Create the Captain America Shield Icon in Adobe Illustrator
For starters you will learn how to set-up a simple grid, how to create the main, four circles and how to easily place them in the center of your artboard. Using basic blending and vector shape building techniques you will learn how to add subtle shading and a simple star shape. Next, you will learn how to create a pretty simple gradient mesh. Taking full advantage of the Appearance panel and using some simple Blur effects you will add the extra highlights and textures. Finally, you will learn how to create a simple background, some Drop Shadow effects and a fading long shadow.
1.Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid
HitControl-Nto create a new document. SelectPixelsfrom theUnitsdrop-down menu, enter600in the width and height boxes then click on theAdvancedbutton. SelectRGB,Screen (72ppi)and make sure that theAlign New Objects to Pixel Gridbox is unchecked before you clickOK.
Enable theGrid(View > Show Grid) and theSnap to Grid(View > Snap to Grid). For starters you will need a grid every5px, so simply go toEdit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter5in theGridline everybox and1in theSubdivisionsbox. You should also open theInfopanel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels fromEdit > Preferences > Units > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
2.Create the Main Shapes
Step 1
Pick theEllipse Tool (L)and focus on your Toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke then select the fill and set its color atR=228 G=23 B=28. Move to your Artboard and simply create a290pxcircle.
Step 2
Disable theGrid(View > Hide Grid) and theSnap to Grid(View > Snap to Grid). In this step you need to center your red circle, so open theAlignpanel (Window > Align). Set the aligning to Artboard (open the fly out menu and go toShow Optionsif you can't see theAlign Tosection as shown in the following image) then simply click theHorizontal Align CenterandVertical Align Centerbuttons. In the end things should look like in the following image.
Step 3
Make sure that your red circle is selected and go toObject > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-25px Offsetand clickOK.
Select the resulting shape, replace the existing fill color with white (R=255 G=255 B=255) and go again toObject > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-25px Offsetand clickOK.
Make sure that the resulting shape is selected, replace the existing fill color withR=228 G=23 B=28and go one more time toObject > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-25px Offsetand clickOK. Select the newly created shape and replace the existing fill color withR=22 G=77 B=157.
Step 4
Go toEdit > Preferences > Generaland make sure that theKeyboard Incrementis set at1px. Select the largest, red circle and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it5pxup using the up arrow button from your keyboard. Reselect both copies made in this step, open thePathfinderpanel (Window > Pathfinder) and click theMinus Frontbutton.
Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on theAppearancepanel (Window > Appearance). Set the fill color at black (R=0 G=0 B=0) then simply click on the "Opacity" piece of text to open theTransparencyfly-out panel. Focus on theBlending Modedrop-down menu and set it atSoft Light.
Step 5
Reselect the largest, red circle and make another two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it10pxup using that same up arrow button from your keyboard. Reselect both copies made in this step and click theMinus Frontbutton from thePathfinderpanel.
Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on theAppearancepanel and set theBlending ModeatSoft Light.
3.Create the Star Shape
Step 1
Enable theGrid(View > Show Grid) and theSnap to Grid(View > Snap to Grid). Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a130 x 45pxshape, set the fill color at white and place it as shown in the first image.
Focus on the bottom side of this new rectangle, pick theDelete Anchor Point Tool (-)and simply click on the right anchor point to remove it. Keep focusing on the bottom side of your new shape, switch to theDirect Selection Tool (A), select the remaining anchor point and simply drag it65pxto the right. In the end things should look like in the second image.
Step 2
Using theRectangle Tool (M), create an80 x 125pxshape, set the fill color at white and place it as shown in the first image.
Focus on the top side of this new rectangle, pick theDelete Anchor Point Tool (-)and simply remove the right anchor point. Keep focusing on the top side of your new, white shape and switch to theDirect Selection Tool (A). Select the remaining anchor point and simply drag it40pxto the right. Reselect the shape made in this step and go toObject > Path > Add Anchor Points.
Make sure that theDirect Selection Tool (A)is still active, select the anchor point highlighted in the third image and simply drag it30pxup. In the end things should look like in the fourth image.
Step 3
Reselect the two, white shapes that make up your star and click theUnitebutton from thePathfinderpanel.
Step 4
Make sure that your star shape stays selected, focus on theAppearancepanel, select the existing stroke and set its color at black.
Keep focusing on your new stroke and simply click on the "Stroke" piece of text to open theStrokefly-out panel. Set theWeightat2pxand check theAlign Stroke to Insidebutton. Make sure that your stroke is still selected, lower itsOpacityto3%, change theBlending ModetoMultiplyand go toEffect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-7px Ofsetand clickOK. Return to theAppearancepanel, select the entire path (simply click on the "Path" piece of text from the top of theAppearancepanel) and go toEffect > Warp > Fisheye. Enter the properties shown in the following image and clickOK.
4.Create a Radial Mesh
Step 1
Using theEllipse Tool (L), create a new290pxcircle and center it using theHorizontal Align CenterandVertical Align Centerbuttons from theAlignpanel. Make sure that this new shape stays selected, open theGradientpanel (Window > Gradient) and simply click on the gradient thumbnail to add the default black to white linear gradient.
Keep focusing on yourGradientpanel, open theTypedrop down menu and selectRadial. In the end things should look like in the following image.
Step 2
Make sure that the circle with the radial gradient is still selected and go toObject > Expand. Check theGradient Meshbox then clickOK.
Focus on theLayerspanel (Window > Layers), select the newly created group,Ungroupit (Shift-Control-G) then hitAlt-Control-7(or go toObject > Clipping Mask > Release) to release the existing clipping mask. Return to theLayerspanel and simply delete the top290pxcircle (the former clipping path).
Step 3
Select your mesh and open theTransformpanel (Window > Transform). Check theConstrain Width and Height Proportionsbutton then simply enter290in theWidth(or theHeight) box.
Step 4
Disable theGrid(View > Hide Grid) and theSnap to Grid(View > Snap to Grid). Select your mesh, grab theMesh Tool (U)and add four, new mesh points as shown in the following image.
Step 5
Pick theDirect Selection Tool (A)and focus on your mesh. Select the mesh points one by one and replace the existing colors with the ones shown in the following image.
Step 6
Make sure that your mesh is still selected, focus on theTransparencypanel (Window > Transparency) and change theBlending ModetoMultiply.
5.Add Subtle Shading and Texture
Step 1
Using theEllipse Tool (L), create a new290pxcircle, set the fill color at black and center it using theHorizontal Align CenterandVertical Align Centerbuttons from theAlignpanel.
Step 2
Make sure that your black circle stays selected and focus on theAppearancepanel. Select the existing fill, change theBlending ModetoOverlayand go toEffect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-2px Offset, clickOKand go toEffect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the properties shown in the following image, clickOKand go toEffect > Blur > Radial Blur. Enter the attributes shown below and clickOK.
Step 3
Reselect your front circle, focus on theAppearancepanel and add a second fill using theAdd New Fillbutton (pointed by the blue circle in the following image). Select this new fill, lower itsOpacityto70%, change theBlending ModetoMultiplyand add the radial gradient shown in the following image. Keep in mind that the yellow numbers from theGradientimage stand forOpacitypercentage while the white numbers stand forLocationpercentage. This simply means that you have to select each gradient slider, focus on theOpacityLocationboxes from theGradientpanel and enter the numbers pointed below.
Step 4
Reselect your front circle, focus on theAppearancepanel and add a1px, black stroke. Select this subtle stroke, align it to inside, lower theOpacityto15%and change theBlending ModetoOverlay.
Make sure that your front circle stays selected, keep focusing on theAppearancepanel and add a second stroke using theAdd New Strokebutton (pointed by the blue circle in the following image). Select this new stroke, set the color at white and theWeightat1px, align it to inside, change theBlending ModetoSoft Lightand go toEffect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a-1px Offsetand clickOK.
Step 5
Enable theGrid(View > Show Grid) and theSnap to Grid(View > Snap to Grid). Using theEllipse Tool (L), create a130 x 60pxshape, set the fill color at black and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected, lower itsOpacityto60%, change theBlending ModetoMultiplyand go toEffect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a20px Radiusand clickOK.
Step 6
Using theEllipse Tool (L), create a140 x 75pxshape, set the fill color at white and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected, lower itsOpacityto20%, change theBlending ModetoColor Dodgeand go toEffect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a15px Radiusand clickOK.
6.Add the Background and a Long Shadow
Step 1
Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a new610pxsquare, set the fill color atR=50 G=55 B=70and center it using theHorizontal Align CenterandVertical Align Centerbuttons from theAlignpanel.
Make sure that this new shape stays selected, focus on theAppearancepanel and add a second fill using that sameAdd New Fillbutton. Select this new fill, set the color at black, lower itsOpacityto10%, change theBlending ModetoMultiplyand go toEffect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the properties shown in the following image and clickOK.
Step 2
Reselect the largest, red circle and go toEffect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the top, left window (in the following image), clickOKand go again toEffect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the top, right window, clickOKand go once again toEffect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the bottom, left window, clickOKand go one more time toEffect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the bottom, right window and clickOK.
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Step 3
Using theRectangle Tool (M), create a 290 x 305pxshape, set the fill color at black and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on theAppearancepanel. Lower itsOpacityto15%, change theBlending ModetoSoft Lightand replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown in the following image. Don't forget that the white zero from theGradientimage stands forOpacitypercentage.
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.