Create a Flat Download Button

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a flat download button in Graphic for Mac.

For starters you will learn how to setup a simple grid and how to create the cloud shape using basic tools and vector shape building techniques. Next, you'll learn how to create the main button shape and how to add subtle shading and highlights for your objects.

Finally, you will learn how to create a simple piece of text and how to stylize it.

Step 1

Go to File > New (Command + N) to bring up the New Document window. Select the Grid document style, set the document units to pixels, and set the document dimensions to 600 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.

Next, we'll set up the document grid. Switch to the Grid pane in the Properties panel. If the Properties panel is not currently visible, you can easily open it using the ruler icon that lies above the Layers panel. Change the grid X Spacing and Y Spacing to 5, set the Subdivisions to 0 and enable Snap to Grid (Command + Shift + ').

Keep in mind that you can quickly enable or disable the grid and the Snap to Grid feature using the Command + ' and Command + Shift + ' keyboard shortcuts.

Step 2

Focus on the Toolbar and notice that by default the fill color is set to white while the stroke color is set to black. Click the Fill color well and set it to R=255 G=200 B=0 and then click the Stroke color well. Drag the Alpha slider to 0% and this will make your stroke invisible.

Pick the Ellipse Tool (O) and create a 30 px circle - the grid and the Snap to Grid feature will ease your work.

Step 3

Set the Fill color to R=238 G=102 B=0 and make sure that the Ellipse Tool (O) is still active. Create a second, 30 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 4

Set the Fill color to R=44 G=164 B=15, make sure that the Ellipse Tool (O) is still active, create a 20 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 5

Set the Fill color to R=148 G=6 B=178, make sure that the Ellipse Tool (O) is still active, create a 35 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 6

Set the Fill color to R=0 G=125 B=215, pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 35 x 15 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 7

Using the Move Tool (V), select all the shapes made so far and focus on the Properties pane. Go to the Path Tools pane and click that Union button.

Step 8

For the following steps you will need a grid every 1 px. This means that you need to return to the Grid pane of your Properties panel and enter 1 px in the X and Y Spacing boxes. You will also need the Appearance panel which can be easily opened by clicking the leftmost icon that lies above the Layers panel.

Return to your Toolbar, remove the color from the Fill and then select the Stroke and set its color to R=0 G=125 B=215. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 12 x 8 px shape. Make sure that this new rectangle stays selected and focus on the Stroke pane from the Appearance panel. Set the Line Weight to 1 pt and the Position to Outside and then check that Round Join button. In the end your blue path should look like in the following image.

Step 9

Pick the Path Selection Tool (A) and focus on the bottom side of your blue rectangle. Select the right anchor point and hit the Delete (or Backspace) key to remove it. Select the remaining, bottom anchor point and drag it 6 px to the right as shown in the second image. In the end this should turn your rectangle into a triangle.

Step 10

Make sure that your triangle is still selected, go to the Path Tools pane from the Properties panel and click that Outline Stroke button.

Step 11

Keep focusing on your blue path and reselect the Path Selection Tool (A). Select the highlighted anchor point (or any inner acnhor point) and hit the Delete key. Once you do this your blue shape should look like in the second image.

Step 12

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift + M), focus on the Tool Options bar set the Corner Radius to 1 pt.

Move to your canvas and focus on that triangle. Create a 6 x 10 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Select this rounded rectangle along with your triangle, go to the Path Tools pane from the Properties panel and click that Union button.

Step 13

Select your blue arrow and place it roughly as shown in the following image.

Step 14

Reslect your blue arrow along with the yellow cloud, go to the Path Tools pane from the Properties panel and click that Subtract button.

Step 15

For the following steps you will need a grid every 5 px. Return to the Grid pane of your Properties pane and enter 5px in the X and Y Spacing boxes.

Focus on your Toolbar, remove the color from the Stroke and then select the Fill and set its color to R=1 G=125 B=215. Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift + M), set the Corner Radius to 10 pt and then create a 270 x 85 px shape.

Step 16

Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected and focus on the Appearance pane. Go to the Effects pane and select the existing Stroke.

Set the Width to 2 pt and the Position to Inside and then click the color well that stands for this Stroke. Make it white (R=255 G=255 B=255) and drag the Alpha slider to 15%.

Step 17

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel. Add a second Stroke using the plus button located in the bottom, left corner of your panel, select it and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 18

Select your cloud icon, place it as shown in the first image and replace the yellow used for the Fill with R=235 G=235 B=235.

Step 19

Make sure that your cloud icon stays selected and focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel.

Activate the existing Inner Shadow, select it and change the Blend Mode to Soft Light. Enter -2 pt in the Y box and 0 pt in the other two boxes. Finally, click the color well that stands for this effect, make it black and drag the Alpha slider to 40%.

Step 20

Make sure that your cloud icon is still selected, focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel and add a second Inner Shadow effect using that same plus button. Select the new effect and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 21

Make sure that your cloud icon is still selected and focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel.

Activate the existing Drop Shadow, select it and change the Blend Mode to Soft Light. Enter 3 pt in the Y box and 0 pt in the other two boxes and then click the color well that stands for this effect. Make sure that the color is set to black and drag the Alpha slider to 10%.

Step 22

Using the Ellipse Tool (O), create a 30 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel.

Disable the Fill, enable that Inner Shadow effect and select it. Enter 1 pt in the X and Y boxes, set the size to 0 pt and then click the color well and make it white.

Step 23

Using the Ellipse Tool (O), create another 30 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel.

Disable the Fill, enable that Inner Shadow effect and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 24

Using the Ellipse Tool (O), create a 20 px circle and place it exactly as shown in the following image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the Effects pane from the Appearance panel.

Disable the Fill, enable that Inner Shadow effect and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 25

Pick the Text Tool (T), click on your canvas and focus on the Text pane from the Apperance panel. Select the Arial Rounded MT Bold font, set the size to 30 pt and then add yout "Download " piece of text. Make sure that it stays selected, go to the Effects pane from the Appearance panel and set the Text color to R=235 G=235 B=235.

Step 26

Make sure that your piece of text is still selected, focus on the Effects pane and activate the Inner Shadow effect. Select it and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 27

Make sure that your piece of text is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a second Inner Shadow. Select this new effect and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 28

Make sure that your piece of text is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and activate the Drop Shadow effect. Select it and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 29

Make sure that your piece of text is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a second Drop Shadow. Select this effect and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 30

Finally, feel free to try different colors for your button. Select your blue rounded rectangle, focus on the Effects pane and replace that blue with the colors shown in the following images or any other color.

Finished Design

Congratulations, you've finished the tutorial!

Hope you've enjoyed learning some of the techniques and processes presented in these steps. As always, feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own.