Adobe Bridge CS2 Icon Illustrator CS6 Tutorial

Adobe Bridge CS2 Icon

This tutorial will show you how to replicate the Adobe Bridge icon in Illustrator CS6 using the same techniques as the Photoshop Splash Page tutorial. You will be surprised how easy it is to create such as complicated icon with gradient & blending mode.
Download Source File
Required: Illustrator CS2+

1. Place Images

First, place in the original Adobe Bridge icon image in Layer 1 for reference. Double click on Layer 1 and change the following Layer Options: check Lock and Dim Images to 50%.

2. Start Tracing

Make a new layer. Hold down Ctrl key and click on the Visibility icon of Layer 2 to view that layer in Outline Mode. Now use the Pen tool and start tracing the basic shapes of the sea shell.

Now you should have something like this:

3. Gradient

Select the top layer and apply a 2 colors radial gradient (color 1 = m5, color 2 = c26, m86, y44). Use the Gradient Tool (G) and drag from the lower center to top corner. This will re-position the gradient.

4. Multiply Blending Mode

Now in the Transparency palette, select Multiply Blending Mode. Notice this will create the see through effect.

5. Back Layer

Select the back sea shell layer, fill it with another radial gradient (color 1 = c21, color 2 = c26, m86, y44). Again, you need to use the Gradient Tool to position the gradient. Then, select Multiply Blending Mode.

6. Top Layer

Select the top layer and fill it with different color gradient (color 1 = m5, color 2 = c33, m95, y62). Again, select Multiply Blending Mode.

7. Eyedropper

Select the rest of the unfilled paths, use the Eyedropper tool and click on the top layer to copy the gradient fill. To get the best result, you might need to use the Gradient Tool to adjust the gradient position of each shape.

8. Icon Base

Make a rectangle box and then apply 25pt round corner (Effect > Stylize > Round Corners).

9. Drop Shadow

Now go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow and apply the following setting:

10. Gradient

Use the Gradient Tool and apply a 3 colors gradient as shown (color 1 = k0, color 2 = k16, color 3 = k13).

11. Add New Stroke

To make an inner glow effect, we need to add a new stroke. in the Appearance palette (top right corner dropdown menu), select Add New Stroke.

Align Stroke Inside

In the Appearance palette, selct the new added stroke, fill it with 4pt white stroke color. Then open the Stroke palette, and click on Align Stroke to Inside.

12. White Background

Notice when you place the sea shell on top of the icon base, the sea shell is see-through because the blending mode has been set to multiply? We can get rid of that by adding a white background to the sea shell. First copy the entire sea shell to clipboard, then merge the current sea shell by Alt-click on Add to shape area (Pathfinder palette).

Then, Ctrl+F to paste the copied sea shell in front.

Final

The image on the left is my version and the image on the right is the original version.