Create a pixel-perfect vector icon in Illustrator

Symbols and icons are incredibly powerful tools, and have been used by humans for over 100,000 years to tell stories and communicate ideas. Computer-based illustration tools have brought the creation of these symbols to a new level. But sometimes simple concepts, such as a wavy line, can be harder, or at least not as straightforward, to replicate on a computer than they would be by hand. Thankfully, Adobe Illustrator is packed with time-saving techniques and unique ways to implement ideas.

This tutorial will show you how to use Illustrator's built-in effects and core tools to simplify the process of drawing complex shapes. Illustrator has two types of effects: Illustrator Effects and Photoshop Effects. Both are great ways to preview styles before fully committing to them. But Photoshop Effects, once fully applied, require converting objects and shapes to raster, whereas most Illustrator Effects keep the vector data.

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The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

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