) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position at a distance of 16 px from
the arm and 36 px from the larger
base.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the microscopes main body

Step 18

Create the observation tube using a 10
x 10 px
square (#5B4032) on top of which we will add a smaller 6 x 4 px rectangle (#5B4032) followed
by a slightly wider 14 x 4 px rectangle
(#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all
three shapes together, positioning them on top of the tube’s larger body.

adding the observation tube to the microscopes main body

Step 19

Give the larger body a small insertion by creating a 6 x 6 px square (#5B4032) which we will
center align to its bottom edge.

adding the rectangular insertion to the bottom of the microscopes main body

Step 20

Create the upper section of the objective using a 10 x 10 px square (#D8A466) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032) to the bottom of which we will add a
slightly wider 18 x 4 px rectangle
(#5B4032) followed by a 10 x 6 px hard
shadow on the top (#5B4032). Group (Control-G)
all four shapes together, and then position them at the bottom of the
microscope’s larger body.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the upper section of the microscopes objective

Step 21

Add the objective’s bottom section
using a 10 x 2 px rectangle (#5B4032), underneath which we will add a wider 22
x 4 px
one (#5B4032). Group (Control-G)
both shapes together and then position them below the previous section.

adding the bottom section to the microscopes objective

Step 22

Create the actual lens using a 10
x 8 px
ellipse (#56C1AD) with a 4 px
thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the previous section, so that its upper half ends up overlapping it. Once you have it in place, make sure to send
it behind the wider section by right
clicking > Arrange > Send to Back
, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all of the microscope’s
lower sections together.

adding the lens section to the microscopes objective

Step 23

Add the little adjustment wheel using a 4 x 4 px square (#5B4032), to the side of which we will add a 4 x 8 px rectangle (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) and position the two shapes
onto the lower right side of the microscope’s larger body, selecting and
grouping (Control-G) all of its
composing sections afterwards.

adding the side adjustment wheel to the microscopes main body

Step 24

Start working on the right section of the arm by creating a 32 x 12 px rectangle (#C48755), which we will
adjust by setting the Radius of its
right corners to 6 px from within
the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Once you’re done,
position the resulting shape at a distance of 52 px from the microscope’s base.

creating and positioning the main shape for the upper section of the microscopes right extending arm

Step 25

Create a smaller 14 x 12 px rectangle
(#C48755) and position it underneath the previously created section, uniting
the two into a single larger shape using Pathfinder’s
Unite Shape Mode.

creating and positioning the bottom section of the microscopes right extending arm

Step 26

Adjust the resulting shape by first selecting its bottom-right corner
using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and
then removing it by pressing Delete.
Press Control-J to close up the
resulting path, and then give it a 4 px thick
outline (#5B4032), making sure to select and group (Control-G) the two together afterwards.

adding the outline to the microscopes right extending arm

Step 27

Finish off the extending arm by adding the little screw using a 4 x 4 px circle (#5B4032), followed by
an 8 x 4 px rectangular insertion (#5B4032)
afterwards. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its composing shapes together.

adding details to the microscopes right extending arm

Step 28

Cast the hard shadow onto the microscope using a 14 x 12 px rectangle (#5B4032) which we will adjust by setting the Radius of its bottom-right corner to 12 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Position the resulting shape onto the bottom
half of the extending arm, making sure to send it to the back by selecting both
it and the larger microscope and then right
click > Arrange > Send to Back
.

adding the hard shadow to the microscopes right extending arm

Step 29

Finish off the microscope, and with it the icon itself, by adding the
stage using a 48 x 4 px rectangle (#5B4032)
which we will position onto the right side of the microscope’s arm, at a
distance of 4 px from its larger
base. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G)
all of the icon’s composing sections before moving on to the next step.

finishing off the microscope icon

7. How to Create
the Lamp Checker Icon

We are now down to
our third and last icon, so assuming you’ve moved on to the next layer, zoom in
on its reference grid and let’s wrap things up!

Step 1

Create the lower section of the device’s base using an 88 x 12 px rectangle (#AF7245) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we
will center align to the active drawing area’s bottom edge.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the bottom section of the lamp checkers base

Step 2

Add the little side segments using two 6 x 4 px rectangles (#5B4032), which we will bottom align to the
visual section of the fill shape. Once you’re done, select and group all four
shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.

adding the little side segments to the lamp checkers base

Step 3

Create the base’s upper section using a 104 x 28 px rectangle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G) and then position on top of
the previous shapes.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the upper section of the lamp checkers base

Step 4

Add the little screws using four 4
x 4 px
circles (#5B4032), which we will position at a distance of 4 px from each of the larger section’s
corners.

adding the little screws to the upper section of the lamp checkers base

Step 5

Add the label using 28 x 16 px rectangle
(#5B4032), to the sides of which we will add two smaller 8 x 8 px squares (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all three shapes together and then center align them to
the larger section, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all its composing shapes as well.

adding the label to the upper section of the lamp checkers base

Step 6

Add the hard shadow to the bottom section of the
base, using an 88 x 6 px rectangle
(#5B4032) which we will center align to its top
edge. Once you’re done, select and group all the shapes that we have so far
using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.

adding the hard shadow to the bottom section of the lamp checkers base

Step 7

Start working on the device’s upper body by
creating a 72 x 12 px rectangle (#82756C)
with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), which we will group (Control-G)
and then position on top of the larger base.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the upper section of the lamp checkers body

Step 8

Add the horizontal detail lines using two 84 px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines
(#5B4032), which we will position onto the top and
center section of the section’s outline. Once you have them in place, select
and group (Control-G) them and the
larger rectangles together before moving on to the next step.

adding the horizontal detail lines to the upper section of the lamp checkers body

Step 9

Create the little button using a 12 x 6 px rectangle (#C48755) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), on top of which we will add another slightly narrower 8 x 6 px rectangle (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all three shapes together
and then position them on top of the previous section, at a distance of 12 px from its left edge.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the lamp checkers button

Step 10

Add the device’s socket using a 24 x 12 px rectangle (#6B5B51) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032), to the bottom of which we will add a smaller 8 x 6 px rectangle (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all three shapes together,
and then position them onto the right side of the button, at a distance of 12 px from it.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the lamp checkers bulb socket

Step 11

Create the light bulb’s base using a 16 x 12 px rectangle (#D8A466) with a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032) to the center of which we will add another 16 x 4 px rectangle (#5B4032). Group (Control-G) all three shapes together, and then position them over
the previously created section.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the light bulbs base

Step 12

Start working on the bulb’s glass section by creating a 16 x 4 px rectangle (#56C1AD), which we
will position on top of the base from the previous step.

creating and positioning the main shape for the bottom section of the light bulbs glass section

Step 13

Next, create a 32 x 32 px circle (#56C1AD) which we will position above the
smaller rectangle, at a distance of 4 px
from its top edge.

creating and positioning the main shape for the upper section of the light bulbs glass section

Step 14

Open up the circle’s path by selecting
its bottom anchor point using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then
pressing Delete. Do the same for the
rectangle by adding a new anchor point to the center of its top edge with the
help of the Add Anchor Point Tool (+),
and then removing it by pressing Delete.

opening up the paths of the light bulbs glass composing shapes

Step 15

Unite the two paths into a single larger shape
by selecting them both and then pressing Control-J
twice.

uniting the light bulbs glass paths into a single larger shape

Step 16

Smoothen up the resulting shape’s transitions by adjusting its curvatures with the help of its anchor’s handles while in Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y). Take your time, and
once you’re done, move on to the next step.

adjusting the overall shape of the light bulbs glass section

Step 17

Give the resulting shape a 4 px thick outline (#5B4032) using the Stroke method, selecting
and grouping (Control-G) both it and
the underlying fill shape together afterwards.

adding the outline to the light bulbs glass section

Step 18

Start working on the filament by creating two 8 x 8 px circles with a 4 px thick Stroke (#5B4032) at a horizontal distance of 2 px from one another, which we
will position in the center of the bulb, at a distance of 10 px from its upper edge.

creating and positioning the main shapes for the circular section of the light bulbs filament

Step 19

Open up the inner-bottom sections of each circle’s path by adding a new
anchor point using the Add Anchor Point
Tool (+)
, and then removing it by selecting and pressing Delete.

opening up the paths of the circular section of the light bulbs filament

Step 20

Finish off the filament, and with it the icon itself, by selecting and
uniting the bottom anchor points using the Control-J
keyboard shortcut, drawing the vertical sections using the Pen Tool (P). Once you’re done, select and group all of the bulb’s
composing shapes, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

finishing off the lamp checker icon

It’s a Wrap!

Great job! I hope you’ve found the tutorial interesting enough to
follow it until the end—since it was a long one—and most importantly
learned something new and useful along the way.

finished project preview

How to Create a Group of International Friends in Adobe Illustrator

Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

Did you know that 30th of July is International Friendship Day? In honor of that, I will show you how to create an image that shares a message of friendship.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Adobe Illustrator to create a group of international friends: a white man, an Asian woman, and a Muslim woman. We will use basic shapes and warp effects, and we’ll move anchor points to deform the shape and achieve the result we want. After completing this tutorial and using some techniques, you’ll able to create any sort of person.

If you are here to get a completed character, you can find plenty of those over at GraphicRiver. But if you are here to learn something new, then let’s start our tutorial!

Also, if you like this tutorial, you might be interested in these:

1. How to Create the White Man

Step 1

After you’ve created a new document with 850 px Width and Height, we will start to create the man’s head. Take the Rounded Rectangle Tool. If it’s your very first time using AI and you can’t find this tool, then look at the Tools panel on the left side of the artboard. Click on the Rectangle Tool (M), hold for two seconds, and a pop-up menu will show up, and there you will find the Rounded Rectangle Tool. So, using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, draw a rounded rectangle. This will be the head of the man. Delete the stroke color if you have one, and set the fill color to R=247, G=197, B=156.

Then change the fill color to R=114, G=72, B=51, and now we are going to create the eye. Hit the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a tiny circle. In order to create an even circle, hold the Shift button while creating it.

Now delete the fill color and set the stroke color to R=210, G=132, B=76. Take the Arc Tool (it’s hidden under the Line Segment Tool (/)) and draw an arc as an eyebrow.

Select the eye and eyebrow using the Selection Tool (V) while holding the Shift key. Then click on the Reflect Tool (O) and press the Enter key at the same time, because you want to make a reflection of the eye and eyebrow. A new dialogue window will pop up. Enter Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Move the new eye and eyebrow to the right while holding down the Shift key so it will be perfectly aligned.

how to create the face

Step 2

Hit the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a white ellipse with no stroke. I added a black stroke, so you’ll be able to see it. If you have a newer version of AI, then near the selected ellipse you will notice a handle on its right side. Use this handle and move it counterclockwise until you get half of the ellipse. We will use it as a mouth.                         

how to create the mouth

Step 3

Place the mouth in the right position on the face.

Take the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the face. You just took the same fill color as the face, because you want to draw an ear with the same fill color. Grab the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw the ear.

After that, hit the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a small rectangle as the neck. Rotate it a little to the right.

how to create the neck

Step 4

Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, draw a long, thin rounded rectangle over the guy’s ear. Change the fill color to R=193, G=120, B=70.

Create another long rounded rectangle behind the head.

After that, add a long, horizontal ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L) for the fringe.

While keeping the ellipse you’ve just created selected, go to Effect > Warp > Flag. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below and then press OK.

how to create the hair style

Step 5

Now we are going to create the man’s upper body. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), draw a rectangle under his neck. Set the fill color to R=194, G=209, B=173.

Take the Direct Selection Tool (A), and select the bottom left anchor point of the new rectangle and move it to the left using the Left Arrow key on your keyboard.

As you want to create the sleeve with the same fill color, press the Swap Fill and Stroke (Shift-X) button on the Tools panel. Then take the Line Segment Tool (/) and on the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke) check Round Cap. Increase the stroke Weight on the Stroke panel as we need it to be very thick. After that, draw a line as shown below.

Return to the Stroke panel, uncheck Round Cap, and draw a new line in order to finish off the left arm.

Finally, delete the stroke color, set the fill color to white, and add two long horizontal rectangles on the guy’s pullover.

how to create the upper body

Step 6

Let’s make the hand. Using the Eyedropper Tool (I), take the fill color from the face. Then press the Swap Fill and Stroke (Shift-X) button, because you want to turn the fill color into the stroke color.

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw a small ellipse. While keeping it selected, take the Scissors Tool (C) and click on its stroke, in the places I marked in the image below. As you just cut the upper side of the ellipse, you should be able to take it off and delete it. You need just the bottom part.

how to create the hand

Step 7

Place the hand under the sleeve (Control-X, Control-B).

Then click on the sleeve in order to use the same stroke color, and using the Line Segment Tool (/), draw another sleeve. This arm will hug a woman standing close to him in the future.

how to create the another arm

Step 8

Let’s add a belt using the Rectangle Tool (M)—the fill color is R=193, G=120, B=70. Notice that the belt is behind the pullover.

Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, add a rounded rectangle (R=250, G=178, B=91) behind the belt.

Create a long vertical rectangle with the same orange fill color.

Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select its left bottom anchor point and shift it to the right. Then, select the right bottom anchor point and shift it to the left. That’s how we make the leg narrower at the bottom.

Then, to get another leg, make a copy of this one in front (Control-C, Control-F), and move it to the right. The trousers are done!

how to create the legs

Step 9

Now let’s add one more detail to his pants. Draw a yellow rectangle (R=247, G=200, B=94) at the bottom on the left side of the trouser’s leg. Then, while holding the Shift and Alt keys together, move the yellow rectangle to the right. The Alt key will create a copy for you, and the Shift key will make it perfectly aligned.

Add a leg: behind the pants, draw a new rectangle which should have the same fill color as the face.

While holding the Shift and Alt buttons together, create a new leg.

continue creating legs

Step 10

The last objects we need to create for the man are his shoes. Draw a brown rectangle (R=193, G=120, B=70).

Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), move the two top anchor points inside so you’ll get a trapezoid.

Add two tiny rounded rectangles (R=155, G=95, B=55).

Create a new copy of the mouth, rotate it upside down, change its fill color, and place it as shown below.

Finally, add a darker rectangle (R=155, G=95, B=55) for the sole. Group the whole shoe (right-click > Group).

how to create the shoe

Step 11

Transfer the shoe onto the man’s leg.

Create a new shoe and place it on the other leg. And the man is ready!

how to create the another shoe

2. How to Create the Asian Woman

Step 1

Create a copy of the man’s face, and change its fill color to R=249, G=208, B=178. Then create a copy of the man’s mouth, and place it on the woman’s face. 

Add two ellipses for the ears, which should have the same fill color as the face. Draw a rectangle under the face as the neck. 

how to create the face

Step 2

Draw a small brown circle (R=114, G=72, B=51) for the first lens of the sunglasses (remember to hold the Shift button while creating).

Create a copy of this circle to get the other lens of the woman’s sunglasses.

Turn this brown fill color into the stroke color (Shift-X) and, using the Arc Tool, draw the bridge of the sunglasses between the two circles.

Create two more arcs for the temples.

Using the same tool, but a darker stroke color (R=91, G=79, B=74), draw two eyebrows.

how to create the glasses

Step 3

Now we are going to give her a hairstyle. Draw a few ellipses to create bangs for the woman.

Then add a rounded rectangle behind the head as the back hair.

Make sure you have the Corner Widget on (View > Show Corner Widget). Now, select the two bottom anchor points of the back hair using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and slide them out. You should end up with a shape that has two smooth upper corners and two sharp bottom corners.

While keeping the back hair selected (just be sure you selected it by using the Selection Tool (V)), go to Effect > Warp > Fish. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below and press OK.

how to create the hair style

Step 4

Add a white rectangle which will be her top.

Let’s add a neckline under the woman’s neck. Make sure the top is selected, take the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) or just the Pen Tool (P), and click under the woman’s neck, right where it is marked in the image below. Add three anchor points close to each other.

Then take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and move the middle anchor point down. See the neckline now?

Add a longer rectangle under her shirt, which will be the body.

Change the fill color we used for the body and face and make it the stroke color. Grab the Line Segment Tool (/) and make sure you increased the stroke Weight on the Stroke panel. Then draw an arm.

Finally, add another one.

how to create the upper body

Step 5

Delete the stroke color and set the fill color to R=155, G=95, B=55. Draw a rounded rectangle for the backpack behind the woman’s body, but in front of the hair.

Delete the fill color and set the stroke color to R=193, G=120, B=70. Draw two narrow lines for the backpack straps. They should stay in front of everything.

Finally, add two more backpack straps behind the backpack, but in front of the hair.

how to create the backpack

Step 6

To create the skirt, start with a red horizontal rectangle (R=242, G=128, B=109) for the belt.

Then add a bigger, vertically oriented red rectangle.

While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Bulge, and enter the options you see below.

how to create the skirt

Step 7

To create the woman’s leg, we will create a few different shapes. Return to the man, create a copy of one of his trouser’s legs, and stretch it vertically. Change its fill color to R=249, G=208, B=178.

Add an ellipse on the top left side of the stretched rectangle.

Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), move the handles and anchor points of the ellipse to achieve a result similar to the one below.

After that, add a new ellipse under the previous one. Group the leg (right-click > Group).

how to create the leg

Step 8

Place the leg on the left side of the woman’s body.

As you can see, I created a copy of the man’s shoe, changed it a little, and gave it to the woman. Keep her shoe in yellow tones, but actually there is no need to follow the exact RGB numbers.

Select the whole leg with the shoe. Take the Reflect Tool (O) and, while holding down the Alt key, click close to the right side of the existing leg. In the new dialogue window, enter Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. The Asian woman is ready!

how to create another leg

3. How to Place the Two People Together

Be sure that each character is grouped separately, so that it will be easy to move them. Now you can place them together and see if everything looks good. If you need to change the positions of their arms, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) and move one anchor point of the arm, as each arm is a line, and adjust the position however you want.

how to place together the boy and girl

4. How to Create the Muslim Woman

Step 1

As you can already guess, you can take a copy of the previous woman’s face, change the skin color (R=216, G=158, B=104), change the colors of the eyes and eyebrows (R=91, G=79, B=74), and leave the same mouth color. Make the new face a bit smaller, because usually you can just see the face without hair on Muslim women.

Create a new pink rounded rectangle (R=252, G=173, B=162) behind the face.

Add a pink vertical ellipse behind the rounded rectangle.

Add two horizontal ellipses under the head.

Delete the fill color, and set the stroke color to R=242, G=146, B=136. Now, using the Arc Tool, draw a few arcs as shown in the image below to create the folds of her hijab.

how to create the face and headwear

Step 2

Create a yellow rectangle (R=247, G=200, B=94) behind the woman’s head. Move the top right anchor point to the left so it’s covered by her hijab. Change the yellow fill color into the stroke color, and draw a thick line as her right arm. 

Draw her other arm, but this time don’t check the Round Cap button on the Stroke panel. Change the stroke color to R=216, G=158, B=104 and use the Arc Tool to draw her hand. 

Decrease the Weight of the stroke on the Stroke panel and draw her thumb.

how to create the upper body

Step 3

On to the legs. A mint-colored rectangle (the same fill color as the man’s pullover) on the left side will be the woman’s left leg.

Make a copy of the previous woman’s shoe, change the fill color to some red tones, and then place it behind the trouser leg.

Select the whole leg with the shoe, hold the Shift and Alt buttons together, and move it to the right. The Muslim woman is done!

how to create legs

5. Bring the Group of Friends Together

Place the new character next to the two friends we’ve already created. Make sure the Muslim woman’s right arm goes in front of the Asian woman’s hair but behind her body.

Select the Muslim woman’s thumb, so the stroke color will stay in the memory. Then, using the Line Segment Tool (/), draw her fingers on the other woman’s backpack. Now everybody is hugging each other.

placing three people together

6. How to Create the Background and Scenery

Step 1

Delete the stroke color and set the fill color to R=254, G=244, B=232. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter 850 px Width and Height. This will be our background.

Cut off the background (Control-X) and place it behind everything you’ve created so far (Control-B). Make sure your background stays in the middle of your artboard.

how to create the background

Step 2

Use a slightly darker fill color and draw a rectangle under the friends, which will represent the floor.

how to create the place they are standing on

Step 3

Grab the Star Tool and create a giant star behind the friends. And that’s it!

how to create the background star

Conclusion

What an image! I hope you learned something new and had fun creating it. I appreciate that you went through this tutorial with me. Feel free to post your results down below.

See you next time!

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