Graphics can be crucial when communicating information to customers. This is the goal of icon design, attempting to put a face with the name and make it easier and more enjoyable for visitors to navigate your site.
In this video tutorial, I will show you how to create several multi-purpose icons using Adobe Illustrator CS4.
The first icon I will show you how to create is a shield icon that can be used to convey that information is secure, encrypted or protected. To start, I will show you how to create a base for the shield icon by drawing half of it with the Pen tool before duplicating, flipping, and merging the resulting pieces to create the shield.
Next, I will show you how to use a series of strokes and the Expand Appearance feature to create all of the shield elements. I will then show you how to finish the design by adding various fills, highlights and effects. I will also explain how to design a variation of this shield using the same techniques.
With two shield designs complete, I will show you how to use the Star tool and the Pen tool to create a caution sign icon. I will finish the design by adding and expanding a stroke, adding an exclamation point to the design and adding a highlight to the entire icon.
For the final icon, I will show you to use the rectangle tool along with the pathfinder to create an "X" shaped icon. Next, I will add a fill and a stroke along with another icon highlight to complete the design.
With all of the icons finished, all that is left to do is ensure that each icon is a standard size and has any additional desired effects applied to it.
By the end of this tutorial you should be familiar with several techniques that can be used to create a number of multi-purpose icons in Adobe Illustrator CS4.
