Today I will show you how to draw a interface button in Illustrator, using the Ellipse Tool, Offset Path and gradients. This tutorial is very easy and doesn’t take so much time. Actually it’s for beginners. So, let’s start!!!
How to create media player “Play” button
This will be our final image.
Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Illustrator CS3
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Estimated Completion Time: 30 minutes
Step 1
Open a new document with 420 pixels by 420 pixels. Activate Smart Guides in View Menu (Ctrl+U). Draw a circle with a Ellipse Tool 400 pixels width and 400 pixels height.
Step 2
Fill the circle with a linear gradient with colors from R=38, G=169, B=224 to R=43, G=56, B=143.
Step 3
With Circle selected go to Object > Path > Offset to open the Offset Path dialog. Change the Offset to -30 pixels and press OK.
Step 4
Fill the smaller circle with a linear gradient with Grayscale color 20% to 5%. Set the angle to -90 degree.
Step 5
Now with Smaller Circle selected go to Object > Path > Offset to open the Offset Path dialog. Change the Offset to -0 pixels and press OK.
Step 6
Don’t change the color of the smallest circle, only change the gradient angle to 90 degree.
Step 7
Select all circles and group them. Draw a triangle with Star Tool that is 100 pixels width Radius 1 and 100 pixels Radius 2, Points – 3, press OK.
Step 8
Rotate the Triangle to -90 degree, press OK.
Step 9
Place the Triangle at the center of Circles. Select Triangle and with Eyedropper Tool click on the biggest circle that is blue gradient. Change the gradient angle to 90 degree.
Step 10
With Triangle selected go to Object > Path > Offset to open the Offset Path dialog. Change the Offset to -10 pixels and press OK.
Step 11
Draw a rectangle that intersects the triangle. With rectangle and triangle selected press the Subtract From Shape Areas button in the Pathfinder Panel.
Step 12
Fill it with a linear gradient with colors white and black, change the gradient angle to -90 degree. Last step, change the transparency to Screen Mode.
Final Image
You can download .ai and .eps formats below.
8 Responses
Thanx
Hi!
This is a really really great beginner tutorial!
I decided to take a more close look on Illustrator but I needed to start somewhere and I begun with this tutorial which was very easy to understand so it was no problem and it’s pretty funny because it took exactly 30 minutes
Thanks, appreciate your help!
You are welcome and thanks for your great comment!
Great stuff. Very nice and well executed tutorial. Thanks for the post.
Really it was very good tutorial to learn about illustrator and you have explained very well to understand the beginners…….. thanks
thanks for this — it was my first illustrator tutorial. it was a great introduction.
Hi, I tried ur tutorial. Its very good for beginners. Just that I can see a black outline for everyshape in my assignment. How to get rid of it? Thanks
Very good tutorial