How To Design A Logo From An Image

Learn how to design a geometric swan logo from a real image using Illustrator tools without sketching, with step-by-step tracing and editing tips.

Key Takeaways

You can create logos directly from images without sketching by tracing with the brush tool.
Using Illustrator’s Shape Builder and Pathfinder tools helps clean and unite shapes effectively.
Negative space and geometric simplification improve logo clarity and aesthetics.
Refining with the pen tool is necessary for smooth, professional results.
Practice and patience are key; mistakes can be fixed and improved during the process.

What the video covers

The tutorial demonstrates creating a logo from a real image, specifically a swan, without sketching.
The process starts by placing the image, lowering opacity, and locking it as a reference.
The brush tool is used with maximum fidelity to trace the image, focusing on geometric simplicity.
Open paths are connected and refined using outline view and direct selection tools.
Shape Builder and Pathfinder tools are used to unite and subtract shapes for clean outlines.
Negative space is added by rotating and repositioning parts to enhance logo clarity.
Offset Path is applied to create outlines and refine shapes further.
The pen tool is used to fix imperfections and smooth anchor points.
The video encourages viewers not to worry if they struggle with the pen tool and promises a future tutorial.
The video is sponsored by Squarespace, promoting easy website creation for portfolios.

Chapters

Can I create a logo from any image using this method?

Yes, you can pick any image as a reference and trace it using the brush tool in Illustrator, focusing on simplifying details for a geometric logo.

Do I need to be good at the pen tool to follow this tutorial?

No, the tutorial shows how to trace with the brush tool primarily, and the creator promises a future pen tool tutorial for beginners.

What software tools are used in this logo design process?

The tutorial uses Adobe Illustrator tools including the brush tool, direct selection tool, Shape Builder, Pathfinder, and pen tool for refining.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Hello everyone, welcome back to my channel. Today, I will show a little bit special way to create logo designs. Many of you asked me how I created this seahorse logo in the speedart video, and many others also asked how to create logo designs from real images.

Speaker A

designs from real images so I decided to make this tutorial to show you how to do it today you will learn how I created this Swan logo from this picture have a nice watching this video is brought to

Speaker A

So, I decided to make this tutorial to show you how to do it. Today, you will learn how I created this swan logo from this picture. Have a nice watching. This video is brought to you by Squarespace. Whether you need a website and domain or an online store, do it with Squarespace.

Speaker A

this method I make no sketching just the image on the background there nitrous on it select the image decrease the opacity and then go to object lock selection select the brush tool double click on it this option panel will pop up make sure

Speaker A

Okay, this is a random swan image that I picked from the internet. You can search and pick the photo that you want. With this method, I make no sketching, just the image on the background. There is nitrous on it. Select the image, decrease the opacity, and then go to Object, Lock Selection. Select the brush tool, double click on it. This option panel will pop up. Make sure to increase the fidelity to the maximum smooth level, and then press OK.

Speaker A

ignoring the little details that will make it more geometric and simple draw slowly and don't be afraid to mess it up just follow the reference image and the brush tool will make it for you that's why we increased the smooth level this

Speaker A

Change the fill color to empty and the stroke color to white. Now, I start drawing slowly on top of the image. I am tracing the parts of the swan and ignoring the little details that will make it more geometric and simple. Draw slowly and don't be afraid to mess it up. Just follow the reference image, and the brush tool will make it for you. That's why we increased the smooth level. This is the start, and we will work on it later.

Speaker A

little bit right okay as this are opened paths we will make sure to connect everything so we can work on it easier later press ctrl Y or command Y to activate the outline view with the direct selection tool look at every open part

Speaker A

After the tracing phase, you can change anything you want in the outline. I think it will look better if I move this up here, and I will move these a little bit right. Okay, as these are open paths, we will make sure to connect everything so we can work on it easier later. Press Ctrl+Y or Command+Y to activate the outline view. With the direct selection tool, look at every open part and drag the anchor point and connect it to the other.

Speaker A

now select everything and with the shape builder drag on every part of the Swan to turn it into a shape it doesn't work here I think the path is left opened zoom in and press ctrl Y or command Y to

Speaker A

Check every part, and if a curve changed or anything got messed up, you can always use the direct selection tool to fix it. Okay, every part of us one is connected. Now select everything, and with the shape builder, drag on every part of the swan to turn it into a shape. It doesn't work here. I think the path is left opened. Zoom in and press Ctrl+Y or Command+Y to activate the outline view.

Speaker A

the shapes created try to take it off okay this are clean Swan logo outline I'll try to connect this two parts together select the two parts and from the Pathfinder click on unite now select everything and then click here to set

Speaker A

Okay, this is the problem. I have to connect this point. Select the head parts, and with the shape builder, drag on the head. Now, after using the shape builder this way, the useless part will be disconnected from the shapes created. Try to take it off.

Speaker A

drag up I hold shift and select the other part of the Swan now from the Pathfinder I click on minus front now I hold alt and I drag this part down a little then I select the two parts

Speaker A

Okay, these are clean swan logo outlines. I'll try to connect these two parts together. Select the two parts, and from the Pathfinder, click on Unite. Now select everything and then click here to set the default fill and stroke to see everything clear.

Speaker A

offset selected hold shift and select the beak and from the Pathfinder click on minus front okay select everything and click here to remove the stroke you can see that our Swan logo start to look good this method is not accurate as the

Speaker A

I want to add some negative space to make every part stand out. I select this part, and then I select the rotate tool, and I reposition the reference point here. I hold Alt and drag up. I hold Shift and select the other part of the swan. Now, from the Pathfinder, I click on Minus Front.

Speaker A

tool one click here and drag to right and one click here and drag up then close the path if you are not good using the pen tool don't worry I will make a tutorial about it very soon okay

Speaker A

Now, I hold Alt and I drag this part down a little. Then I select the two parts together, and from the Pathfinder, I click on Minus Front. Now, I select the neck part, then I go to Object, Path, then click on Offset Path. I'll keep the value to ten, and I press OK. With the newly created offset selected, hold Shift and select the beak, and from the Pathfinder, click on Minus Front.

Speaker A

a little bit down okay now it looks good with the direct selection tool select this point and drag the live widget to make the beak tip a little rounded now hold shift and select this two anchor points and drag the live widgets to make

Speaker A

Okay, select everything and click here to remove the stroke. You can see that our swan logo starts to look good. This method is not as accurate as the pen tool. You will find many errors that need to be fixed and many additional anchor points that need to be removed. You can see that this part is not smooth enough, so I will fix it with the pen tool.

Speaker A

and show your work to the world you can quickly and easily start your own online portfolio website with Squarespace you don't need any previous coding or web design experience you will simply use one of their many great templates and

Speaker A

One click here and drag to the right, and one click here and drag up, then close the path. If you are not good at using the pen tool, don't worry. I will make a tutorial about it very soon.

Speaker A

like and subscribe if you haven't yet thank you for your attention and see you in another video

Topics:logo designAdobe Illustratorlogo from imagegraphic design tutorialvector tracingShape Builder toolPathfinder toolpen toolnegative spaceSquarespace

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