Create a Custom Graphic in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, we’ll cover using the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a custom graphic and learn how to manipulate text. It is recommended to use a mouse when using the Pen Tool.

If you’re new to Illustrator, be sure to check out out Overview of Visual Design with Adobe Creative Cloud first to get an overview of Illustrator that you will need for this tutorial!

Vectors

Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based image editing program. Illustrator is used to create scalable vector art for both print and web projects.

What does vector-based imaging mean? It means that your image can be scaled infinitely without any distortion or pixelation. This allows for flexible artwork that can be used at various different sizes. These can come in handy when needing to scale a poster or artwork object from 8.5” X 11” to a digital screen with proportions of 1920px by 1080px.

Create a Document

1. Launch Adobe Illustrator.

2. Click New File.

3. For this file, set the profile to Web and changed the width and height to 1038px by 600px.

4. Click Create.

Points and Paths

Paths are the line segments that make up the overall structure of the artwork that you create (the skeleton). For instance, a rectangle is made up of a path that has four vertical lines that all connect and there are four points (the joints) in the corners. Every shape and object will have path and anchor points. Notice the red outline of this line created in Illustrator. It shows the points (the red dots) and the paths (the red lines connecting the dots) that make up this object.

Selection Tool and Direct Selection Tool

You’ll be using the Selection Tool a lot in Illustrator. The Direct Selection Tool will be covered in a more advanced Illustrator tutorial, but you should know what it does.

The Selection Tool (shortcut V) is your cursor that will allow you to select objects in your document and move them around. The Direct Selection Tool (shortcut A) allows you to select points within an object and move the points around to manipulate that path.

In this tutorial, the Direct Selection Tool will be your best friend alongside using the Pen Tool. Using these two tools together, you are able to create almost anything in Adobe Illustrator.

Pen Tool

Create Straight Lines

The Pen Tool creates precise curved and straight segments that are connected by anchor points. Mastering the pen tool takes patience and practice, so don’t be frustrated!

Before you can start creating drink glasses and a light bulb, practice creating straight-sided shapes with the pen tool.

1. Select the Pen Tool

2. Turn on Smart Guides to help you align points. Go to Illustrator > Settings > Smart Guides, check all the boxes under Display Options. Click OK.

3. Set the Stroke and Fill. If you want to create a shape that is filled in, set the Fill to a color. If you want to create only a line, choose the desired stroke color a fill of None. For this, you can set it to whatever you like. This is simply for practicing purposes.

4. Click anywhere to create the first anchor point, then click to create a second one.

5. Click to create additional anchor points. They will be connected by straight segments.

6. To complete the object, position the pointer over the starting point, until you see a little circle next to your pointer, then click the point. This will close the path and finish your object.

Create Curved Lines

Let’s also practice creating curved lines. Follow these steps to create smooth curves with the Pen tool. Each smooth anchor point that connects two curve segments has a pair of direction handles that move in tandem. The longer the direction handles the more steep or broad the curve.

1. Select the Pen Tool

4. Drag to create more anchor points and direction handles. To product smooth, symmetrical curves, place the points at the beginning and end of each arc. You can use Smart Guides to align new points to existing ones.

5. If you’re creating a curved line, you don’t want to close the path in this case. To complete the object as an open path, choose another tool to get out of the Pen Tool.

Tip: To keep the curves from looking bumpy and irregular, use the minimum number of anchor points necessary to define them.

Trace an Object

To get acquainted with the Pen Tool, let’s try tracing an image before we start creating our own images. Download the lightbulb.jpg image under step 2.

1. Go to File > Place… and find the file in your computer.

2. Click and drag anywhere to place your image.

3. Decrease the opacity of your image, so that’s it’s transparent and easy to trace over. With the image selected, go to the opacity window and type in 50% under Opacity. (If you don’t see the opacity setting, navigate to Window > Transparency.)

4. Open the Layers panel (if you don’t see it, go to Windows > Select Layers, or press F7) and lock that object, so it can’t be moved around. This will allow you to work on top of the object. Click on the box next to the eye and you’ll see a Lock. Then you’ll notice, you can’t move or select the image.

5. Set your Fill to None and your Stroke to Black.

6. Increase your stoke to 4pt. (If you don’t see the opacity setting, navigate to Window > Stroke.)

6. Select the Pen Tool

7. Create the top part of the bulb first. Click and drag to start creating your first point until you get all the way around.

8. Go back with the Direct Selection Tool to get out any kinks. Use the Delete Anchor Point Tool to remove any points you don’t need. You can find this by clicking on the three dots underneath your tools and choosing the Delete Anchor Point Tool.

Create a Custom Graphic with the Pen Tool

Now that we understand how to create straight and curved segments with the Pen Tool, we can start creating our shapes. Let’s start by creating a drink.

1. First, use the Rectangle Tool to create an orange background to work on.

2. Create the glass first, before creating what’s inside it and the straw. Select the Pen Tool.

3. Click and drag to create your first point. You want to drag up to create a small line to start creating the small corner and go from there. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect the first time, you can readjust after, but try and get as close to the basic shape as you can.

With the object selected and using the Direct Selection Tool, you can click and drag on anchor points and handles to adjust them.

4. Repeat this process for each subsequent shape that makes up this drink. Again, practice makes perfect, so don’t get frustrated!

Tips

• Don’t worry about getting it exactly right the first time. If you can get the general shape, you can always go back with the Direct Selection Tool and adjust the points and paths to perfect it.
• It might be easier to make a larger version of the artwork and then scale it down, or it’s helpful to be really zoomed in when using the Pen Tool, so you can see each path and point better.
• Trace objects if it’s easier – just like we did in the lightbulb exercise!

Manipulate Text

You can practice creating the other drink and the rest of the lightbulb. In Illustrator, there are many ways to manipulate text and create an interesting look. For this image, we used a cursive font and a chunky font. Use whatever fonts you have in your computer for this part of the tutorial.

1. Select the Text Tool

Note: When you create outlines, you can no longer change what the text says.

5. Now with the Selection Tool, I’ll drag from the cover and increase it to scale with my drinks and lightbulbs. I can also rotate the image.

6. Now do the same with “and” and “drink”. The image is starting to come together:

Yay, you just learned how to create a custom graphic! Again, practices makes perfect. Start tracing objects using the pen tool and you’ll get the hang of it.

Learn more about what you can do with custom graphics in our tutorial Making a Background Pattern in Illustrator.