Hello everyone, this is Chris from Spoon Graphics back with another video tutorial for Adobe
Illustrator.
Today we're going to create a vector polygon style logo graphic that's made up of numerous
shapes, each with a gradient fill which gives it a faceted diamond kind of appearance.
I'm using the image of a wolf's head in this tutorial, but the same process can be used
to create all kinds of abstract graphics.
So let's get started and I'll show you how it's done!
Begin by opening up Adobe Illustrator and create a new file.
I'm just using a standard A4 sized document since you can resize vector artwork to whatever
you need anyway.
Find a reference photo online to give yourself an aid for tracing a realistic outline, then
go to File > Place.
Scale the image to fit within the document, then grab the Pen tool.
Clear out the default white fill to leave just a black stroke.
Begin tracing around your subject extremely loosely, using just single clicks to make
straight lines.
Follow the outline right back to the first point and join it to form an enclosed path.
Then delete the reference image.
Despite being traced from a real photo, adjusting the path to produce a more stylised outline
can actually make a more recognisable graphic.
Use the Direct Selection tool to select points of the path and move them around to tweak
the overall shape.
Next, go to the View menu and turn on Smart Guides.
These green tooltips will help you find and snap to the anchor points on the path.
Select the Line tool, then begin drawing lines between corner points on opposite sides of
the graphic outline.
You don't have to draw lines between all points.
Keep an eye on the overall appearance and add new lines to split up any large segments.
As more lines are added, watch out for the segments being split into too smaller sections.
Sometimes it's worth leaving certain lines out to keep the segments at similar sizes,
without the graphic getting too detailed.
Draw a selection around all the lines and paths, then open up the Pathfinder panel.
Click the Divide button in the lower left to split the paths into individual shapes
wherever the lines intersect.
Right click the object and select Ungroup to break it apart, then switch the fill and
stroke around to fill all the shapes with black.
Select the rectangle tool and draw a temporary square somewhere on the artboard.
Hold the Shift and Alt keys while dragging the shape vertically downwards to duplicate
it.
Press the shortcut CMD+D to repeat the transformation to create a third shape.
Select the first shape, then give it a gradient fill.
In the Swatches panel, find the preset swatch group with a range of black tints, then drag
the darkest one onto the first gradient handle.
Skip a tint swatch, but drag the next lightest into the other gradient handle.
Repeat the process with the next shape, but this time use the next grey tint, followed
by one two steps lighter.
Repeat it again for the third shape, creating an even lighter gradient of light greys.
Hold the Shift key and begin selecting 4 or 5 shapes from within the main graphic.
Switch over to the Eyedropper tool then click the first of those gradient boxes to loads
its fill onto these shapes.
Go to Object > Lock > All to avoid accidentally selecting these shapes again.
Hold the CMD key to toggle the selection tool back on, then while also holding Shift, select
another batch of shapes.
Release the CMD key to toggle back to the eyedropper in order to sample the mid-grey
gradient.
Another shortcut to try out is CMD+2, which saves you from navigating to the Lock option
in the menu.
Select another random bunch of shapes and apply the light grey gradient.
Lock the items then continue the process as you cycle through these three gradients until
all the shapes have been covered.
When you're done, go to Object > Unlock All to make everything selectable again.
Go through and alter the fill of any shapes that might have grouped together to spread
out the contrast across the graphic.
Select the top most shape from the graphic and use the Gradient tool to alter the gradient
flow by dragging over the shape.
Hold the CMD key to toggle the select key in order to select the next shape down, then
randomly alter the flow of the gradient in a different direction.
Repeat the process throughout the whole graphic, selecting and reorienting the gradient in
a random direction each time.
This step will give the overall design a much more interesting faceted appearance than having
all the gradients flowing in the same direction.
The final result makes a great looking abstract graphic that works particularly well when
used as part of a logo design.
You can also try out this effect with a wide range of different colours to create nice
vibrant designs, or maybe even replicate a diamond appearance even further by using bright
whites and light blues.
So I hope you enjoyed this latest video tutorial for Adobe Illustrator.
If you want to see more you can always check out my Illustrator Tutorials playlist or see
more video tutorials for Photoshop too on my channel.
Stop by over at my website at Spoon.Graphics for more written design tutorials and free
resources, otherwise thank you very much for watching and I'll see you in the next one!