In the following Graphic tutorial you will learn how to create a simple pin icon in Graphic for Mac.
For starters you will learn how to setup a simple grid and how to create the main shapes using basic tools and vector shape building techniques. Next, you will learn how to add color and subtle shading using linear and radial gradients, several effects and basic blending techniques. Finally, you will learn how to easily recolor your entire pin.
Final Image
As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:
Tutorial Details
- Program: Graphic for Mac
- Estimated Completion Time: 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate
Step 1
For this tutorial we’ll create a new 600 x 415 pixel document. Choose File > New (Command + N) to bring up the New Document pane. Select the Grid document style, set the document units to pixels, and set the document dimensions to 600 pixels wide by 600pixels high.
Next, we’ll set up the document grid. Switch to the Grid pane in the Properties pane. If the Properties pane is not currently visible, you can click on the orange ruler icon above the Layers pane to show and hide the pane. Change the grid X Spacing and Y Spacing to 5px, set the Subdivisions to 0px, and enable Snap to Grid (Command + Shift + ‘).
Step 2
Focus on the Toolbar and you will notice that by default the Fill color is set to white while the Stroke color is set to black. Click on the fill color well and set the Fill color to R=159 G=0 B=0. Next, click on the Stroke color well and drag the Alpha slider to 0%, which will simply make the stroke invisible.
Pick the Ellipse Tool (O), focus on your canvas and create a 50 x 30px shape.
Step 3
Return to your Toolbar, replace the existing Fill color with a simple black (R=0 G=0 B=0) and make sure that the Stroke remains invisible. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 50 x 15px shape and place it as shown in the first image.
Select both shapes made so far, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Subtract button. In the end your shape should look like in the second image.
Step 4
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 50 x 10px shape and place it as shown in the first image.
Select this squeezed circle along with the existing shape, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Union button.
Step 5
Now, you will need a grid every 1px which simply means that you need to return to the Grid section from the Properties pane and enter 1px in both Spacing boxes.
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 30 x 37px shape, place it exactly as shown in the first image and set the Fill color to R=255 G=185 B=2.
Focus on the top side of this new rectangle and switch to the Path Selection Tool (A). Select the left anchor point and drag it 5px to the right and then select the right anchor point and drag it 5px to the left. In the end your yellow rectangle should turn into a trapezoid as shown in the second image.
Step 6
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 6 x 20px shape and place it as shown in the first image.
Select this new shape along with that trapezoid, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Union button.
Step 7
Again, you will need a grid every 5px which simply means that you need to return to the Grid section from the Properties pane and enter 5px in both Spacing boxes.
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 60 x 40px shape, place it as shown in the following image and set the fill color to R=24 G=170 B=250.
Step 8
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 60 x 20px shape, make it black (R=0 G=0 B=0) and place it as shown in the first image.
Select this new rectangle along with the blue shape, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Subtract button. In the end your blue shape should look like in the second image.
Step 9
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 60 x 5px shape, place it as shown in the first image and use that same blue for the fill color.
Now, you will need a grid every 1px, so return to the Grid section from the Properties pane and enter 1px in both Spacing boxes.
Switch to the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 60 x 4px shape, place it as shown in the second image and use that same blue for the fill color.
Step 10
Reselect all your blue shapes, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Union button.
Step 11
Make sure that your blue shape is still selected and make a copy in front using the Command + C > Command + Shift + V keyboard shortcut.
Select this copy along with the yellow shape, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Subtract button.
Step 12
Again, you will need a grid every 1px, so return to the Grid section from the Properties pane and enter 1px in both Spacing boxes.
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create 6 x 60px shape, set the Fill color to R=43 G=155 B=90 and place it exactly as shown in the first image.
Switch to the Convert Tool (Shift-C) and click on the bottom anchor point that makes up your green shape. In the end things should look like in the second image.
Step 13
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 6 x 33px shape, place it as shown in the first image and use that same green for the Fill color.
Select both green shapes, focus on the Path Tools section from the Properties pane and click the Union button.
Make sure that the resulting, green shape is selected and send it to back using the Shift + Command + [ keyboard shortcut.
Step 14
Now, you can disable the grid and the Snap to Grid feature. In the next steps we’ll focus on the blue shape. Make sure that it stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. If the Appearance pane is not currently visible, you can click on the blue icon above the Layers pane to show and hide the pane.
Select the existing Fill, set the Type to Linear Gradient and then move to the gradient sliders.
Select the left slider, drag it to the right at 10% and replace the existing color with R=175 G=175 B=175.
Select the right slider, drag it to the left at 90% and replace the existing color with the same R=175 G=175 B=175.
Click on that gradient bar and you will get a third gradient slider. Place it at 30% and set its color to R=195 G=195 B=195.
Use the same technique to add two more sliders and then use the color and location attributes shown in the following image.
Move to your canvas and double click on your selected shape to activate the gradient and then make it as shown in the following image.
Step 15
Make sure that your top shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and check the little box that stands for your Inner Shadow to activate it.
Enter 0 in the X box and -5 in the Y box, drag the Size slider to 10 and then click the color box that stands for this effect. Make sure that the Alpha slider is set at 100% and replace the existing color with R=185 G=185 B=185.
Step 16
Make sure that your top shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Inner Shadow using the plus button located in the bottom, left corner of your pane.
Select this new effect and make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow. Select Soft Light from the Blend Mode drop-down menu, enter 3 in the Y box and 0 in the other two boxes and then click the color box that stands for this second Inner Shadow. Drag the Alpha slider to 25% and replace the existing color with a simple white (R=255 G=255 B=255).
Step 17
Make sure that your top shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a third Inner Shadow using that same plus button.
Select this new effect, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadows and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 18
Make sure that your top shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Fill using that same plus button.
Make sure that this new fill lies below the existing Inner Shadow effects, select Color from that Type drop-down menu, change the Blend to Color Burn and then click the color box that stands for this new effect. Make sure that the Alpha slider is set at 100% and then replace the existing color with R=0 G=90 B=150.
Step 19
In the next steps we’ll focus on the yellow shape. Make sure that it stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane.
Select the existing Fill, add a Linear Gradient, set the Angle to 0 degrees and then move to the gradient sliders.
Add another three gradient sliders to the existing gradient, select those sliders one by one and enter the color and location attributes shown in the following image.
Step 20
Make sure that your shape stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow effect and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 21
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Inner Shadow using that same plus button.
Select this new effect, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 22
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Fill using that same plus button.
Select this new Fill, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow effects and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 23
In the next steps we’ll focus on the blue shape. Make sure that it stays selected, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and for starters replace the existing Fill color with R=195 G=195 B=195.
Step 24
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second fill.
Select it, make sure that it lies below the existing Fill, select Radial Gradient from the Type drop-down menu and then move to the gradient slider.
Select the left slider and set the color at R=245 G=245 B=245 and then select the right anchor point, drag the Alpha slider to 0% and replace the existing color with R=195 G=195 B=195.
Move to your canvas and double click on the selected shape to activate the gradient and then place it as shown in the following image.
Step 25
Make sure that your shape stays selected and focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow effect and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 26
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Inner Shadow.
Select this new effect, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 27
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a third Inner Shadow.
Select this new effect, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadows and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 28
Make sure that your shape stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and add a second Fill.
Select this new Fill, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow effects and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.
Step 29
Select your green shape, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane, select the existing Fill and replace the flat color with the linear gradient shown in the following image.
Step 30
Finally, here’s how you can easily change the color of your pin. Select the three shapes that make up the blue part of your pin, focus on the Effects section from the Appearance pane and replace that blue with R=189 G=74 B=37 or any color that you prefer.
And We’re Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.
