Create a Transistor Radio icon in Illustrator
Learn how to create a Transistor Radio icon in Illustrator and present on a colourful background in Photoshop.
Final Result
Illustrator
1. Create a new document, using the rounded rectangle tool draw a shape like below. Next draw a shape like below draw a shape like below in red. Select the 2 shapes and click on the Minus Front icon circled below in the Pathfinder window.
2. Select the shape you just created and make it a gradient using the colours below.
3. Using the rectangle tool draw a shape over the handle and make it a gradient.
4. Using the line tool hold down the shift key (to keep the line straight) and draw some lines using different shades of grey on the middle and sides of the handle.
5. Draw a shape with the rounded rectangle tool for the body using the gradient and stroke colours below.
6. Using the pen tool draw a shape like below, duplicate the shape by dragging the shape a way while holding down the alt key. Select the radio body and 2 shape you just created and click on the Minus Front icon in the Pathfinder window. This will give the sides a little dent.
7. Using the rounded rectangle tool draw a shape like below, put in the gradient and stroke colours below.
8. Select the Ellipse tool and draw a shape while holding down the shift key, put in dark grey stroke and dark gradient. Create another circle and make put in the colours of your choosing.
9. Click on the behind speaker circle and duplicate using the previous method. Go into Window > Swatch Libraries > Patterns > Basic > Basic Graphic_Lines and find a horizontal line pattern you like. Right click the circle and Arrange > Bring to Front and place it over the speaker.
11. Do the previous step again but thus time choose a vertical line pattern.
12. Using the rounded rectangle tool draw a shape like below with a dark gradient & stroke. Using the rectangle tool draw 2 white lines, then write out the radio dial text.
13. Using the rectangle tool draw a box like below with a orange/yellow gradient.
14. Elsewhere on the canvas using the ellipse tool hold down the shift key and draw a circle with a radial gradient, draw a shape to cover half of the circle in black, with the 2 shape selected click on the Minus Front icon in the Pathfinder window.
15. Place the half circle on the yellow box. Using the line tool draw a line like below in red, to make the line go underneath the half circle right click the circle and select Arrange > Bring to Front. Next using the rectangle tool draw another shape on the radio dial in red.
Photoshop
1. Open up photoshop and create a new document with the size of your choice. Open up the Transistor Radio file and copy/paste it onto the document. Press ctrl+t and drag down an edge while holding down the shift key (so the shape stays perfect), while the radio is transformable you can also rotate the edges.
2. Double click on the background layer to unlock it, then double click again to go into Blending Options > Gradient Overlay and and put in the following settings:
3. Next double click on the radio layer to go into Blending Options and put in a stroke.
4. Download this Free Real Paint Splatter Photoshop Brushes Set and create a new layer underneath the radio. Using colours of your choice put some splatters on the background. I’ve made the opacity for the splatters 70% so it isn’t too distracting.
5. Finally I’ve chosen a splatter and click on it a few times in the colour black so it blends in with the black stroke around the radio.
Final Result
