In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a very easy bat icon using just
one shape—an ellipse. Also, you will learn how to cut off shapes and to make an Offset Path. It’s one of the easiest tutorials I’ve ever posted!
1. Creating the Bat
Step 1
Start by creating a New document (File > New) with 600 px width and 420 px height. We will first create the body. Take the Ellipse Tool
(L) (fill color R=0, G=0, B=24) and draw an ellipse. Keeping it selected, take
the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on the lowest anchor point
to make it sharp. Then take the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the left and
right anchor points, and move them up a little bit. You will get something like
an upside-down raindrop.
Step 2
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw a circle and place it like in the image
below—this is the head. To make a nice round circle, hold the Shift key as you
create this shape.
Step 3
Now we’ll create the ears. Copy-paste the shape you made in step 1.1 and
make it shorter and smaller. We now have one ear. Rotate the ear slightly to the left
and place it as in the image below. While keeping it selected, right-click
your mouse and select Transform > Reflect. Once you get the dialogue box,
select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Move the new ear to the
right.
Let’s align everything. Select two ears, right-click the mouse and hit Group.
After that, select all the body parts. Then go to the Align panel (Window >
Align) and click the Horizontal Align Center button.
Step 4
We will create the wings now. Draw an ellipse, and then draw four more using a
different color and place them as in the image below. Can you see the bat wing
shape now? Go to the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and press the Minus
Front button.
Step 5
Put the wing on the right side of the bat. Right-click the mouse and
select Transform > Reflect. In the dialogue window, select Axis Vertical,
Angle 90 degrees. Press Copy. Move the other wing to the left.
Select the two wings
and group them (right-click the mouse and hit Group). Then select the whole bat. Go
to the Align panel (Window > Align) and press Horizontal Align Center. Your
bat is just perfect!
2. Creating the Background
Step 1
Slightly rotate the bat to the left. Create a circle using the Ellipse Tool
(L) while holding the Shift key. Set the fill color at R=87, G=16, B=103.
Create another smaller circle (fill color R=115, G=47, B=134). Send the circles
to the back (Control?X, Control-B).
Step 2
Holding the Alt key, start moving the bigger darker circle a little bit up
and diagonally. Hold the Alt key to make a copy of path. Select the darker
bigger circle you made in step 2.1 (not the copy you just made) and make a
third copy of it (Control-C, Control-F). Keep it selected, then hold the
Shift key, select the second copy (which you moved diagonally) and press the
Minus Front button on the Pathfinder panel. You will get a moon shape.
Color this shape with darkest violet color (R=66, G=7, B=81).
Step 3
Select the whole bat and on the Pathfinder panel press the Unite button—you
will get one path. Keep the bat selected, and while holding the Shift key,
select the biggest circle. Go to Object > Path > Offset Path. In the new
dialogue window, make Offset 15 px (your Offset can be different than mine).
Make Joins Miter, Miter Limit 4, and press OK.
Step 4
Keep this new shape selected and on the Pathfinder panel, press the Unite
button. Send it to the back (Control-X, Control-B). Set the fill color at
R=136, G=73, B=156. Now…that’s it! You’re done!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You just made a clear, simple and nice bat icon!
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