In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a golden shield illustration and an ivy text effect. We’ll use vector shape building techniques to construct the main structure of our work and then Illustrator’s 3D tools to add depth. Then learn how to add polish to the shield before we move onto constructing the ivy text effect. Let’s get started.
Step 1
Hit Command + N to create a new document. Enter 1050 in the width box and 600 in the height box, then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before your click OK. Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid).
Next, you’ll need a grid every 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
Step 2
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 280 by 505px shape. Fill it with any color and remove the color from the stroke. Make sure that this fresh shape is still selected, switch to the Convert Selection Tool (Shift + C) and simply click on the bottom anchor point. Now your shape should look like in the second image.
Step 3
Return to the Ellipse Tool (L), create two, 180 by 80px shapes and place them as shown in the first image. Select these fresh shapes, along with the shape created in the previous step, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Front button. Move to the Layers panel and you will find a group with two simple shapes. Delete the top shape and then ungroup the remaining shape (Shift + Command + G).
Step 4
Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and focus the shape created in the previous step. Select the right anchor point (highlighted in the first image) and drag the handle as shown in the second image (about 30px). The Snap to Grid will ease your work.
Continue with the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the left anchor point (highlighted in the third image) and drag the handle like you did with the right anchor point. Have another look at these two anchor points and make sure that their handles are symmetrical.
Step 5
Disable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Reselect the shape created in the previous step. Remove the color from the fill and add a 30pt stroke. Align it to inside and set its color at R=147, G=149, B=152,. Now go to Object > Expand Appearance. This will turn your shape into a compound path.
