Creating Pinions (Exclusive Tutorial)

While looking at templates available at the TemplateMonster website, I noticed that icons are used to represent menu items, and decided to draw my own. We'll observe how this can be done, for example, for the menu item known as “services”, giving visual meaning to the word with the image of a pinion gear mechanism. I propose that we make a stylized icon made of pencil sketches.

The Creation a Model

A model image is easily made: I will draw two circles – founding future pinions, and then I will draw a rectangle and copy it three times with a 45° angle (picture 1.1). All duplication operations should be done using the “transformation” function, which is located in the “arrange” menu. I will combine the rectangles with the outer circle using the “weld” option found in the “property bar” (picture 1.2). Then I will combine the resultant shape with the inner circle using the “combine” option found in the “property bar” (picture 2.3). All that remains to do is copy the pinion and display one of them – and the model is ready (picture 2.4).

The Creation of an Icon

1. I will group the pinions, choosing “group” in the “property bar”. I will deform the resultant image using “add perspective” option in the “effects” menu (picture 2.1). The finished objects, which have been divided into groups, MUST BE CONVERTED TO CURVES, right clicking on them with your mouse and choosing the item called “convert to curves”. I will copy the image, moving to the bottom and right – this will be the side surfaces of the pinions. Once again I will duplicate the original images and then merge them with the off-centered ones (picture 2.2). After this, it will be necessary to arrange the objects according to hierarchy and remove extra elements (picture 2.3)

2. For every object, I will use “artistic media tool” which will appear if you click and hold the button “freehand tool” in the “toolbox” panel. I have to note that the visible result is a color-filled object and not a line of a specified thickness. Working with this instrument, you will notice that “property bar” panel changed – choose any line style that works for you. The results of my work are shown in picture 2.4. If the line thickness appears discordant in any place, then it's possible to separate one or a few items and in such way to achieve the desired result (picture 2.5). I will make several arbitrary cuts (picture 2.6), marking the side borders of the pinions, and apply the same effect to them (picture 2.7).

3. The process of shaping all other icons is left up to you (2.8).

See additional examples on the practical use of such elements.

Pinions examples