In today’s tutorial we’re going to get our
fashion on and learn how to create a stylized set of accessories icon pack,
using the most basic shapes and tools that Illustrator has to offer.
Also, don’t forget you can always expand the pack by heading over to GraphicRiver, where you can find a great selection of vector accessories to pick from.
That being said, grab
a fresh batch of that hipster coffee, and let’s get started!
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 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: glasses - layer
3: leather bag - layer
4: shoes - layer 5: watch
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 side copies (Control-C > Control-F three times) at a distance of 40 px from the
original, locking the current layer before moving on to the next section.
5. How to Create the Glasses Icon
Assuming you’ve finished creating the
little 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 working on the left section of the glasses. Create the lens using a 44 x 44 px ellipse, which we will color using #6FD8C4 and then
position at a distance of 10 px from
the active drawing area’s left edge and 18
px from its top one.
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 #3D2F2C. Flip the copy’s Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X), making
sure to set its Weight to 4 px. Once you’re done, select and
group both shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut before moving on to the next step.
Step 3
Turn on Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and use the Pen Tool (P) to
draw the left end piece (#3D2F2C) using the reference image as your guide, making sure it overlaps the circle’s top-left quarter. Take your time, and once
you’re happy with the result, go back to the Default preview mode (Alt-Control-Y)
before moving on to the next step.
Step 4
Position the
resulting shape underneath the larger lens by right clicking > Arrange > Send to Back.
Step 5
Start working on the
lens’s inner section by creating an 8 x
16 px rectangle (#3D2F2C), which we will position on its top
half, making sure to align it to its right edge.
Step 6
Adjust the shape that
we’ve just created, by setting the Radius
of its top right corner to 4 px from
within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Once you’re done,
don’t forget to send the resulting shape underneath the lens (right click > Arrange > Send to Back),
selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all of them together before moving on to the next step.
Step 7
Create the right lens of the glasses, using a copy (Control-C >
Control-F) of the one that we’ve just grouped, which we will vertically
reflect (right click > Transform >
Reflect > Vertical) and then position onto the opposite side of the
underlying active drawing area.
Step 8
Add the bridge
section using a 16 x 16 px circle with a 4
px thick Stroke (#3D2F2C), which
we will center align to the active drawing area, positioning it at a distance
of 18 px from its top edge.
Step 9
Adjust the circle
that we’ve just created by selecting its bottom anchor point using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then
removing it by pressing Delete.
Also, since we’re pretty much done with the glasses themselves, we can
select all their composing sections and group them using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 10
Add the left string
section using a 10 x 74 px rectangle
with a 2 px thick Stroke (#3D2F2C), which we will
position at a distance of 2 px from
the active drawing area’s left edge and 16
px from its bottom one.
Step 11
Adjust the string’s
bottom section by setting the Radius of
its bottom corners to 5 px from
within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Once you’re done,
don’t forget to position the resulting shape underneath the glasses (right click > Arrange > Send to Back)
before moving on to the next step.
Step 12
Create the right
string section 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 glasses, maintaining the same 2 px gap between it and the active
drawing area’s right edge.
Step 13
Add the center string
section using a 12 px wide 2 px thick Stroke line (#3D2F2C), which we will position below the nose
bridge, at a distance of 16 px from
its upper arch.
Step 14
Finish off the string, and with it the icon itself, by adding the little label using a 4 x 10 px rectangle (#F27E51) with a 2 px thick outline (#3D2F2C), to the
right edge of which we will center align a smaller 2 x 4 px rectangle (#3D2F2C), making sure to group (Control-G) all three of them
afterwards. Position the label at a distance of 26 px from the string’s bottom edge, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all of the icon’s composing
sections before moving on to the next one.
6. How to Create the Leather Bag 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 fashion accessory.
Step 1
Create the bag’s
upper section using an 88 x 28 px rectangle
(#B27866) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the underlying active drawing area, positioning it 16 px from its top
edge.
Step 2
Add the little stitch
lines using ten 4 x 2 px rectangles
(#3D2F2C), horizontally distanced by 4
px from one another, which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the larger section’s top edge, positioning
them at a distance of just 2 px.
Step 3
Create the little
insertion pocket using a 16 x 6 px rectangle
(#8E5A4F) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the larger section, positioning it 4 px from its bottom edge.
Step 4
Add a 6 x 6 px square (#3D2F2C) to each of
the insertion’s sides, making sure to center align them using the Align Panel’s Vertical Align Center option.
Step 5
Finish off the
pocket by creating an 8 x 3 px rectangle
(#3D2F2C), which we will center align to its top edge. Once you’re done,
select and group (Control-G) all of
its composing shapes, doing the same for the bag’s upper section afterwards.
Step 6
Create the bag’s
bottom section, using an 88 x 56 px rectangle
(#9B6759) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then position below the smaller section so that their outlines overlap.
Step 7
Add the horizontal
stitch lines using a copy (Control-C
> Control-F) of the ones that we’ve made for the bag’s upper section,
which we will position at a distance of 2
px from its bottom edge.
Step 8
Add the left stitch
lines using six 2 x 4 px rectangles
(#3D2F2C), which we will vertically stack 4 px from one another, grouping (Control-G) and then positioning them 2 px from the larger section’s left and top
edges.
Step 9
Create the right
vertical stitch lines using a copy (Control-C
> Control-F) of the ones that we’ve just grouped, which we will position
onto the bag’s opposite side, making sure to maintain the same 2 px gap. Once you’re done,
select and group all of the bottom section’s composing shapes together using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 10
Add the little string
holding the bag’s two sections together using a 12 x 18 px rectangle with a 2
px thick Stroke (#3D2F2C), which
we will center align to the top section’s bottom edge.
Step 11
Add the little button
using a 12 x 12 px circle (#F2AC99)
with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C),
which we will group (Control-G) and
then position onto the previously created string section, as seen in the
reference image.
Step 12
Once you have the
button in place, add its little holes using two 2 x 2 px circles (#3D2F2C), at a horizontal distance of 2 px from one another, which we will
group (Control-G) and then center
align to the larger underlying shapes, grouping (Control-G) those together as well.
Step 13
Start working on the
strap by creating its left half’s upper section using a 6 x 12 px rectangle (#8E5A4F) with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the
bag’s side, center aligning it to its top section.
Step 14
Create the strap
itself by drawing a 4 px thick
Stroke line (#3D2F2C) using the
reference image as your main guide.
Step 15
Adjust the strap by
individually selecting and adjusting its sharp corners, setting their Radius to 4 px from withing the Live
Corners input box. Once you’re done, select and group all of the strap’s
composing shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 16
Finish off the strap, and
with it the icon itself, by adding its right section using a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the one
that we’ve just finished working on, which we will vertically reflect (right click > Transform > Reflect
> Vertical) and then position onto the opposite side of the bag. Once
you’re done, don’t forget to select and group (Control-G) all of the icon’s composing sections before moving on to
the next one.
7. How to Create the Shoes Icon
At this point
you probably already know the drill, so make sure you’re on the right layer
(that would be the fourth one) and let’s jump into it.
Step 1
Start working on the
front shoe by creating its sole’s front section using a 32 x 10 px rectangle (#F4E1DC) which we will adjust by setting the Radius of its right corners to 4 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Give the resulting
shape a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C),
grouping (Control-G) and then
aligning the two to the active drawing area’s right edge, positioning them at a
distance of 32 px from its bottom
one.
Step 2
Add the sole’s back end, using a 64 x 10 px rectangle (#E8C4BA) with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
position onto the left side of the previously created section.
Step 3
Create the horizontal
stripe using a 64 px wide 2 px thick Stroke line (#3D2F2C), which we will center align to the sole’s larger section.
Step 4
Add the little heel
label using a 4 x 4 px square (#3D2F2C),
which we will center align to the larger sole section’s left edge. Once you’re done, select
and group (Control-G) all of the
current section’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire sole
afterwards.
Step 5
Create the shoe’s toe
box, using a 16 x 8 px rectangle (#F4E1DC),
which we will adjust by setting the Radius
of its top-right corner to 6 px from
within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties. Give the
resulting shape a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), grouping (Control-G) and
then positioning the two on top of the sole’s front section.
Step 6
Next, turn on Pixel Preview Mode (Alt-Control-Y) and
use the Pen Tool (P) to draw the
shoe’s main body (#F27E51), using the reference image as your main guide. Take
your time, and once you’re done, switch over to the Default preview mode (Alt-Control-Y)
before moving on to the next step.
Step 7
Give the shape that
you’ve just created a 4 px thick
outline (#3D2F2C) using the Stroke method,
making sure to select and group (Control-G)
the two shapes together afterwards.
Step 8
Add the little tongue
section, using a 12 x 8 px rectangle
(#E26B47), which we will adjust by setting the Radius of its top-left corner to 8 px from within the Transform
panel’s Rectangle Properties. Give
the resulting shape a 4 px thick
outline (#3D2F2C) grouping (Control-G)
and then positioning the two on top of the shoe’s main body.
Step 9
Use a 4 px thick Stroke (#3D2F2C) with a Round
Cap to draw the four little lace sections, positioning them as seen in the
reference image. Once you’re done, select and group all of them together using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 10
Create the first eyelet
using a 6 x 6 px circle (#F4E1DC)
with a 2 px thick outline (#3D2F2C),
to the center of which we will add a smaller 2 x 2 px circle (#3D2F2C). Group all three shapes together (Control-G), and then position them at a
distance of 2 px from the shoe’s sole and 24 px from its body’s left edge.
Step 11
Add the second eyelet
using a copy (Control-C > Control-F)
of the one that we’ve just finished working on, which we will position onto the
original’s right side, at a distance of just 4 px. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) the two together before moving on to the next step.
Step 12
Start working on the
circular patch by creating a 16 x 16 px circle
(#F4E1DC) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then position at a distance of 12 px
from the larger body’s top edge and 8
px from its left one.
Step 13
Finish off the front
shoe, by drawing the patch’s little star using #3D2F2C as your Fill color. Once you’re done, select
and group (Control-G) all of the
circular section’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire
shoe afterwards.
Step 14
Create the back shoe
using a copy (Control-C > Control-B)
of the one that we’ve just finished working on, which we will align to the
active drawing area’s left edge.
Step 15
Adjust the shoe,
by changing the colors of the following sections:
- main body:
#E26B47 - sole and patch:
#D6B4AB - tongue:
#D65F43
Step 16
Add the longer lace
section using a 4 px thick Stroke line (#3D2F2C) with a Round Cap and a 6 px Corner Radius, which we will position onto the front shoe as
seen in the reference image.
Step 17
Finish off the lace, and
with it the icon itself, by adding the aglet using an 8 x 2 px rectangle (#3D2F2C), which we will position on top of the
lace’s left end. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) the two together, doing the same for the entire icon
before moving on to the next one.
8. How to Create the Watch Icon
We are now down
to our fourth and last icon, so assuming you’ve positioned yourself onto the
right layer (that would be the fifth one), zoom on its reference grid and let’s
finish this.
Step 1
Create the leather
strap’s larger section using a 56 x 76
px rounded rectangle with a 4 px
Corner Radius and a 4 px thick
outline (#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the underlying active drawing area.
Step 2
Add the stitch lines
using two groups of ten 2 x 4 px rectangles
(#3D2F2C) vertically stacked 4 px from
one another, which we will group (Control-G)
and then position at a distance of 2 px from
the strap’s sides. Once you have them in place, select and group (Control-G) them along with the strap
before moving on to the next step.
Step 3
Start working on the
strap’s top attachment
portion by creating a 24 x 22 px rectangle
(#B27866) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the larger section, positioning it at a distance of 16 px from the active drawing area’s top
edge.
Step 4
Add the side stitches
to the current section by creating two groups of two 2 x 4 px rectangles (#3D2F2C) vertically stacked 4 px from one another, which we will
group (Control-G) and then align to
its top edge, positioning them 2 px from
its sides.
Step 5
Add the strap’s only visible
hole using a 4 x 4 px circle (#3D2F2C),
which we will center align to its top attachment section, positioning it at a
distance of 4 px from its top edge.
Once you’re done, select and group all of the current section’s composing
shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 6
Add the metal
sections using two 6 x 12 px rectangles
(#9B908F) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will individually group (Control-G) and then position onto the previous section’s sides.
Select and group (Control-G) all of
the top attachment section’s composing shapes together before moving on to the
next step.
Step 7
Create the bottom
attachment using a copy (Control-C >
Control-G) of the one that we’ve just finished working on, which we will
horizontally reflect (right click >
Transform > Reflect > Horizontal) and then position onto the opposite
side of the strap. Isolate the group by double clicking on it, and then remove
its side stitches and hole since we won’t be needing them, making sure to
change the fill color of the larger shape to #7F5247.
Step 8
Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a smaller 24 x 12 px shape (#B27866),
which we will center align to the bottom attachment section.
Step 9
Adjust the shape that
we’ve just created by adding a new anchor point to the center of its bottom
edge using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+),
which we will then select and push to the bottom by 10 px using the Move Tool (right click >
Transform > Move > Horizontal > 10 px).
Step 10
Give the resulting
shape a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C)
with a Round Join, making sure to select
and group the two together afterwards using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 11
Finish off the
current section by adding a 4 x 4 px circle
(#3D2F2C) on top of the shapes that we’ve just grouped, positioning it 10 px from its top edge.
Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G)
all of the strap’s composing shapes together before moving on to the next step.
Step 12
Create the watch’s
main body using a 56 x 56 px circle
(#ADA6A5) with a 4 px thick outline
(#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the larger strap.
Step 13
Add the watch’s inner section
using a 44 x 44 px circle (#F4E1DC)
with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C),
which we will group (Control-G) and
then center align to the shapes from the previous step.
Step 14
Next, create the
little dials using four 6 px long 2 px thick Stroke lines (#3D2F2C), which we will position 2 px from the inner section’s outline.
Take your time, and once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of them so that they won’t get separated by
accident.
Step 15
Create the center
pieces using a 6 x 6 px circle with
a 4 px Stroke (#3D2F2C), followed by
a larger 14 x 14 px one with a
2 px Stroke (#3D2F2C), which we will
center align to the watch’s inner section, grouping (Control-G) the two together afterwards.
Step 16
Next, take a couple
of moments and add the hour hand using a 4
px thick Stroke line (#3D2F2C),
followed by the minute hand using a thinner 2 px Stroke (#3D2F2C). Once you’re done, select and group both the
center pieces and the hands together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 17
Create the top-left
decorative element using a 20 x 20 px circle
with a 2 px thick Stroke (#3D2F2C), which we will
position 12 px from
the inner section’s right and bottom edges.
Step 18
Adjust the ring that
we’ve just created by selecting its right and bottom anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and removing them by pressing Delete.
Step 19
Add the bottom-right
decorative element, using a copy (Control-C
> Control-F) of the one that we’ve just adjusted, which we will reflect
both horizontally and vertically (right
click > Transform > Reflect > Horizontal & Vertical) and then
position onto the opposite side of the original. Once you’re done, select and
group (Control-C) all of the watch
face’s composing sections using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 20
Finish off the watch
by adding the little crown. We’ll create it using a 5 x 8 px rectangle (#9B908F) with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the
right side of the larger body. Then, select and group (Control-G) all of the watch’s composing sections before moving on
to the next step.
Step 21
Grab the Pen Tool (P), and draw the strap’s
left string section using a 4 px thick
Stroke (#3D2F2C) with a Round Cap.
Step 22
Adjust the Stroke by setting the Radius of its top-left corner to 4 px and its bottom-right one to 8 px using the Live Corners input box.
Step 23
Add the strap’s right
string section using another 4 px
thick Stroke line (#3D2F2C) with a Round Cap.
Step 24
As we did with the
previous stroke, adjust the string by setting the Radius of its bottom-left corner to 14 px using the Live Corners
input box.
Step 25
Finish off the strap,
and with it the icon itself, by adding the little bead using an 8 x 8 px circle (#F2AC99) with a 4 px thick outline (#3D2F2C), which we will
group (Control-G) and then position
onto the right string section, at a distance of 8 px from its right end. Once you’re done, select and group all of
the icon’s composing sections using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
There you have it: a somewhat long but pretty in-depth tutorial on how to create your very
own accessories icon pack using nothing more than some basic shapes and tools
found within Illustrator.
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