Graphic Design: Create Some Tasty Icons
In this tutorial we’ll create a delicious hot dog and a cool beer with the help of basic shapes and useful functions of Adobe Illustrator. You don’t need any special drawing skills or graphic tablet to create these icons.
Build line Beer Icon
Step 1
In a New Document, take the Rectangle tool (M) and make a 192×223 px shape for a jar.
Set the stroke weight to 4 pt with Rounded Caps and Corner in the Strokes panel and the Fill, empty.
Step 2
Select the rectangle and with the Pen tool (P) create an intersection in the middle of the top and bottom path of the shape.
Step 3
Select with the Direct Selection Tool (A) the new top Anchor that we just created with the Pen tool (P), hold Shift Key and press 3 times the Down Arrow key; do the same with the new bottom Anchor but press 6 times the Down Arrow Key instead of 3. Select both the new Anchors, and with the Live Corners pull towards the top.
Step 4
Using the Rectangle Tool (M) make a 36×206 px shape and pull the two bottom Live Corners toward to center to round the bottom edge. Select your new shape, hold the Alt key and Drag to the right with your mouse. Duplicate it, and with the Transform Again (Control-D) duplicate the last one. Adjust the second of these three new shapes to the Jar and erase the top path of these and adjust the top anchors too.
Step 5
To build the jar’s handle we only need two rectangles. Take the Rounded Rectangle Tool and make a 66×175 px shape with a 12 px Corner Radius. Select with the Selection Tool (V) the Rounded Rectangle and with Transform Each adjust the settings as you see fit and copy.
With the Selection Tool (V) select the big Rounded Rectangle and double click on it. Now we are in Isolation Mode, take the Scissors Tool (C) and click on the jar’s intersections and delete the excess. Exit Isolation Mode and do the same with the small Rounded Rectangle.
Step 6
For the beer head, we’re going to use the Ellipse Tool (L), make a circle that’s 138×138 px and another one that’s 91x91px, with the Scissors Tool (C) delete the intersection as we did with the jar’s handle.
To create the face we need three circles, 1 for each eye and one for the mouth. For the eyes, select the Ellipse Tool (L) and make a circle 7×7 px with fill and no stroke, duplicate it dragging the mouse while holding the Alt key. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and make a circle that’s 12.5×12.5 px set the stroke weight to 3 pt and the Fill, empty. With the Rotate Tool, rotate the circle -9° and delete the top half of the circle.
Colorful Beer
Step 1
Create a New Layer under the layer we were working before. Copy (Control + C) the jar’s body shape and Paste in Place (Control-Shift + V) in this new layer.
Fill this Rectangle with the Color #F8FF4D without a stroke, pull the top Anchors down 60px
Step 2
Do the same with the three shapes inside the Jar’s body, and fill with the Color #F8D44D, without a stroke, Delete the upper left part of the three shapes, select the top anchor point and adjust it to the under top’s shape.
With the Pen tool (V) add the light to the jar. Create a white Path next to left side of the shape, set the stroke weight to 14 pt with Rounded Caps in the Strokes panel, and with the Ellipse Tool (L) create a circle that’s 12×12 px without stroke, under the white path. With the Selection Tool (A) select the Path and the Circle, hold Alt-Shift and drag the elements to the right, making a copy, and repeat one more time.
With the Ellipse Tool (L) create two circles 115×115 px fill with the color #F8ffc7, adjust according to the beer head, with the Selection Tool (V) select both circles and Send to Back (Shift + Control+ [)
Step 3
To color the Jar’s handle, duplicate as we did for the jar’s body, Fill both Paths with the Color #F8FFC7, select those shapes and with the Pathfinder and in the Shape Mode, click on the Minus Front.
Step 4
Select all the colors of the layer and move 6 px to the right.
Step 5
Select all the strokes from the first layer and color it with the color #542d16. Fill the two eyes with the same color.
Build line and color Hot Dog icon.
Step 1
Create a New Layer over the layers we were working on before. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and make a 313×68 px shape with a 33px Corner Radius for the hotdog’s bread.
Set the stroke weight to 4 pt with Rounded Caps and Corner in the Strokes panel and the Fill, empty.
Step 2
With the Selection Tool (V) select the shape and use the Warp Arc Effect ( Effect > Wrap > Arc ) and adjust the settings Bend – 15%.
Step 3
Select the shape hold Alt-Shift and drag the elements up, making a copy, and repeat one more time.
Step 4
With the Selection Tool (V) select the middle of those three shapes and double click . Now we´re in Isolation Mode. Select the shape and with the Transform Each adjust the Scale Horizontal settings to 130% and Exit Isolation Mode.
Step 5
Select all the shapes and Expand Appearance.
Step 6
Now we need to color the hot dog.
Create a New Layer under the layer we were working on before. Copy (Control + C) the shapes and Paste in Place (Control + Shift + V) in this new layer.
We are going to fill the middle shape with the color #C7454E and the other ones with the color #FF9258.
Select the top shape and Send to Back (Shift-Control+[) and Bring to Front (Shift + Control + ]) the bottom shape.
Step 7
Now using the two layers, with the Selection Tool (V). select the Stroke and the Fill of the bottom shape , and drag down 18 px.
Step 8
Select the sausage’s shape from the color layer and drag it 9 px to the right.
Step 9
With the Selection Tool (V) select the sausage’s path and double click it. Now we’re in Isolation Mode. Take the Scissors Tool (C) and click on the bread’s intersections and delete the excess. Exit Isolation Mode and do the same with the small Rounded Rectangle. Do the same with bread on the top.
Step 10
To create the Mustard, with the Pen Tool (P) create a path of 360 px. Set the stroke weight to 8 pt with Rounded Caps and Corner in the Strokes panel and with the color #F8FF4D. With the Selection Tool (V) select the shape and use the Warp Arc Effect (Effect > Wrap > Arc) and adjust the settings Bend – 15% and Expand Appearance. Use a Zig Zag effect (Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag) and adjust the settings as you see fit.
Step 11
To create the face we need three circles, one the eyes and one for the mouth. For the eyes, select the Ellipse Tool (L) and make a circle that’s 7×7 px with no fill and without a stroke. Duplicate it dragging the mouse while holding the Alt key. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and make a circle that’s 12.5×12.5 px. Set the stroke weight to 3 pt and the Fill, empty. With the Rotate Tool, rotate the circle -9° and delete the top half of the circle.
Select all the strokes from the first layer and color it with the color #542d16, fill the two eyes with the same color.
The Delicious composition
Step 1
Finally we have both icons, so arrange the composition as you like.
Create a grey shadow under the hot dog with the Ellipse Tool (L).
Great Job! Now our Delicious Icons looks finished!
We can use these simple techniques to create any delicious food, it’s up to you! Share your designs with us in the comments or through social media!
