How to Make a Monogram in Illustrator

What You’ll Be Creating

In the following tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a circle monogram in Illustrator.

First, you’ll learn how to set up a simple grid and how to create the starting shape that will make up your monogram design.

Using basic vector-shape building techniques, a linear gradient, and some subtle effects, you’ll learn how to make a monogram compound path and how to stylize it.

If you don’t have the time to learn how to make a monogram, you can always try Envato Elements, where you’ll find a massive collection of monogram design ideas. This set of monogram designs is just one of the many examples.

While some people love to follow a detailed written tutorial, others prefer to learn by watching a video. If you belong to the latter group, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Learn how to create a circle monogram in Illustrator by watching this:

What You’ll Learn in This Monogram Illustrator Tutorial

How to set up a grid
How to create and edit vector shapes
How to make a monogram shape
How to create a circle monogram in Illustrator

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up Grid

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, set the Width and Height to 850 px, and then click that Advanced Options button. Select RGB for the Color Mode and set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click the Create button.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid or Control-“) and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-“). You will need a grid every 10 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, and enter 10 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-“ keyboard shortcut.

You can learn more about Illustrator’s grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan:

Graphic Design

Understanding Adobe Illustrator’s Grid System

Andrei Stefan

You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed. Now that you’re set, let’s learn how to make a monogram.

2. How to Create the Starting Shapes of the Monogram Design

Step 1

Focus on your Toolbar and pick the Ellipse Tool (L), and then focus on the color settings. Select the fill and remove the color, and then double-click the stroke and set it to yellow.

Click and drag while holding down the Shift key or simply click on your artboard to create a 310 px circle—the grid and Snap to Grid should make it easier.

Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the control panel. Increase the stroke Weight to 40 pt and set the alignment to artboard, and then click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons to easily move your circle to the center of the artboard.

Step 2

Make sure that your circle is still selected and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points twice.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the rightmost anchor point (highlighted in the first image), and press the Delete key to remove it.

Step 3

For this step, you will need a grid every 5 px, so go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid again, and enter 5 in that Gridline every box.

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 130 x 135 px shape, and place it as shown in the following image. Make sure that the stroke Weight is set to 40 pt and change the color to red.

Step 4

Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points again.

Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), use it to select the anchor point highlighted in the first image, and simply drag it 50 px down, as shown in the second image.

Step 5

Make sure that the Direct Selection Tool (A) is still active, select the anchor point highlighted in the first image, and press the Delete key to remove it. From this point, you can disable the Grid (View > Hide Grid or Control-“).