create a glossy power button

Step 01

Create a 700 by 700px document. Pick the Ellipse Tool(L), hold Shift and create a 500x500px shape. First, fill it with the radial gradient shown in image #1 and add a 1px aligned to outside stroke (R=204 G=204 B=204). Next, add a new fill for this shape (from the fly-out menu of the Appearance panel) and use the radial gradient shown in image #2. Reselect this circle and add the Drop Shadow effect (Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow) shown in the final image.

Step 02

Select the shape made in the previous step. Go to Object > Path > Offset Path, enter a “-50px” Offset and click OK. Select the resulting shape. Delete the second fill and the Drop Shadow effect then fill with the linear gradient shown in image #1 and use a 0.5px aligned to outside stroke (R=179 G=179 B=179). Select this shape, go again to Object > Path > Offset Path, enter a “-5px” Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with the second linear gradient shown below (no stroke). Select this new shape, once again go to Object > Path > Offset Path, enter a “-5px” Offset and click OK. Fill this last circle with the radial gradient shown in image #3 then add the Inner Glow effect (Effects > Stylize > Inner Glow).

Step 03

Let’s continue with the power sign. First, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Now, you need a grid every 10px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter “10″ in the “Gridline every :” box and “1″ in the “Subdivisions” box. Next, select the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a 180x180px shape. Fill it with none but add a 35px aligned to center stroke (any color). Turn off the Snap to Grid, reselect this circle, pick the Add Anchor Point Tool(+) and add two new anchor points (like in image #2). Finally, pick the Direct Selection Tool(A) select the anchor point highlighted in image #3 and hit the delete key. Now your shape should look like in image #4.

Step 04

Pick the Pen Tool(P) and create a vertical path like in image #1. Fill it with none and add a 35px aligned to center stroke (any color). Select this new path and the one made in the previous step, go to the Appearance panel, click on Stroke (the text) and click on the Round Cap button. Reselect these two paths and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shapes and go to Object > Compound Path > Make.

Step 05

Select the power shape, resize it and place as shown in image #1. Fill it with R=102 G=102 B=102 and add a 1pt aligned to outside stroke (R=133 G=29 B=30). Continue with the Inner Glow (Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow) and the Outer Glow (Effect > Stylize > Outer Glow) effects.

Step 06

Select the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a squeezed shape like the one shown in image #1 (approximately 300 by 7px). Select this shape, pick the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift+C) and click on the anchor points highlighted in image #1. Your new shape should look like in image #2. Place it like in image #3, add the Arc effect (Effect > Warp > Arc) then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Fill the resulting shape with the radial gradient then lower its opacity to 50%.

Step 07

Reselect the Ellipse Tool(L) and create a squeezed shape like the one shown in image #1 (approximately 220 by 5px). Once again select the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift+C) and click on the anchor points highlighted in image #1. Place thin new shape as shown in image #3, add the Arc effect (Effect > Warp > Arc) then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Fill the resulting shape with the radial gradient then lower its opacity to 50%.

Step 08

Turn back on the Snap to Grid. Select the Rectangle Tool(M) and create a 30 by 80px shape. Make three copies and place them like in image #1. Turn off the Snap to Grid then select these four shapes and group them (Ctrl+G). Select this group, add the Arc effect then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Fill the resulting shapes with white then lower the opacity to 5%. Rotate and resize these shapes then place them like in image #3.

Step 09

Select the Ellipse Tool(L), create a shape like the red one shown in image #1 and duplicate it. Next, create a copy of the largest circle (made in step #1). Select this copy along with the copy of the red shape and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Move the resulting shape just above the largest circle (in the Layers panel) then fill it with the linear gradient shown below image #2. Lower the opacity of this shape to 15%. Create a copy of the smallest circle. Select it along with the original red shape and click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with the other linear gradient, lower its opacity to 20% then change the blending mode to Screen.

Final

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

Posted in Adobe Illustrator