In the following steps, you will learn how to create a colorful icon pack in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid and how to create a frame for your line icon pack. Using basic tools and taking full advantage of the grid and snap to grid features, you will learn how to create a printer icon design, a color swatches icon design, and an eyedropper icon design. You'll learn how to work with basic tools and effect, how to easily transform and multiply shapes, and how to add subtle shading.
For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your icon design, you can find plenty of resources at GraphicRiver.
1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width box and 340 in the height box, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.
Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 1 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-" keyboard shortcut.
You can learn more about Illustrator's grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator's Grid System.
You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don't forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
2. How to Create the Frames for the Colorful Icon Pack
Step 1
Before you learn how to make icons, pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and focus on the toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke and then select the fill and set its color to a random red.
Hold down the Shift key and create a 72 px square. Make sure that it stays selected, open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance), and lower the Opacity to around 20%.
Step 2
Make sure that your square stays selected and open the Transform panel (Window > Transform). Focus on the X and Y input fields to numerically place shapes on your artboard. Enter the settings shown in the following image, and in the end your shape should be placed as shown below.
Step 3
Make sure that your square is still selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Drag the Move-Horizontal slider to 206 px, enter 2 in the Copies box, and click OK.
Focus on the Layers panel (Window > Layers), expand the existing layer, and simply lock your shape to make sure that you won't accidentally select/move it. You'll only need these red squares as frames for your icons.
3. How to Create the Printer Icon Design
Step 1
Now, let's learn how to make icons. Focus on the left square and pick the Rectangle Tool (M). Create a 68 x 35 px shape, fill it with R=78 G=185 B=255, and place it exactly as shown in the following image.
Step 2
Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select your blue rectangle, focus on the control panel, and enter 5 px in the Corners box.
Step 3
Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance). Select the stroke, set its color to R=48 G=26 B=118, and increase the Weight to 4 px.
Step 4
Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool, create a 48 x 8 px shape, and enter 2 px in the Corners box. Fill this new shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and place it as shown below.
Step 5
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 52 x 4 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with R=48 G=26 B=118 and place it as shown below.
Focus on the bottom side of this new shape and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select both anchor points and enter 2 px in the Corners box.
Step 6
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 48 x 4 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with R=48 G=26 B=118, lower its Opacity to 50%, and place it as shown in the following image.
Step 7
Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create a 48 x 2 px shape. Fill this new shape with white (R=255 G=255 B=255), lower its Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then place it as shown below.
Step 8
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 40 x 21 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with white and place it as shown below.
Focus on the top side of this new shape and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select both anchor points and enter 2 px in the Corners box.
Step 9
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 40 x 26 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with white and place it as shown below.
Focus on the bottom side of this new shape and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select both anchor points and enter 2 px in the Corners box.
Step 10
Select both white shapes and focus on the Appearance panel. Set the stroke color to R=48 G=26 B=118 and increase the Weight to 4 px.
Step 11
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create two 4 px circles. Fill one of these shapes with white and the other with R=48 G=26 B=118, and then place them as shown in the following image.
Step 12
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create three 12 x 22 px shapes. Fill these new shapes with the colors indicated below and then place them as shown in the following image.
Step 13
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create two 36 x 2 px shapes. Fill both shapes with R=48 G=26 B=118 and lower their Opacity to 50%, and then place them as shown in the following image.
4. How to Create the Color Swatches Icon Design
Step 1
Focus on the next red square.
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 68 x 20 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with white and place it as shown in the first image.
Focus on the left side of your white rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select both anchor points and enter 10 px in the Corners box.
Step 2
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), hold down the Shift key, and create a 4 px circle. Fill this new shape with black (R=0 G=0 B=0) and place it as shown in the first image.
Switch to the Rectangle Tool (M) and create four 8 px squares. Fill these new shapes with black and place them as shown in the second image.
Step 3
Select your white shape along with the five black shapes and pick the Rotate Tool (R). Hold down the Alt key and simply click in the center of that black circle. This will set the rotation reference point in that spot and open the Rotate window. Set the Angle to 30 degrees and click the Copy button.
Step 4
Select the set of shapes added in the previous step and repeat the Rotate technique. Make sure that you set the reference point in the center of that circle, set the Angle to 30 degrees, and click the Copy button. Select the resulting set of shapes and repeat the Rotate technique one more time.
Step 5
Select your front white shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 4 px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and lower its Opacity to 30%.
Select the next white shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select it along with the other shape made in this step and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.
Step 6
Select your second white shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 4 px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and lower its Opacity to 30%.
Select the next white shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select it along with the other shape made in this step and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.
Step 7
Select your third white shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 4 px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and lower its Opacity to 30%.
Select the next white shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select it along with the other shape made in this step and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.
Step 8
Select all those black squares, except the front ones. First, enter 2 px in that Corners box, and then replace the black with the three colors indicated in the following image.
Step 9
Select the black circle and change its color to R=48 G=26 B=118.
Step 10
Select the front-white shape and focus on the Appearance panel. First, change the fill color to R=78 G=185 B=255 and then select the stroke. Set its color to R=48 G=26 B=118, increase the Weight to 4 px, and check the Round Join button from the Stroke fly-out panel.
Step 11
Select the remaining white shapes and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a 4 px stroke, set its color to R=48 G=26 B=118, and don't forget to check that Round Join button.
Step 12
Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create a 12 x 2 px shape. Fill this new shape with white, lower its Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then place it as shown below.
5. How to Create the Eyedropper Icon Design
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 34 x 12 px shape, and fill it with R=78 G=185 B=255. Using the same tool and appearance attributes, create a 34 x 4 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the second image.
Focus on the top side of this second rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the left anchor point and drag it 5 px to the right, and then select the right anchor point and drag it 5 px to the left.
Step 2
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 24 x 27 px shape. Fill it with R=78 G=185 B=255 and place it exactly as shown in the first image.
Focus on the top side of this new rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select both anchor points and enter 12 px in the Corners box.
Step 3
Select the three shapes highlighted in the following image, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), and click the Union button.
Step 4
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 22 x 31 px shape. Fill it with a random yellow and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Using the same tool and appearance attributes, create a 22 x 5 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the second image.
Focus on the bottom side of this second rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the left anchor point and drag it 6 px to the right, and then select the right anchor point and drag it 6 px to the left.
Step 5
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 10 x 7 px shape. Fill it with yellow and place it exactly as shown in the first image.
Select the three yellow shapes, open the Pathfinder panel, and click the Union button.
Step 6
Select your yellow shape and focus on the Appearance panel. First, remove the fill color, and then select the stroke. Set its color to R=48 G=26 B=118, increase the Weight to 4 px, and check the Round Join button from the Stroke fly-out panel.
Step 7
Select the blue shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the stroke, set its color to R=48 G=26 B=118, increase the Weight to 4 px, and don't forget to check the Round Join button from the Stroke fly-out panel.
Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create a 12 x 4 px shape. Fill this new shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and place it as shown below.
Step 8
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 10 x 6 px shape. Fill this new shape with white, lower its Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then place it as shown below.
Switch to the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 18 x 4 px shape. Fill this new shape with R=48 G=26 B=118 and lower its Opacity to 30%, and then place it as shown below.
Step 9
Select all the shapes that make up your eyedropper icon and go to Object > Transform > Rotate. Set the Angle to -45 degrees and click OK.
Step 10
Place your eyedropper on top of that third red square. Select the shape highlighted in the first image and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -4 px Offset and click OK.
Select the resulting shape and focus on the Appearance panel. First, remove the stroke color, and then select the fill and set its color to R=255 G=65 B=129.
6. How to Add a Background to the Final Icon Design
Step 1
Now that your line icon pack is ready, go to the Layers panel, unlock that red square, and delete it.
Step 2
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 860 x 350 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with R=245 G=245 B=245, make sure that it covers your entire artboard, and then send it to back (Shift-Control-[).
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how your colorful icon pack should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don't hesitate to share your final result in the comments section.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at GraphicRiver, with interesting solutions to improve your icon design.
Learn More About Icon Design
If you're looking for more icon design content, check one of the following tutorials:
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