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DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION > FAN ART

How to Create a Pokmon

Themed Icon Pack in
Adobe Illustrator
by Andrei Stefan 2 days ago

Fan Art

Icon Design

Difculty: Beginner Length: Medium Languages: English

Adobe Illustrator

Pen Tool

Vector

Graphic Design

What You'll Be Creating

With all the Pokmon Go madness going on lately, I thought it would be nice to
put together an easy tutorial on how to create your very own icon pack using
some of the elements found within the game.
It didnt take long and that thought quickly came to life in the form of what
youre reading now, where Ive shared the entire process that uses some of
Illustrators most basic shapes and tools.
Oh, and before we start, I wanted to remind you that you can always expand
the pack by heading over to Envato Market, where youll nd tons ofPokmoninspired artwork.

1. Set Up a New Document

As always, start out by creating a new project le by going to File > New or
using the Control-N keyboard shortcut, and then adjust it as follows:
Number of Artboards: 1
Width: 800 px
Height: 600 px

Units: Pixels
And from the Advanced tab:
Color Mode: RGB
Raster Effects: Screen (72 ppi)
Align New Objects to Pixel Grid: checked

2. Set Up Some Layers

Once we have our project le, it would be a good idea to layer it so that we can
establish and maintain a steady workow, which will help us focus on one icon
at a time.
To do this, bring up the Layers panel, and create ve layers which we will
rename using short descriptions to make them easier to identify:
layer 1 > reference grids
layer 2 > poke ball
layer 3 > pokedex
layer 4 > incubator
layer 5 > egg

3. Create the Reference Grids

The Reference 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 rst decision that you make once you start a new project,
since youll always want to start from the smallest possible size and build on
that.
Now, in our case were going to be creating the icon pack using just one size,
more exactly 128 x 128 px.

Step 1
Lock all the layers except the reference grids one, and use the Rectangle Tool
(M) tocreate a 128 x 128 px red ( #ff6b57 ) square, which will dene the overall
size of our icons.

Step 2

Add another smaller 116 x 116 px square ( #FFFFFF ) which will act as our active
drawing area, thus leaving us with an all-around 6 px padding.

Step 3
Group the two squares together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, and
then create three copies positioned40 px from one another, making sure to
align them to the center of the Artboard.

Once we have all the reference grids in place, we can lock the current layer so
that we wont accidentally move them, and then move on to creating the rst
icon, the pok ball.

4. Create the Pok Ball Icon

The rst icon that were going to be creating is the iconic red and white sphere
that helps its trainer catch and house new pokmons.

Now, before we begin working on the actual icon, position yourself on the
second layer, and then zoom in on the rst reference grid so that you have a
better view of what youre going to be doing.

Step 1
Start by working on the upper half of the ball by drawing a 108 x 108 px circle
( #ff6b57 ) with the help of the Ellipse Tool (L), which we will then position in the
center of the active drawing area.

Step 2
Create a 116 x 52 px rectangle which we will align to the top section of the
active drawing area and then use to mask the circle that weve just created by
selecting the two shapes and then right clicking > Make Clipping Mask.

Step 3
Add the outline to the upper section of the ball, by creating another slightly
larger 116 x 116 px circle ( #423b3b ), which we will mask using a 116 x 56 px
rectangle, making sure to send it to the back afterwards (right click > Arrange
> Send to Back).
Also, at this point we can also group the two shapes (Control-G), since well
create the lower section using a copy of them.

Step 4
Create the lower section of the ball, by grabbing a copy of the upper half
(Control-C > Control-F) which we will have to adjust by horizontally ipping it
(right click > Transform > Reect > Horizontal) and then changing its color
from red to a light grey ( #ede2e2 ).

Step 5

Fill in the empty space gap created between the two sections of the ball, by
adding a 108 x 4 px rectangle ( #423b3b ) in its center.

Step 6
Start working on the insertion surrounding the button, by drawing a 44 x 44 px
circle which we will color using
of our reference grid.

#423b3b

and then position towards the center

Step 7
Add the main shape for the buttons base by drawing a 28 x 28 px circle which
we will color using

#ede2e2

Step 8
Create the buttons outline by drawing a 20 x 20 px circle ( #423b3b ) which we
will align to the center of the previously created shape.

Step 9
Add the button itself by creating a 12 x 12 px circle ( #ede2e2 ) which will go on
top of all the other composing shapes of this section, and then select and
group them (Control-G) so that they wont get separated from one another by
accident.

Step 10
Since at this point were pretty much done working on the composing shapes
of the icon, we can now move on to adding the nishing details such as
highlights and shadows.
First, double click on the grouped button to enter Isolation Mode, and then
create two copies of the larger grey circle (Control-C > Control-F). With the
copies in place, move the top one about 2 px towards the bottom and then use
Pathnders Minus Front Shape Mode to create a cutout.

Step 11
Turn the resulting shape into a highlight by setting its color to white ( #FFFFFF )
and then lowering its Opacity to 80%.

Step 12
Using the same process, add a subtle highlight to the smaller grey circle acting
as the physical button.

Step 13
Add a similar highlight to the upper half of the poke ball, only this time move
the second copy 4 px towards the bottom and use Soft Light for the Blending
Mode,leaving the Opacity to 80%.
Oh and dont forget, since the red circle is masked, youll have to double click
on it to enter Isolation Mode and put your highlight there, otherwise it will end
up overlapping the outline.

Step 14
Add the last set of highlights to the lower section of the ball, using white
( #FFFFFF ) as your ll color and 80% for the Opacity.

Step 15
Once youre done with the highlights, add a shadow in the lower section of the
button, by creating a copy of the smaller outline (Control-C > Control-B) which

we will adjust by setting its color to black ( #000000 ) and lowering its Opacity to
28%.

Step 16
Finish off the icon by adding the nal shadow in the bottom section of the grey
half, using the same color and Opacity values as in the previous step.
Once youre done, dont forget to select and group all of the icons elements
together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

5. Create the Pokdex Icon

Assuming youve already moved on to the second layer, zoom in on its
reference grid and lets get started.

Step 1
Grab the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create a 72 x 108 px shape with a 4 px
Corner Radius which we will color using
center of the active drawing area.

#ff6b57

and then position towards the

Step 2
Give the shape an outline by selecting it, and then going over to Object > Path >
Offset Path and entering 4px into the Offset value eld.

Step 3
Adjust the resulting shape by changing its color to
stand out.

#423b3b

in order to make it

Step 4
Before we start adding any of the icons composing elements, well want to add
a subtle highlight in its upper section, using white ( #FFFFFF ) as our ll color,
Soft Light as our Blending Mode,and 80% for our Opacity.

Step 5

Once weve added the highlight, we can create the main lens by drawing an 8 x
8 px circle ( #34d5ea ) and giving it a 4 px outline ( #423b3b ) using the Offset
Path method, making sure to group the two using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut and position them towards the top-left corner.

Step 6
Next, add the little light indicators by drawing three 2 x 2 px circles (red:
#d96151

, yellow:

#ffb85a

, green:

#92db63

) and giving them a slightly thinner 2

px outline ( #423b3b ). Group each circle with its outline (Control-G), and then
position them2 px from one another, placing them towards the upper right side
of the lens.

Step 7
With the light indicators in place, grab the Pen Tool (P) and draw the section
line that delimits the main body of the icon from the ip cover segment, using
#423b3b

Step 8

as your ll color.

Create the main shapes for the ip covers hinge by adding a 4 x 88 px

rectangle ( #ff6b57 ) with a 4 px outline ( #423b3b ) towards the bottom-right
section of the devices main outline.

Step 9
Add some details to the hinge by drawing two 4 x 4 px rectangles ( #423b3b )
and positioning one on each side of the red shape.
Once youve added them, select all the hinges composing elements and group
them using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 10
Using the Pen Tool (P),draw the little right-facing arrow ( #423b3b ) and position
it towards the center of the devices ip cover.

Step 11
Select the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create a 28 x 2 px shape ( #d96151 )
with a 1 px Corner Radius, and then give it a 2 px outline ( #423b3b ), grouping

(Control-G) and positioning the two shapes towards the lower section of the
ip cover.

Step 12
Since at this point were pretty much done working on the icons composing
sections, we can start adding the rest of the highlights and shadows. That
being said, take your time and add details where you feel they are needed, and
when youre done, select and group all the icons elements together using the
Control-G keyboard shortcut.

6. Create the Incubator Icon

As always, make sure youre on the right layer, and then zoom in on its
reference grid so that you can have a clear view of what youre doing.

Step 1
Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool,create a 68 x 32 px shape ( #ede2e2 ) with a
14 px Corner Radius which we will adjust by selecting its bottom Anchor
Points using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and removing them using the Delete
key.
Once youve removed the Anchors,press Control-J to close the path of the
resulting shape, and then give it a 4 px outline ( #423b3b ), aligning it to the upper
section of the active drawing area.

Step 2
Using the Minus Front method, add a subtle highlight to the upper section of
the incubator, using white as your ll color ( #FFFFFF ) and lowering the Opacity
to 80%.

Step 3
With the highlight in place, start working on the inner panel by drawing a 28 x
10 px rounded rectangle with a 4 px Corner Radius,which we will color using
yellow ( #ffb85a ) and then give a 2 px outline ( #423b3b ), positioning the two
shapes in the center of the underlying section.

Step 4

Add the inner section of the panel using a 24 x 6 px rounded rectangle

( #423b3b ) with a 2 px Corner Radius, and then select all of its three shapes and
group them (Control-G).

Step 5
Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 68 x 4 px shape ( #ffb85a ). Give it a 4
px outline ( #423b3b ) and position the two underneath the larger section of the
incubator.

Step 6
With the Rectangle Tool (M) still selected, create two 80 x 4 px rectangles
( #423b3b ) and position one towards the top side of the yellow segments
outline, and another one towards its bottom side.

Step 7

Before we group the composing elements of the yellow section, add another
26 x 2 px rectangle ( #423b3b ) to its center, aligning it to its bottom side.

Step 8
Create the glass panel by drawing a 60 x 48 px rectangle ( #000000 ) which we
will adjust by lowering its Opacity to 14% and then position underneath the
yellow section that weve just created.

Step 9
Add a 4 x 48 px rectangle ( #423b3b ) to the left and right side of the glass panel,
which will act as outlines.

Step 10
Using the Pen Tool (P),create the diagonal reections for the glass panel, by
making sure to leave an all-around 4 px empty space between them and the
underlying shape. Use white ( #FFFFFF ) as your ll color, lowering theOpacity to
60%.
Once youre done, select all of the glass panels composing elements and
group them using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 11
Create the lower section of the incubator by grabbing a copy of the one that we
already have (Control-C > Control-F), and ipping it horizontally (right click >
Transform > Reect > Horizontal).

Step 12

Adjust the lower section by removing the panel and the down-facing highlight
so that we can add the egg hatching progress indicator.

Step 13
Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool,create a 10 x 24 px shape with a 4 px
Corner Radius which we will color using
center of the grey shape.

#423b3b

and then position towards the

Step 14
Add three 4 x 2 px rectangles positioned2 px from one another towards the
center of the shape that weve just created, coloring the rst two using green
( #92db63 ) and the last one using red ( #ff6b57 ).
Oh, and dont forget to select them and the underlying shape and use the
Control-G keyboard shortcut to stick them together.

Step 15
Finish off the icon by adding a couple of highlights and shadows where you
feel they are needed, grouping all of its composing elements together (ControlG) afterwards.

7. Create the Egg Icon

We are now down to our fourth and last icon, which as youll see in a moment
is probably the easiest to create due to its simple shape.
That being said, make sure youre on the last layer, and lets nish this.

Step 1
Grab the Ellipse Tool (L) and create an 84 x 84 px circle ( #f2f0f0 ) which we
will position towards the bottom section of our reference grid, leaving a 4 px
empty gap for its outline.

Step 2
Adjust the shape by selecting its top Anchor Point using the Direct Selection
Tool (A) and pushing it towards the top by 24 px using either the keyboard or
the Move Tool (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > -24 px).

Step 3

Once youve made the adjustments to the main shape, you can select it and
give it a 4 px thick outline ( #423b3b ) using the Offset Path method.

Step 4
Add a subtle highlight (color: white; Opacity: 40%) to the upper section of the
egg and a shadow (color: black; Opacity: 14%) to its bottom one.

Step 5
Finish off the icon by adding the little color spots using two circles ( #9fb77d ),
which you will distort by pushing some of their Anchor Points towards the
outside, and then give them the same 4 px outline ( #423b3b ) that weve used
for most of our shapes.
Once youve created the spots, select and group all of the icons elements
together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Hooray! We Got Them All!

There you have it, a nice and easy tutorial on how to create your very own
Pokmon themed icon set using some of Illustrators most basic shapes and
tools.
I hope youve found the steps easy to approach and most importantly learned a
trick or two along the way.

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Andrei Stefan
coffee addict / pixel grinder
Just another young gun coffee fanatic from Europe, designing colorful
worlds one pixel at a time. When I'm not "making stuff" you can usually
nd me at my place, ipping news and catching up on all the crazy
things happening in both the tech and design realms.
AndrewRosek

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NarcisaDidoaca15hoursago

HiAndrei!Igotstuckatstep4from5.CreatethePokdexIcon,doyouhaveanyidea
whymyhighlightlookslikethis?IdiditbyusingtheMinusFrontoption.

Reply Share
KyleMurphy2daysago

GaveashotatitwithInkscape.Don'tactuallyknowanythingaboutPokemon,but
thoughtitwouldbesomegoodpractice.

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