VforVectors

Hi there. In this new tutorial I will show you how to create a very simple bomb icon. You will only need the Ellipse Tool and the Rectangle Tool. Then you’ll be using Warp effects, simple strokes, various gradients, Offset Path and several effects to create the other components.

Difficulty: Beginner
Estimated Completion Time: 30 minutes
Number of Steps: 8

This is what you’ll be creating:

Step 01

Create a 256 by 256px document. Grab the Ellipse Tool(L) create a 150x150px shape and fill it with R=51 G=51 B=51. Select this cricle, add three new fills (from the fly-out menu of the Appearance panel) and use the radial gradients shown below. Select the third fill (from the Appearance panel) and lower its opacity to 50% then select the forth fill and lower its opacity to 30%. Take a closer at the gradients. The yellow numbers stand for the Opacity percentage and the white numbers stand for Location percentage.

Step 02

Reselect the Ellipse Tool and create a small circle like the one shown in image #1. Place it as shown, fill it with R=179 G=179 B=179 then add a 20px Gaussian Blur effect. Pick the Rectangle Tool(M) and create a simple rectangle (image #2). Add the Rounded Corners (Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners) and the Arc effect (Effect > Warp > Arc). Now, go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shape and send it to back (Shift + Ctrl + [). Fill it with R=51 G=51 B=51 then rotate it and place like in image #4. Reselect this shape, add a new fill and use the radial gradient shown in the final image.

Step 03

Now, you’ll create the fuse. Select the Pen Tool(P), create a simple path (image #1) and sent it to back. Fill it with none and add a 8px stroke. Expand this stroke. Fill the resulting shape with R=198 G=156 B=109 then add the Inner Glow effect. Add two new fills and use the radial gradients shown in images #3 and #4.

Step 04

Next, is the spark. Select the Ellispe Tool(L) and create a simple circle above the fuse. Fill it with R=252 G=238 B=33. Add the Zig Zag (Effect > Distort&Transform > Zig Zag), the Pucher&Bloat (Effect > Distort&Transform > Pucher&Bloat) and the Arc effects then go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 05

Select the shape made in the previous step and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -0,5px offset then hit Enter. Fill the resulting shape with R=249 G=183 B=31. Next, add the Inner Glow effect for each shape.

Step 06

Select the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a squeezed shape (image #1). Pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool(Shift+C) and click on the anchor points highlighted with red. Now, your shape should look like in image #2. Make several copies of this shape. Rotate and resize these copies then place them around the main spark. Fill these shapes with R=249 G=183 B=31 and with R=252 G=212 B=33.

Step 07

Select the Rectangle Tool(M), create four identical shapes and group them (image #1). Select this group, add the Arc effect then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Fill the resulting shapes with none then group them. Select this new group, add a new fill and use the radial gradient. Reselect this group and lower its opacity to 5%.

Step 08

Finally, a simple shadow. Grab the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a circle like the one shown in image #1. Send it to back then fill it with black and add a 12px Gaussian Blur. Reselect the Ellispe Tool(L), create a bigger circle (image #2) and send it to back. Fill this new shape with black, add a 25px Gaussian Blur then lower its opacity to 50%.

Final

Now your work is done. Here is how it should look like.