How to Create a Super Mario Logo Text Effect

In this tutorial you'll learn how to create a stylized Super Mario logo. We'll combine the bold and blocky letters from the well-known Mario logo with some instantly recognizable elements from the renowned video game: the mushroom design, the green pipe design and of course the gold coin. Finally, you'll learn how to create a simple pattern and how to rotate it once it's applied.

If you're looking for some Mario-inspired designs, then Envato Elements is the solution. This subscription-based marketplace has over 2,000 Illustrator add-ons you can download without restrictions! Check it out, and you'll find some nice Mario-inspired designs.

What You'll Learn in This Tutorial

2. How to Create the Mario Vector Mushroom

Step 1

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) from your Toolbar and focus on the color settings. Select the stroke and remove the color, and then double-click the fill to replace the existing color with R=229 G=16 B=21.

Move to your artboard and simply create a 130 x 135 px shape—the grid and Snap to Grid should make it easier.

Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and focus on the bottom of your ellipse. Click the anchor point to select it, and move it 25 px up. Remember that you can check the Info panel to see exactly when you get to 25 px, and you can hold down the Shift key as you click and drag the anchor point to constrain its movement.

Step 2

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 70 px circle and two 60 x 75 px ellipses. Fill these shapes with white and place them as shown in the following image.

Select your red shape and press Control-C to copy it and Control-F to add a copy on top of it, in the same place. Reselect your white circle and the two ellipses and turn them into a compound path (Control-8 or Object > Compound Path > Make).

Select this compound path along with the copy of your red shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). You can press Control-8 again to quickly turn the resulting group of shapes into a new compound path.

Step 3

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use it to create an 80 x 50 px shape. Fill this rectangle with R=252 G=215 B=168 and place it as shown in the first image.

Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and use it to select the bottom anchor points of this rectangle, and then focus on the Control panel (Window > Control) to set the Corners radius to 28 px.

Step 4

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 90 x 55 px shape, and place it exactly as shown in the following image. Select the shape made in the previous step and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).

Select the copy along with the ellipse added in this step, and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape is filled with R=252 G=215 B=168.

Step 5

Keep the mushroom stem shape selected, and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance). Use the Add New Fill button to add a second fill. Select it and change its Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient) and click that gradient thumbnail to apply a gradient to your selected fill. Set the Angle to 90 degrees and then focus on the gradient bar. First, double-click the right gradient slider and replace the existing color with R=35 G=31 B=32. Move to the other one and, again, double-click it. Make sure that the color is set to black (R=0 G=0 B=0), and don't forget to lower its Opacity to 0%.

As we continue, remember that the yellow number from each Gradient image indicates the Opacity value for the gradient slider below it.

Step 6

Focus on the mushroom stem shape and use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the two anchor points highlighted in the first image.

Move to the Control panel to set the Corners radius to 5 px.

Step 7

Disable Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-") and go to Edit > Preferences > General to make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set to 1 px.

Select that mushroom stem shape and add two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 2 px down by pressing the down arrow key twice. Select both copies and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Keep the resulting shape selected and focus on the Appearance panel. First of all, select the bottom fill (the one with the flat color) and remove it, and then select the remaining one. Go to the Gradient panel to set the Angle to 0 degrees, and flip the gradient using that Reverse Gradient button.

Step 8

Reselect that mushroom stem shape and add two new copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 5 px down by pressing the down arrow key five times. Select both copies and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Keep the resulting shape selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Again, remove the bottom fill and select the remaining one, and then set the gradient Angle to 0 degrees, and don't forget to flip the gradient.

Step 9

Reselect that mushroom stem shape and add two new copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px up and 3 px to the right. Select both copies, and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Keep the resulting shape selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Remove the bottom fill and select the remaining one. Lower its Opacity to 75% and then focus on the Gradient panel. Set the Angle to 0 degrees and flip the gradient, and then move the right gradient slider to the middle of the gradient bar (Location: 50%).

Step 10

Reselect your mushroom stem shape and add two more copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 2 px up and 7 px to the right. Select both copies and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Keep the resulting shape selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Remove the bottom fill and select the remaining one. Lower its Opacity to 50% and then adjust the linear gradient as you did in the previous step.

Step 11

Select the two shapes highlighted in the previous step and go to Object > Transform > Reflect. Check the Vertical box and then click that Copy button to easily add some horizontally flipped copies, as shown in the second image.

Step 12

Make sure that the flipped copies added in the previous step are still selected, and grab the Selection Tool (V). Hold down the Shift key, and click the mushroom stem shape to add it to your selection. Click it once more to make it the reference shape (the outline should get thicker), and then focus on the Control panel.

Simply click that Horizontal Align Right button to align the copies with the right edge of your mushroom stem shape.

Step 13

Let's continue with the mushroom cap shape. Select it and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -1 px and the Joins to Round, and then click OK. Move the resulting shape 1 px up using the up arrow key.

Now select both shapes added in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 14

Make sure that the shape made in the previous step is still selected. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below, and don't forget to change its Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Step 15

Reselect your mushroom head shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -3 px and the Joins to Round, and then click OK. Move the resulting shape 3 px up using the up arrow key.

Now select both shapes added in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 16

Make sure that the shape made in the previous step is still selected. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below, and don't forget to change its Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Step 17

Reselect your mushroom head shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill, change its Blending Mode to Soft Light, and apply the linear gradient shown below.

Step 18

Reselect your mushroom head shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select it and focus on the Appearance panel. Remove the bottom fill and select the remaining one. Lower its Opacity to 25% and then replace the existing gradient with the one shown below.

Take a quick look inside the Layers panel (Window > Layers) to drag this shape on top of your white compound path.

Step 19

Let's turn back on the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-"). From now on you'll need a grid every 1 px, so go again to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and enter 1 in the Gridline every box.

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create an 8 x 20 px shape and a 4 x 8 px shape. Fill the smaller one with white and the other one with R=21 G=42 B=27. Duplicate these two shapes (Control-C > Control-V) and then place your rectangle as shown in the following image.

Once you're done, select all four rectangles and go to Effect > Stylize > Round Corners. Set the Radius to 7 px and click OK.

Step 20

Select all the shapes that make up your mushroom and Group them (Control-G).

3. How to Create the Mario Vector Pipe

Step 1

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 50 x 101px shape and fill it with R=1 G=214 B=2.

On top of your green rectangle, add a 5 x 101 shape. Place it as shown in the second image and make it black (R=0 G=0 B=0), lower its Opacity to 70%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Step 2

Using the same tool, add a 20 x 101 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the first image and make it black, lower its Opacity to 50%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Continue with a 10 x 101 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the second image and keep it black, lower its Opacity to 60%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Step 3

Add a 5 x 101 px rectangle and place it as shown in the first image. Keep it black, lower its Opacity to 70%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Continue with a 15 x 101 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the second image and make it white, lower its Opacity to 50%, and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 4

Add a 9 x 101 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the first image and keep it white, lower the Opacity to 100%, and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.

Continue with a 3 x 101 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the second image and set its color to R=187 G=255 B=205.

Step 5

Select all your pipe shapes and add copies in front (Control-C > Control-F). Using the Selection Tool (V), squeeze your copies to be 27 px high.

Step 6

Again, using the Selection Tool (V) along with the bounding box, stretch your top set of rectangles to be 58 px wide.

Step 7

Let's move that set of stretched rectangles right on top of the original one, as shown in the following images.

Step 8

Focus on the top set of rectangles and pick the Rectangle Tool (M).

Create a 58 x 1 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Fill it with R=187 G=255 B=205 and lower its Opacity to 50%.

Add another 58 x 1 px shape and place it as shown in the second image. Fill this one with R=21 G=42 B=27 and lower its Opacity to 20%.

Step 9

Select the main green rectangle and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Move to the Control panel and set the Corners radius to 3 px.

Step 10

Select the rounded rectangle along with all the rectangles that lie on top of it, and grab the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M).

Hold down the Alt key and simply click and drag across the sections that go beyond the edges of your rounded rectangle to remove them. In the end, things should look like in the second image.

Step 11

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 50 x 5 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the first image and set its color to R=21 G=42 B=27, lower its Opacity to 30%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Continue with a 50 x 2 px rectangle. Place it as shown in the second image and increase its Opacity to 100%.

Step 12

Select all the shapes that make up your pipe and Group them (Control-G).

4. How to Create the Super Mario Coin

Step 1

Feel free to disable the Grid (View > Show Grid or Control-") and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-")

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and just click on your artboard to open the Ellipse window. Set the Width and the Height to 128 px, and then click OK to create your 128 px circle. Fill your new shape with R=254 G=202 B=28.

Step 2

Add a 2 px Stroke to your yellow circle and select it. Align it to Inside and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light, and then apply the linear gradient shown below. Remember to lower the Opacity of the left gradient slider to 50%.

Step 3

Reselect the Ellipse Tool (L) and use it to create a 104 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=228 G=144 B=6.

Step 4

Keep your newest circle selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill and select it. Set its color to R=234 G=162 B=8, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Check that middle-bottom reference point and drag both Scale sliders to 96%, and then click OK.

Step 5

Keep your smaller circle selected, and let's add a stroke. Make it 2 px wide and align it to Outside, and then change its Blending Mode to Soft Light and apply the linear gradient shown below.

Step 6

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 24 x 52 px shape, and fill it with R=228 G=144 B=6.

Step 7

Keep the rectangle you made in the previous step selected, and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Set the Radius to 3 px, click OK, and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the settings shown in the left window and click OK, and then go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow again. Enter the settings shown in the right window and click OK.

Step 8

Select your two circles along with the rectangle and click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons from the control panel to easily center your selected shapes. Also, Group (Control-G) these shapes.

5. How to Create the Super Mario Bros Logo

Step 1

Select the Type Tool (T) and focus on the Character panel (Window > Type > Character) to set the settings for the text that you're about to add. Select the Super Mario 256 font and set the Size to 135 pt.

Now simply click on your artboard and type "M".

Step 2

Keep your text selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Use the Add New Fill button to add a fill for your text, select it, and set the color to R=17 G=160 B=220.

Step 3

Keep your text selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill and move it below the existing one.

Select it and make it black, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to 1 px and click OK, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Drag the Move-Vertical slider to 0.5 px and set the number of Copies to 30, and then click OK.

Step 4

Duplicate your "M". Select this copy, and replace the "M" with an "R" and the blue with yellow (R=255 G=202 B=8).

Once you're done, align these two letters with your mushroom, pipe, and coin groups, roughly as shown in the following image.

Step 5

Let's add a stroke for this Mario gold coin to make it fit better with the text.

Select the coin group and go to the Appearance panel. Use the Add New Stroke button to add a stroke for your group, make it black, and set the Weight to 10 px.

Step 6

We want this stroke to only enclose the entire coin, so make sure that your stroke is selected (in the Appearance panel) and go to Effect > Pathfinder > Add.

Step 7

We can't align the stroke to the outside, but we can use an Offset Path effect to achieve the same result. So make sure that the stroke is selected and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to 5 px and click OK.

Step 8

Using the same techniques that we used for the Mario gold coin, apply the black outline to the mushroom and the pipe groups.

Once you're done, select your entire design (Control-A) and Group it (Control-G).

6. How to Create the Mario Logo Background

Step 1

Turn back on the Grid (View > Show Grid or Control-") and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-").

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 15 x 30 px shape and fill it with R=238 G=28 B=37. Add a copy of this rectangle, place it as shown in the second image and fill it with R=221 G=26 B=34.

Once you're done, select both rectangles and simply drag them into the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save them as a pattern. Feel free to remove these rectangles.

Step 2

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a shape that covers your entire artboard and fill it with your saved pattern from the Swatches panel.

Step 3

Make sure that your background shape is selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Uncheck the Transform Objects box and keep the Transform Patterns box checked, and then use the Angle setting to rotate the pattern as you wish.

Step 4

Finally, reselect your Super Mario logo and apply the Drop Shadow effect shown below (Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow).

Congratulations! You're Done!

Here is how your Super Mario Bros logo should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.

Feel free to adjust this Super Mario logo and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to create more Mario vector art.

Popular Mario Vector Art From Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an excellent resource for Mario vector art. Here's a short list of some of the most popular assets that you can find.

Games | Line & Solid Icons (AI, EPS, FIG, PNG, PDF, PSD, SVG, AFDESIGN)

Here's a set of Mario-inspired icons. This set of sleek icons comes in two styles: line and solid.

Retro Game Design CNY Card (EPS, JPG)

Here's a cute illustration inspired by the Mario universe. The design is 100% vector, so you don't have to worry if you need to make it larger.

Man Play Video Games 3D Character (PNG)

Go one step further with this amazing 3D illustration, which can be used to emphasize your video game designs.

Gamer Playing Sea Battle Arcade Video Game (EPS)

If you're in a hurry or you simply can't be bothered to learn how to create an intricate design from scratch, this retro arcade game illustration might be the solution to highlight your video game designs.

Want to Learn More?

We have loads of tutorials on Envato Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!

• 

  How to Make a Vintage Circus Sign in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  10 Apr 2024
• 

  How to Make Pop Art Text Effects in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  24 Mar 2024
• 

  How to Create the Dune Movie Logo

  

  Andrei Marius

  26 Feb 2024
• 

  How to Create a Comic Book Text Effect in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  27 Jan 2024
• 

  How to Create a Gold Effect in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  27 Dec 2023
• 

  How to Create a Retro Chrome Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  14 Dec 2023
• 

  How to Create a Fox Head Logo

  

  Andrei Marius

  27 Jun 2023
• 

  How to Make 3D Objects in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  08 Jun 2023
• 

  How to Create a Retro Long Shadow Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  23 Jun 2023
• 

  How to Create a Fall Text Effect in Illustrator

  

  Andrei Marius

  27 Mar 2023