Simple Vector Logo Tutorial

Heres a simple, tutorial to keep your eyes on Illustrator great power, don't be scared about the vectors and shapes, the simple, the better. Before this logo was created, there is always a great amount of thinking behind it, always ALWAYS draw on paper before you actualy go to Illustrator, make lot's of tries until you are in love with your design.

 

 

 

Enough tought? Let's Begin

Start by creating a new document in Illustrator, 800x600 is enough, remember that we are using vectors so size here doesn't matter you can always change it, with no problem to your works.

 

 

Get the Rectangular Tool or press (M). 

 

 

 

 

Make a Rectangular like mine here.

 

 

 

Again still with the Rectangular Tool make another one on top of it like I did.

 

 

 

 

 

Ok now lets "edit" that little Rectangular, how? Simple get your Direction Selection Tool or press (A) this tool is used to grab the vector points and move them.

 

 

 

 

 

So this said lets grab the top points of the little rectangular and make a shape like I did. It's very simple, grab the left top point, and move it to the right. Do the same to the other but move it to the left.

 

 

 

 

Now get your normal Selection Tool (V) and select both objects.

 

 

 

 

If you don't have the pathfinder window on your desk simply go to Window -> Pathfinder. Press the Add to Shape button, remember to have the objects selected.

 

 

 

 

Next go to Object -> Expand Appearance

 

 

 

 

What this did was join the two objects together. It's better is cleaner and we won't be messing with it again.

 

 

 

 

With your "new" object selected, get a Gradient there.

 

 

 

 

 

Now choose a nice light blue, and a more darker version of that one, use Radial as your type of Gradient, like mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heres what we go so far, see the nice Radial Gradient? Smooth.

 

 

 

 

Now Rotate your object like this. This is very simple using your Selection tool go to a corner of the object and rotate it.

 

 

 

 

 

With your object selected hold (ALT) and drag it to the side, this will copy your object. Rotate it some more and give it other color, I used red gradient again.

 

 

 

 

Same thing, other color, more rotation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutting and Cleaning

 

This will scare you but don't be afraid, with practice you can remember this in the future. Select the first object (the blue one) and go to Object -> Path -> Offset Path.

 

 

 

 

I gave it a value of 7px you need to try it yourself since your object may be bigger or smaller than mine. What this will do is make the same shape behind your object and bigger, so basicly it expands it by creating another object.

 

 

 

 

See below the size of mine, try to match something like that.

 

 

 

 

 

We need to select just that shape now, since it's "grouped" automatlyc we have to use the Direction Selection Tool (A) and click it. Set it as white.

 

 

 

 

 

With the Direction Selection Tool still selected, we will do the same as we did in the begining of this tutorial, witch is grabbing one vector point and dragging it.

 

 

 

 

See what I'm doing?

 

 

 

 

Heres what we got so far. See the left side of the white shape is now hidden.

 

 

 

 

Do the same to the other object (red one).

 

 

 

 

This will get a little confusing now, as I said don't get scared. With the Direction Selection Tool (A) select the white shape below the blue one again. Copy it CTRL+C or COMMAND+C and delete it

 

 

 

 

Still with the direction selection tool select the Red object, and press CTRL+F or COMMAND+F what this will do is Paste the copied object exactly where it was.

 

 

 

See?

 

 

 

 

Press the right button on your mouse and go to Arrange -> Send to Back. KEEP IT SELECTED.

 

 

 

 

Without losing your Selection, hold down CTRL or COMMAND and select the Red Object too.

 

 

 

 

Remember the PathFinder? With both the objects we said selected, press the "Minus Back" Button(it's the last on below Expand) What this does is use the white shape that is in the back, and cut your Red Object using that.

 

 

 

 

Do the same for the Green One.

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow

 

Select your Elipse tool (L)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a shape like I did, and use a black to white gradient, set this to Multiply and to about 50% transparent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we are done, you can do lot's of changes, add more detail in shadow, other colors well whatever your creative mind gives.

 

 

 

 

THIS LOGO IS PROPERTY OF PUBLICRECORDSNOW DO NOT COPY. CREATED BY DUARTE PIRES

 

You can use your knowledge to create other logos, I remember again that this logo is property of publicrecordsnow, please do not copy or make derivates of this work.