In the following steps, you will learn how to create a promotion vector badge in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid. Next, using basic tools and some aligning techniques, you will learn how to create a set of concentric circles. Moving on, you will learn how to create a stylized ribbon and how to easily bend it using some Warp effects. Finally, you will learn how to add some text on a path and a subtle texture for the entire design.
For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final badge, you can find plenty of resources at GraphicRiver.
1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up Grid
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width and height boxes, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.
Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 5 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, and enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-" keyboard shortcut.
You can learn more about Illustrator's grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator's Grid System.
You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don't forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
2. How to Create a Set of Concentric Circles
Step 1
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and focus on your Toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke and then select the fill and set its color to R=73 G=35 B=84. Move to your artboard and create a 300 px grid—the grid and the Snap to Grid should make it easier.
Make sure that your shape stays selected and open the Align panel (Window > Align). Simply click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons to bring your selection to the center of the artboard.
Step 2
Make sure that your shape is still selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Step 3
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 260 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=228 G=242 B=255 and center it.
Step 4
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 240 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=73 G=35 B=84 and center it.
Step 5
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 220 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=228 G=242 B=255 and center it.
Step 6
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 150 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=73 G=35 B=84 and center it.
Step 7
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 130 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=228 G=242 B=255 and center it.
Step 8
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 110 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=73 G=35 B=84 and center it.
3. How to Create the Ribbon
Step 1
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 310 x 70 px shape and fill it with R=228 G=242 B=255. Center this new shape, make sure that it stays selected, and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance).
Select the stroke and set its color to R=73 G=35 B=84, and then open that Stroke fly-out panel. Set the Weight to 10 px and don't forget to check that Round Join button.
Step 2
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create an 80 x 70 px shape and fill it with R=198 G=212 B=255. Place this new shape as shown in the first image, make sure that it stays selected, and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the stroke and set its color to R=73 G=35 B=84, and then open that Stroke fly-out panel. Set the Weight to 10 px and don't forget to check that Round Join button.
Make sure that this rectangle stays selected and pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+). Use a simple click to add a new anchor point as shown in the second image.
Step 3
Make sure that the rectangle made in the previous step is still selected and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). First, select the top-right anchor point and drag it 30 px to the left, and then select the middle-left anchor point and drag it 30 px to the right. In the end, your shape should look like in the second image.
Step 4
Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create a simple shape as shown in the following image. Fill it with R=73 G=35 B=84 and add a 10 px stroke of a similar color. Don't forget to check the Round Join button for the stroke, and then lower the Opacity of your entire selection to 30%.
Step 5
Using the Pen Tool (P), create a simple triangle as shown in the following image. Fill it with R=73 G=35 B=84 and add a 10 px stroke of a similar color. Don't forget to check the Round Join button for this stroke.
Step 6
Select the three shapes highlighted in the first image and Group them (Control-G). Make sure that your group is selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown in the following image and then click OK.
Step 7
Using the Pen Tool (P), create the two triangle shapes shown in the following images. Fill both shapes with a random yellow, for now.
Step 8
Select the bottom yellow shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the fill color with R=73 G=35 B=84 and add a 10 px stroke with a similar color. Remember to check the Round Join button for this stroke and then select the entire path (simply click that "Path" piece of text from the Appearance panel). First, lower the Opacity to 30% and then go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Move to the top yellow shape and apply the same Appearance attributes, but replace the Arc Lower effect with the Arc Upper effect shown in the second image.
Step 9
Select your 310 x 70 px rectangle and bring it to front using the Shift-Control-] keyboard shortcut.
Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create the tiny horizontal paths shown in the second image. Add a 10 px stroke for these new paths, set its color to R=73 G=35 B=84, and don't forget to check that Round Join button.
4. How to Add Some Text
Step 1
Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Insaniburger font, set the size to 30 px, and increase the tracking to 22.
Simply click on your artboard and add the "PROMOTION" piece of text. Place it as shown in the following image and set the color to R=73 G=35 B=84.
Step 2
Select all the shapes highlighted in the first image, Group them (Control-G), and then go to Effect > Warp > Flag. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Step 3
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 200 px circle. Fill this new shape with a random yellow and center it.
Make sure that this new shape stays selected, pick the Type on a Path Tool, and simply click on the edge of your selected shape. This will allow you to add text along your path.
Add the "BEST DEALS" piece of text, set the color to R=73 G=35 B=84 and focus on the Character panel. Select the Insaniburger font, and set the size to 22 px and the tracking to 0. Next, you need to adjust the position of your text. Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A) and simply drag that middle bracket from the outside to the inside of your circle. This should move your text inside the circle. Use that same bracket to move your text along the path as shown in the following image.
Step 4
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 170 px circle. Fill this new shape with a random yellow and center it.
Make sure that your yellow circle stays selected, pick the Type on a Path Tool, and simply click on the edge of your selection.
Add the "SPECIAL OFFER" piece of text, set the color to R=73 G=35 B=84, and focus on the Character panel. Apply the attributes shown in the following image and use that bracket to move your text along the path as shown below.
5. How to Create the Background and Add a Subtle Texture
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 860 px square. Fill this new shape with R=228 G=242 B=255, send it to back using the Shift-Control-[ keyboard shortcut, and don't forget to center it.
Step 2
Finally, let's add a subtle texture. Download this set of Grunge Abstract Backgrounds from Envato Elements and drag the first image inside your document.
Resize it a little, make sure that it covers your entire artboard, and then change its Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don't hesitate to share your final result in the comments section.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at GraphicRiver, with interesting solutions to improve your design.
