How to make a logo icon using a P letter into isometric perspective

For this tutorial i will use a logo idea presented in a design package for a client. The final version (accepted) is looking a bit different from this and i may say, not on my taste. Discover the power of 3D effect tool from Adobe Illustrator and how isometric rotations can save the day.

reADactor

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The easy way to make a logo is to use the company name, letters and combination of initials, acronyms etc. Of course, the wheel was already invented and is very possible to discover that somebody already used your idea for logo. On the following “P” play job i used simple functions available in Adobe Illustrator.

1. Find a “P” font letter close to the classic look.

p letter

2. Crop the left side of the “P”, like in the following image:

path crop

3. Duplicate your new “P” letter shape. Go to effects and from 3D, choose rotate. From 3D rotate options select in positions list “Isometric right”.

isometric right

4. Same things for the second “P” letter shape, except the position from 3D rotate options will be “Isometric left”.

isometric left

Your new isometric letters:

p letters isometric

5. The “P” letters look how we want but we cannot play to much with the shapes. For more flexibility, expand the appearance. Click right on letter, ungroup, click right again and release the clipping mask, then delete the rectangle path.

6. Fill the letters with 2 different orange colors.

7. Align both shapes to the left, and be sure the alignment is pixel perfect.

8. Group the letters and duplicate (copy / paste) the group. This will be used for left side of the graphic. Transform / reflect the group.

9. Fill the new pasted shapes with two different grey colors. Align them to the left of orange letters.

10. If you want to make a shadow for logo, select all the shapes and combine them. Fill the new shape with a very light grey, and transform it using skew or perspective tool.

Published on: December 19th in Tutorials .
Post tags: 3D, adobe, branding, Design, graphic, illustrator, isometric, letter, logo, paths, shape, tool, tutorial, vector

14 Comments

Lam Nguyen
December 20, 2009

Simple but awesome logo tutorial. Keep up your great work!
Reply
Design Informer
December 20, 2009

This a really nice tutorial. Great looking logo, and it was very simple and easy to do. Thanks! I would definitely enjoy more tutorials like this.
Reply
reADactor
December 20, 2009

Thanks
Reply
- Mak
  February 17, 2010
  
  Hey Thanks For The Tut -
  
  How did you crop the letter “P” in step 2?
  
  I’m having trouble in Illustrator CS4 (Mac OSX).
  Reply
Smashing Share
December 20, 2009

Thanks for this nice tutorial
Reply
Martyn
December 20, 2009

Cool little tut, thanks
Reply
Kimcool
December 20, 2009

So cool tutorial!
Reply
Felipe Marquardt
December 21, 2009

Nice tutorial. Try to use this next time.
Reply
reADactor
December 21, 2009

welcome
Reply
LukeSF
December 23, 2009

3D in Illustrator is a really intriguing and vague thing… yet a really powerful one
Reply
supremegraphics
December 27, 2009

Cool tutorial!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Mak
February 17, 2010

How do you perform a crop on the font in Illustrator CS4?

I’ve searched everywhere, but cannot find an answer – sorry if it’s a n00B question, but I’d love to try this tutorial out and I’m stuck on the second step

- Mak
Reply
- Mak
  February 17, 2010
  
  Meh..got it. great tut – gracias.
  Reply
  - reADactor
    February 17, 2010
    
    Hi Mark,
    
    just wanted to tell you how, when i saw you did it. i am glad because the tutorial was useful to you.
    
    regards
    Reply