How to Create a Superhero Emoji in Adobe Illustrator

Today we’re going to put our superhero capes on and hop into our secret cave, where we’re going to observe and analyze each and every detail in order to bring five of the most iconic crime fighters to life in a vector format. We’re going to do all of this by relying on some basic geometric shapes combined with the power of some simple-to-use tools in Adobe Illustrator.

1. How to Set Up a New Project File

Assuming you already have Illustrator up and running in the background, bring it up and let’s set up a New Document (File > New or Control-N) using the following settings:

• Number of Artboards: 1
• Width: 1000 px
• Height: 600 px
• Units: Pixels

And from the Advanced tab:

• Color Mode: RGB
• Raster Effects: Screen (72ppi)
• Preview Mode: Default

 

2.How to Set Up a Custom Grid

Since we’re going to be creating the icons using a pixel-perfect workflow, we’ll want to set up a nice little Grid so that we can have full control over our shapes.

Step 1

Go to the Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid submenu, and adjust the following settings:

• Gridline every: 1 px
• Subdivisions: 1

Quick tip: you can learn more about grids by reading this in-depth piece on How Illustrator’s Grid System Works.

Step 2

Once we’ve set up our custom grid, all we need to do in order to make sure our shapes look crisp is enable the Snap to Grid and Snap to Pixel option found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter the Pixel Preview mode (if you’re using an older version of the software).

3. How to Set Up the Layers

Once we’ve set up our document, it would be a good idea to structure our project using a few layers, since this way we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one icon at a time.

That being said, bring up the Layers panel, and create a total of six layers, which we will rename as follows:

• layer 1: reference grids
• layer 2: batman
• layer 3: baby groot

How to Create the Reference Grids

Thereference grids (or base grids) are a set of precisely delimited reference surfaces, which allow us to build our icons by focusing on size and consistency.

Usually, the size of the grids determines the size of the actual icons, and they should always be the first decision you make once you start a new project, since you’ll always want to start from the smallest possible size and build on that.

Now, in our case, we’re going to be creating the icon pack using just one size, more exactly 128 x 128 px, which is a fairly large one.

Step 1

Start by locking all but the “reference grids” layer, and then grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 128 x 128 px orange (#F15A24) square, which will help define the overall size of our icons.

Step 2

Add a smaller 120 x 120 px one (#FFFFFF) which we will position on top of the previous shape, since it will act as our active drawing area, thus giving us an all-around 4 px padding to work with.

5. How to Create the Batman Emoji

Assuming you’ve successfully managed to create the little reference grids, move on to the next layer (that would be the second one), and let’s kick off the project by creating the dark knight.

Step 1

Start by creating the character’s head using a 120 x 120 px circle, which we will color using #FFDA66, and then center align to the first active drawing area.

Step 2

Create a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the circle, which we will adjust by first changing its color to #2B3249, and then cutting out a smaller 104 x 104 px one (highlighted with red) from its center using Pathfinder’s Minus Front Shape Mode.

 

Step 3

Start working on the mask’s upper section by creating a 120 x 64 px rectangle (#2B3249), which we will center align to the active drawing area’s top edge as seen in the reference imag

 

Step 4

Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by first turning on Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and then adding two new anchor points at a distance of 14 px from the center of the rectangle’s bottom edge using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+).

Step 5

Select the two anchor points that we’ve just created using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and then push them to the bottom by a distance of 12 px using the Move Tool (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > 12 px).

Step 6

Add a second pair of anchor points at a distance of just 2 px from the resulting shape’s bottom edge, selecting and pushing them to the bottom by a distance of 8 px (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > 8 px). Once you’re done, turn off Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and then move on to the next step.

Step 7

Create the subtle shadow cast by the mask, using two copies (Control-C > Control-F twice) of the shape that we’ve just finished adjusting, making sure to push the one from underneath to the bottom by a distance of 8 px (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > 8 px). Use Pathfinder’s Minus Front Shape Mode to cut out the upper copy from the bottom one, as seen in the reference image.

Step 8

Color the resulting shape using #E89A54, and then make sure you position it behind the mask’s circular cutout by right clicking > Arrange > Send to Back. Once you’re done, select and group all three shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 9

Mask the shapes that we’ve just grouped using a copy (Control-C) of the underlying yellow circle, which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then use as a Clipping Mask (right click > Make Clipping Mask).

Step 10

Start working on Batman’s left pointed ear, by creating a 40 x 120 px ellipse (#2B3249), which we will adjust by selecting its bottom anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then removing it by pressing Delete. Then, remove the shape’s right half, positioning the resulting ear onto the active drawing area’s top-left corner, as seen in the reference image.

Paso 11

Cree la oreja derecha utilizando una copia ( Control-C> Control-F ) de la que acabamos de terminar de trabajar, que reflejaremos horizontalmente ( clic derecho> Transformar> Reflejar> Horizontal ) y luego colocaremos en el lado opuesto de El área de dibujo activa.

Step 12

Take a couple of moments and draw the eyes with the help of the Pen Tool (P), using white (#FFFFFF) as your main Fill color. Position the resulting shapes as seen in the reference image, selecting and grouping (Control-G) them together before moving on to the next step.

Step 13

Create the mouth using a 12 x 8 px rounded rectangle (#2B3249) with a 4 px Corner Radius, which we will position at a distance of 40 px from the active drawing area’s right edge and 26 px from its bottom one

Step 14

Finish off the emoji by adding the rough beard using a couple of 2 x 2 px circles (#2B3249) spaced both horizontally and vertically 2 px from one another. Take your time, and once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) each side of the beard, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

Result Final

Great job! As always, I hope you’ve managed to keep up with each and every step, and maybe learned a trick or two along the way.

Download Proyect

 

---

Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://goatboy.ml/?p=2265

---