There are many ways to make a logo, however one of the best and most useful is to do it in Illustrator. This program is not only one of the most used by designers, marketers, illustrators and printers, but also one of the ones that offers you the most possibilities when creating the image of your brand.
In this content you will know how to make a logo in illustrator through different methods and with different tools, so you will get professional results in no time. So open up Illustrator and let’s get to work.
What are the measurements to make a logo in Illustrator?
The ‘ideal’ size to make a logo in Illustrator is 1000px x 1000px. This size will give you the opportunity to have a good space to work and be able to zoom in to fine-tune the smallest details.
These measurements can be adapted when creating a new document with personalized aspects. If you will be printing your logo, it is worthwhile in the file settings to select the CMYK color mode, which will give you more exact colors in the final result.
What size to make a logo in Illustrator?
The recommendation is that you use 500 x 500 px as a measurea standard measure in digital content, since it will allow you to adapt your logo to any format, using it for your website with a shopping cart or your business’s social network accounts.
However, remember that when making your logo in Illustrator you will have the advantage of working with vector images, this means that you can change the size as much as you need without pixel opening.
How to design a logo?
Before moving on to the more practical aspect of this content, let’s talk about how to design a logo. These steps will serve to contextualize your idea and come up with clear ideas before the blank canvas in Illustrator.
- Think about your target audience.
- Gather inspiration from different sources.
- Brainstorm.
- Choose the ideal typeface.
- Select your color palette.
- Make several sketches.
- Choose the ideal.
Let’s briefly talk about each of these steps, shall we?
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1. Think about your target audience
Think about who your potential buyers are, what they identify with, what they expect, and how you can make a logo that appeals to them and sticks in the minds of your key audience.
2. Collect inspiration from different sources
It is worth looking at what the competition does! Get inspiration from other companies, from other projects, even from your own articles. It has a large base of illustrations and photos that can help you find the ideal image for your business.
3. Brainstorm
Now that you have a better idea of ​​what you would like your logo to look like, brainstorm to open up the possibilities and play with the elements that should be in the final version and those that might be better left out.
4. Choose the ideal font
Typography is a fundamental part of a logo, as it gives character and personality to your design. Select the one that is legible, identifiable and synergizes with the pictogram or visual figure in your design.
5. Select your color palette
At this time it is ideal that , since you can include them in the composition of your logo. If you don’t know how to do it, use a tool like ours that is free and very easy to use.
6. Make several sketches
Play with the variations of the logos and choose four or five different models, you can change fonts, colors, elements or styles. Try not to be more than five as you can spoil your eyesight.
7. Choose the ideal
Do you have your finalists? Now is the time to introduce them to friends, collaborators, family members and listen to their opinions. Perhaps from there you can determine which one is ideal for your company or make changes that will lead you to the final version.
đź’ˇTip: If you like design and want to sharpen your creativity, find out in seven easy steps. Discover everything you can do with this tool!
How to trace a logo in Illustrator
There are several ways to trace a logo in illustrator, however the two easiest and fastest are through the image tracing tool and the pen. Here I explain step by step:
- Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document.
- Insert the image you want to convert to vector.
- Click on the “Image Trace” button while selecting the image to vectorize.
- Customize and improve tracing results.
- Click on the “Expand” option.
- Ungroups the elements contained in the vectorized image.
- Delete and change the colors and elements as required.
Let me explain step by step below with images illustrating the process.
1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document
Generate a 1000 x 1000 px canvas, set the colors to CMYK and choose a high 300 dpi raster, in case you want to generate a logo for printing. If you’ll need it for web, opt for an RGB color mode at 72 dpi.
2. Insert the image you want to convert to vector
In the “File” menu, you will find the “Place” option. Select the image you want to convert and click “OK”. You can also do this by dragging the file from your desktop or folder onto the blank canvas.
3. Click on the “Image tracing” button while selecting the image to vectorize
By doing so, the image will be vectorized and you can have a semi-editable version.
4. Customize and improve tracing results
In the toolbar you can adjust the vector styles, achieving different results, both in color and in black and white.
6. Click on the “Expand” option
If you have already chosen the ideal style with which you want to work, click on the “Expand” option, so each of the figures will be drawn with points and lines, or rather, in vectors.
7. Ungroup the elements contained in the vectorized image.
With your vectorized image, the next step is to work with it and modify it, for that you will need to ungroup the contained elements by going to the “Object” menu and selecting the “Ungroup” option.
8. Delete and change the colors and elements as required.
Once the vectorized figure has been developed, you will be able to erase elements such as the background and transform the figure with the pen tool, removing points, converting them or adding new ones. In addition to that you will be able to modify the colors, making the element look more like what your logo requires.
Now that you know how to vectorize a logo in Illustrator, let’s look at certain effects and styles that you can easily achieve with tools included in the software.
How to make a 3d logo in Illustrator
For make a 3D logo in Illustrator You will have to rely on the effects bar, especially the extrusion and bevel tool. Follow these steps!
- Group the shapes of your logo.
- With the object to convert to 3D selected, go to the “Effects” menu and within the “3D” option, choose the “Extrude and bevel” option.
- Play around with the options within the tool.
- Click the “Preview” checkbox to see the 3D effect on your logo.
- Click “OK”.
Clever! You will now have a 3D version of your logo in Illustrator. Remember to save a curved version of your logo, in case you need it later.
How to Make a Vintage Logo in Illustrator
For make a vintage logo There are different ways to do it, from filters, including vectors that give that look or applying masks to typography. Let’s do it in the simplest way.
- Choose a free font and free for commercial use with a vintage style.
- Vectorize images of those elements that you want to accompany your logo.
- Choose a palette of ocher, pastel or brown colors to give it the vintage touch you are looking for.
With these three elements, you will be able to give it the vintage touch that you want to convey in your logo without requiring much knowledge of the software.
How to make a circular logo in Illustrator
It is very simple make a circle logo with this program. You can do this by using a circular shape to frame your design or by adjusting the font to fit around the pictogram. Let’s see how to do it:
- Use the “Ellipse” tool to make a circle on the canvas.
- Type your brand name in your brand font.
- Place a part of the text above the pictogram and a part below.
- Apply the “Create Envelope” tool and select the “Arc” style.
- Repeat with the bottom of the text.
It’s that easy to have a circular logo in Illustrator. Choose if you want to keep just the typography, with the circle on the back, or both effects.
How to make a vectorized logo in Illustrator
In case you already have a logo but you don’t have the curved version and you need to vectorize it, these are the steps to follow:
- Insert your logo on a new canvas.
- Click the “Image Trace” button while selecting your logo.
- Customize and improve tracing results.
- Click on the “Expand” option.
That way, you can simply have your logo vectorized in Illustrator. Just remember to match the tones to the colors in your palette and you’ll have your logo in curves.
How to make a logo with a transparent background in Illustrator
For make a logo with a transparent background, all you have to do is know how to save it to preserve the transparency of your design. Follow these steps!
- Go to the “File” menu and go to the “Export” option.
- Choose the “Export as” option and select the .PNG format
- Set your file preferences and make sure you choose the “Transparent” option in the background color menu.
Very easy! You will now have a version of your logo with a transparent background that you can use for whatever you need. You can also do it in the “Save for web” option.
How to make a logo in Illustrator from letters
If you want typography to be the most important element in your logo, here I explain step by step how to make a logo in illustrator using only letters.
- Create a text box in your worksheet.
- Write the name of your brand.
- Choose the ideal typography to give character to your design.
- Select the text boxes and go to the “Text” menu.
- Choose the “Create outline” option.
By clicking on the “Create outline” option, you will convert the texts to points and lines, giving you the possibility of modifying the typography with the pen tool or keeping the arrangement of your design, creating a file that you can send to print without your printer requires your brand font in an .OTF or .TTF file.
How to make a logo with an image
Too easy make logos with an image. Here I show you how to make logos with a vectorized image in Illustrator.
- Locate the image in your work area.
- Vectorize the image using the “Create tracing” option
- Customize the decal options.
- Add typographic elements and…
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