In today’s tutorial we’re going to put on
our gardener hats and create a set of four little cactus icons using
nothing more than the basic shapes and tools in Adobe Illustrator that you probably already work
with on a daily basis.
Also, don’t forget you can always expand
your project by heading over to GraphicRiver where you’ll find a great
selection of garden icons.
That being said,
let’s jump straight into it!
1. How to Set Up a New Project File
Assuming 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
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
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 and Snap to Pixel options found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter Pixel Preview mode (if you’re using an older version of the
software).
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 five
layers, which we will rename as follows:
- layer
1: reference grids - layer
2: first cactus - layer
3: second cactus - layer
4: third cactus - layer 5: fourth cactus
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 once 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.
Step 2
Add a smaller 120 x 120 px one (#FFFFFF) which we
will position on top of the previous shape, since it will act as our active
drawing area, thus giving us an all-around 4
px padding to work with.
Step 3
Select and group the
two squares together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut, center aligning them to the underlying Artboard
afterwards. Create the remaining grids using three copies (Control-C > Control-F three times) at a horizontal distance of 40 px from the
original, locking the current layer before moving on to the next section.
5. How to Create the First Cactus Icon
Assuming you’ve finished creating the reference grids, move on up to the next layer (that would be the second
one) and let’s kick off the project by creating our first icon.
Step 1
Start by creating the plant’s ceramic pot using a 68 x 32 px rounded rectangle with an 8 px Corner Radius, which we will color using #E5E5E5 and then
center align to the underlying active drawing area, positioning it at a
distance of 4 px from its bottom
edge.
Step 2
Give the shape that
we’ve just created 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 #3A2E2A. Flip the copy’s Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X), making
sure to set its Weight to 8 px.
Step 3
Add the little horizontal detail line using a 68 px wide 4 px thick Stroke (#3A2E2A),
which we will center align to the pot’s larger body, positioning it 4 px from its top edge.
Once you’re done, select and group all three shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 4
Create the right plant’s main body using a 28 x 80 px rectangle (#88AF66), which
we will position on top of the pot, at a distance of 38 px from the active drawing area’s right edge.
Step 5
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created, by
first selecting it and then setting the Radius
of its top corners to 14 px from the
Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties.
Step 6
Next, take a couple of moments and draw the two
diagonal texture lines with the help of the Pen Tool (P). Use a 4 px
Stroke (#6D894E) for the top one, followed by a thicker 8 px one (#6D894E) for the bottom one, setting
both of their Width Profiles to one
of the default ones included in Illustrator
(Width Profile 5).
Step 7
Group (Control-G)
the two strokes together and then mask them using a copy (Control-C) of the underlying shape which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then use as a Clipping Mask. With the copy in place,
simply select both it and the strokes and then right click > Make Clipping Mask.
Step 8
Give the cactus an 8 px thick outline using the Stroke
method, making sure to set its color to #3A2E2A.
Step 9
Add the vertical detail line using a 66 px tall 4 px thick Stroke (#3A2E2A)
with a Round Cap, which we will center
align to the plant’s bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its shapes together
before moving on to the next step.
Step 10
Start working on the icon’s left plant by
creating its main body using a 28 x 52
px rectangle (#A9D884), which we will adjust by setting the Radius of its top corners to 14 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Position the resulting shape on top of the
pot, at a distance of 38 px from the
active drawing area’s left edge.
Step 11
Add the two diagonal texture lines, following the same process used for the right plant, flipping the top Stroke’s width to give it some
variety.
Step 12
Give the plant an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), followed by a 38 px tall 4 px thick Stroke line (#3A2E2A) in the center of
its bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group all its composing shapes
together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 13
Add the smaller rock using a 14 x 12 px ellipse (#BAB6B3) with an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position on top of the pot’s right edge, making sure to send it underneath
its larger shapes afterwards (right
click > Arrange > Send Backward).
Step 14
Take a couple of moments and draw the larger
rock section with the help of the Pen
Tool (P), using #9B928E as your Fill
color. Give the resulting shape an 8 px thick
outline (#3A2E2A) with a Round Join,
grouping (Control-G) and then
positioning the two behind the ceramic pot (right click > Arrange > Send to Back). Also, don’t forget to select and group (Control-G) all the shapes that we have so far before moving on to
the next step.
Step 15
Start working on the icon’s foreground by
creating a 96 px wide 8 px thick Stroke line (#3A2E2A) with a Round
Cap, which we will align to the active drawing area’s bottom-left corner.
Step 16
Finish off the foreground, and with it the icon
itself, by adding the smaller line segment using a 4 px wide 8 px thick Stroke line (#3A2E2A) with a Round Cap, which we will align to the
active drawing area’s bottom-right corner. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the current section’s
composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.
6. How to Create the Second Cactus 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’ll start
working on our second plant.
Step 1
Create the ceramic pot using a 68 x 40 px rounded rectangle (#E5E5E5)
with an 8 px Corner Radius and an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we will
group (Control-G) and then center
align to the active drawing area’s bottom edge.
Step 2
Add the horizontal detail line using a 68 px wide 4 px thick Stroke line
(#3A2E2A), which we will center align to the pot’s larger body, positioning it
at a distance of 4 px from its top.
Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G)
all three shapes together before moving on to the next step.
Step 3
Start working on the cactus’s main body by
creating its outer section using a 64 x
64 px circle (#A9D884) with an 8 px thick
outline (#3A2E2A), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the ceramic pot.
Step 4
Add the plant’s inner section using a 34 x 64 px ellipse (#88AF66) with an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
center align to its larger body.
Step 5
Split the center section in half by adding a 64 px tall 8 px thick Stroke line
(#3A2E2A) to its center, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all of the plant’s composing shapes together before
moving on to the next step.
Step 6
Since we want the plant to sit behind the ceramic
pot, we’ll have to select it and then position it underneath by right clicking > Arrange > Send to
Back.
Step 7
Start working on the little red flower by
creating its center petal using a 12 x
16 px ellipse (#EF835E) with an 8 px
thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the active drawing area’s top
edge.
Step 8
Create the left petal using a 16 x 16 px rectangle (#EF835E) which we
will adjust by setting the Radius of
its bottom-left and top-right corners to 12
px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Give
the resulting shape an 8 px thick
outline (#3A2E2A) with a Round Join,
grouping (Control-G) and then
positioning the two onto the side of the center petal.
Step 9
Create the right petal using a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the one that we’ve just finished
working on, which we will position onto the opposite side of the plant. Once
you’re done, select and group (Control-G)
all of the flower’s composing shapes together, making sure to send them to the
back afterwards (right click >
Arrange > Send to Back). Also, since we’re pretty much done working on
the plant, you can select and group (Control-G)
all the shapes that we have so far as well.
Step 10
Create the smaller rock using a 16
x 14 px ellipse (#BAB6B3) with an 8
px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we will group (Control-G) and then bottom align to the ceramic pot’s main body,
positioning it 4 px from
its right edge.
Step 11
Take a couple of moments and draw the larger rock using #9B928E as your
fill color. Give the resulting shape an 8
px thick outline (#3A2E2A) with a Round
Join, grouping (Control-G) and
then positioning the two underneath the other shapes (right click > Arrange > Send to Back).
Step 12
Finish off the icon by adding its foreground
using a copy (Control-C) of the one
we created for the first icon, which we will paste onto the current layer (Control-F) and then center align to the
active drawing area’s bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its composing sections
before moving on to the next one.
7. How to Create the Third Cactus Icon
Make your way to the next layer (that would be the fourth one), locking the
previous one, and then zoom in on its reference grid so that we can start
working on the third plant.
Step 1
Create the ceramic pot using a 68 x 32 px rounded rectangle (#E5E5E5)
with an 8 px Corner Radius and an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
center align to the active drawing area’s bottom edge.
Step 2
Add the horizontal detail line using a 68 px wide 4 px thick Stroke line
(#3A2E2A), which we will center align to the pot’s main body, positioning it at
a distance of 4 px from its top
edge. Once you’re done, select all three shapes and group them together using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 3
Start working on the actual plant by creating
its bottom section using a 64 x 64 px circle
(#A9D884), which we will center align to the ceramic pot, positioning it at a
distance of 28 px from the active
drawing area’s top edge.
Step 4
Add the three diagonal texture lines using #88AF66
as your main Stroke color, making
sure to group (Control-G) and then
mask them using a copy (Control-C >
Control-F) of the larger underlying circle.
Quick tip: notice that the longer your stroke paths are,
the thinner the texture lines will get, so try playing around with them until
you get something that looks good.
Step 5
Give the current section an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), selecting and grouping (Control-G) all its composing shapes
together afterwards.
Step 6
Create the plant’s top-left section using a 36 x 36 px circle (#88AF66), on top of
which we’ll add the usual diagonal texture lines (#6D894E) and 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A). Select
and group (Control-G) all three
shapes together, aligning them to the active drawing area’s top edge, making
sure to position them underneath the larger section (right click > Arrange > Send to Back).
Step 7
Add the first of the smaller sections using a 16 x 16 px circle (#A9D884) with an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position onto the right side of the previously created shapes.
Step 8
Create the second smaller section using a 24 x 24 px circle (#88AF66) with two
diagonal texture lines (#6D894E) and an
8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we will group (Control-G) and then position on the larger body’s right side, at
a distance of 16 px from the active
drawing area’s top-right corner.
Step 9
Select and group (Control-G) all of the plant’s four sections, making sure to send
them to the back of the pot (right click
> Arrange > Send to Back) before moving on to the next step.
Step 10
Create the smaller rock using a 14 x 12 px ellipse (#BAB6B3) with an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position onto the left side of the larger ceramic pot, making sure to send them underneath its larger shapes (right click > Arrange > Send Backward).
Step 11
Take a couple of moments to draw the larger rock
section, using #9B928E as your Fill color. Give the resulting shape an 8 px
thick outline (#3A2E2A) with a Round
Join, grouping (Control-G) and
then positioning the two underneath the ceramic pot (right click > Arrange > Send to Back).
Step 12
Finish off the icon by adding its foreground
using a copy (Control-C) of the one
we created for the second icon, which we will paste onto the current layer (Control-F) and then center align to the
active drawing area’s bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its composing sections
before moving on to the fourth and final one.
8. How to Create the Fourth Cactus Icon
We are now down to our fourth and last
icon, so make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the (fifth one),
and let’s wrap things up!
Step 1
As we did with all
the other icons, start out by creating the ceramic pot using a 68 x 24 px rounded rectangle (#E5E5E5)
with an 8 px Corner Radius and an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
center align to the active drawing area’s bottom edge.
Step 2
Add the horizontal detail line using a 68 px wide 4 px thick Stroke line
(#3A2E2A), which we will center align to the pot’s main body, positioning it at
a distance of 4 px from its top
edge. Once you’re done, select all three shapes and group them together using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 3
Start working on the actual plant by creating a 24 x 24 px circle (#A9D884), which we
will center align to the underlying active drawing area, positioning it 4 px from its top edge.
Step 4
Create another slightly larger 44 x 44 px circle (#A9D884), which we
will position at a distance of 24 px
from the smaller one.
Step 5
Open up the two circles’ paths by individually selecting their inner facing anchor points
using the Direct Selection Tool (A)
and then removing them by pressing Delete.
Step 6
Unite the two paths into a single larger shape by selecting them and
then pressing Control-J twice.
Step 7
Adjust the shape of the resulting object, by selecting and smoothening
out each of its four inner facing anchor points using the Convert selected anchor points to smooth option, and then
repositioning its handles until you get a smooth transition between the two
sections.
Step 8
Take a couple of moments and add the diagonal texture lines using #88AF66
as your Stroke color, making sure to
mask them afterwards (right click >
Make Clipping Mask) using a copy (Control-C
> Control-F) of the underlying shape.
Step 9
Give the plant an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), followed by an 80 px tall 4 px thick Stroke line (#3A2E2A) in the center of
its bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group all its composing shapes
together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 10
Position the shape that we’ve just grouped
underneath the ceramic pot (right click
> Arrange > Send to Back), selecting and grouping both sections
together using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.
Step 11
Add the smaller rock using a 22 x 16 px ellipse (#BAB6B3) with an 8 px thick outline (#3A2E2A), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position onto the right side of the ceramic pot, at a distance of just 4 px from its right edge.
Step 12
Take a couple of moments and draw the larger
rock section using #9B928E as your Fill color. Give the resulting shape an 8 px
thick outline (#3A2E2A) with a Round
Join, grouping (Control-G) and
then positioning them underneath the ceramic pot (right click > Arrange > Send to Back).
Step 13
Finish off the icon by adding its foreground
using a copy (Control-C) of the one
we created for the third icon, which we will paste onto the current layer (Control-F) and then center align to the
active drawing area’s bottom edge. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its composing sections
before saving the entire project.
All Shovels Up!
There you have it, fellow cacti lovers—an easy
step-by-step approach to create your very own garden icons using nothing
more than some basic shapes and tools found within good old Illustrator.
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