Illustrator Intro – Logo Design

Assignment One: This logo uses a bunch of circles for the module with deleted segments in order to create the characters. Illustrator tools and menu are similar to PhotoShop, but still require your instincts as far as how to find things. Create this logo as accurately as you can reproducing it exactly.

Assignment Two: Then take your three initials – work out how you would use parts of circles and lines to create your initials and create a logo. Use what you learned by completing Part one to complete part two.  Upload both .jpgs to your web site for your introduction to Illustrator – Logo Design.

Assignment/Step 1

In Adobe Illustrator, create a new document 16″ x 9″ (1150 wide x 650 high in points) using the Ellipse Tool (U) create a circle.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial1

Step 2

Select the Circle and hit the Enter Key (return) the Move dialog box will open. Now we can move the circle horizontally or vertically and create copies as well.

Select Object>Transform>Move if the screen does not pop up itself. First we will create the horizontal one, so just add the width of the circle in the horizontal field and click on the copy button. Repeat this process until you have 6 circles side by side.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 3

Lets create a circle below the first and the third circle. Those will be the Z and the G letters.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 4

Using the Direct Selection Tool(A), select some segments of the circles and delete them like the image below.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 5

Select all objects and change the Stroke Weight to 20pt (or make it look like the example), After that add 2 more elements above the Z and the R like the image below, and delete a segment of the last A. Tip: Use the Object>Transform>Move andObject>Transform>Reflect commands for more precision.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 6

Change the stroke colors. I used green for the Z, brown for the As, red for the G and R, and blue for the O.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 7

Select the A or the second circle and open the Move dialog box. Move it closer to the first letter, Z. Repeat that for the other letters. After that change the order of the letters so the R goes in front of the last A, but through the O. Tip: To do that you will have to create new elements in order to mask them. Use the Move command for precision.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 8

Once you have a nice spacing and all the letters are well positioned, select all objects again and go to Object>Path>Outline Stroke. This will convert the Strokes to Fill.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 9

Select the G and the R and apply a linear gradient. Use Orange to Red for the colors. Once all parts are selected you need to “Group” them by going to Object>Group. Then go to Objects>Compound Path>Make.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Step 10

Duplicate the element above the Z and change its color to black. Go to Effects>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use like 30.5pt. (Make it look like the example) After that place it beneath the Z and the R like the image below.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial

Conclusion

After we had an idea of what we were looking for, the design process became pretty straight forward. That means that once you know what you have to do the tool is just part of the process and you will find many ways to achieve the same result.

Zagora logo, typography tutorial
http://abduzeedo.com/creating-crazy-cool-logo

Leave a Reply