How To Create a Vector Polygon Logo Graphic in Adobe Illustrator

Hello everyone, this is Chris from Spoon Graphics
back with another video tutorial for Adobe Illustrator. Today we’re going to create a
vector polygon style logo graphic that’s made up of numerous shapes, each with a gradient
fill which gives it a faceted diamond kind of appearance. I’m using the image of a wolf’s head in this
tutorial, but the same process can be used to create all kinds of abstract graphics.
So let’s get started and I’ll show you how it’s done! Begin by opening up Adobe Illustrator and
create a new file. I’m just using a standard A4 sized document since you can resize vector
artwork to whatever you need anyway. Find a reference photo online to give yourself
an aid for tracing a realistic outline, then go to File>Place. Scale the image to fit within the document,
then grab the Pen tool. Clear out the default white fill to leave just a black stroke. Begin tracing around your subject extremely
loosely, using just single clicks to make straight lines. Follow the outline right back to the first
point and join it to form an enclosed path. Then delete the reference image. Despite being traced from a real photo, adjusting
the path to produce a more stylised outline can actually make a more recognisable graphic.
Use the Direct Selection tool to select points of the path and move them around to tweak
the overall shape. Next, go to the View menu and turn on Smart
Guides. These green tooltips will help you find and snap to the anchor points on the
path. Select the Line tool, then begin drawing lines
between corner points on opposite sides of the graphic outline. You don’t have to draw lines between all points.
Keep an eye on the overall appearance and add new lines to split up any large segments. As more lines are added, watch out for the
segments being split into too smaller sections. Sometimes it’s worth leaving certain lines
out to keep the segments at similar sizes, without the graphic getting too detailed. Draw a selection around all the lines and
paths, then open up the Pathfinder panel. Click the Divide button in the lower left
to split the paths into individual shapes wherever the lines intersect. Right click the object and select Ungroup
to break it apart, then switch the fill and stroke around to fill all the shapes with
black. Select the rectangle tool and draw a temporary
square somewhere on the artboard. Hold the Shift and Alt keys while dragging the shape
vertically downwards to duplicate it. Press the shortcut CMD+D to repeat the transformation
to create a third shape. Select the first shape, then give it a gradient
fill. In the Swatches panel, find the preset swatch group with a range of black tints,
then drag the darkest one onto the first gradient handle. Skip a tint swatch, but drag the next lightest
into the other gradient handle. Repeat the process with the next shape, but
this time use the next grey tint, followed by one two steps lighter. Repeat it again for the third shape, creating
an even lighter gradient of light greys. Hold the Shift key and begin selecting 4 or
5 shapes from within the main graphic. Switch over to the Eyedropper tool then click the
first of those gradient boxes to loads its fill onto these shapes. Go to Object>Lock>All to avoid accidentally
selecting these shapes again. Hold the CMD key to toggle the selection tool
back on, then while also holding Shift, select another batch of shapes. Release the CMD key
to toggle back to the eyedropper in order to sample the mid-grey gradient. Another shortcut to try out is CMD+2, which
saves you from navigating to the Lock option in the menu. Select another random bunch of shapes and
apply the light grey gradient. Lock the items then continue the process as you cycle through
these three gradients until all the shapes have been covered. When you’re done, go to Object>Unlock All
to make everything selectable again. Go through and alter the fill of any shapes
that might have grouped together to spread out the contrast across the graphic. Select the top most shape from the graphic
and use the Gradient tool to alter the gradient flow by dragging over the shape. Hold the CMD key to toggle the select key
in order to select the next shape down, then randomly alter the flow of the gradient in
a different direction. Repeat the process throughout the whole graphic,
selecting and reorienting the gradient in a random direction each time. This step will give the overall design a much
more interesting faceted appearance than having all the gradients flowing in the same direction. The final result makes a great looking abstract
graphic that works particularly well when used as part of a logo design. You can also
try out this effect with a wide range of different colours to create nice vibrant designs, or
maybe even replicate a diamond appearance even further by using bright whites and light
blues. So I hope you enjoyed this latest video tutorial
for Adobe Illustrator. If you want to see more you can always check out my Illustrator
Tutorials playlist or see more video tutorials for Photoshop too on my channel. Stop by over
at my website at Spoon.Graphics for more written design tutorials and free resources, otherwise
thank you very much for watching and I’ll see you in the next one!