Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: Create a Simple Drop-Down Menu Page 2

Step 18

Select the group of paths created in the previous step along with the copy of the rounded rectangle created in the fifteenth step and click on the Divide button from the Pathfinder panel. Move to the Layers panel and ungroup (Shift + Control + G) the resulting group of shapes.

Step 19

Select the top shape created in the previous step, fill it with R=96 G=96 B=96 then add the two Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image. Focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill for this shape. Select it, lower the opacity to 15% and use the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 20

Add the properties mentioned in the previous step for the third and the fifth shapes created in step #18. Simply focus on the Layers panel and use the technique mentioned in the fifth step.

Step 21

Select the second shape created in step #18, fill it with R=115 G=115 B=115 then add the two Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image. Focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill for this shape. Select it, lower the opacity to 15% and use the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 22

Add the properties mentioned in the previous step for the fourth and the sixth shapes created in step #18. Again, you can use the technique mentioned in the fifth step. Select the bottom shape, focus on the Appearance panel and remove those Drop Shadow effects.

Step 23

Reselect the rounded rectangle created in the fifteenth step, make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F) and bring it to front (Shift + Control + ] ). Select this new shape and focus on the Appearance panel. Remove the color from the fill and add a 2pt stroke. Align it to the inside and set its color at R=165 G=165 B=165. Add a second stroke for this shape, make it 1pt wide, set its color at R=20 G=20 B=20 and align it to the inside.

Step 24

Reselect the rounded rectangle created in the fifteenth step and add the Drop Shadow effects mentioned in the ninth step. Remember that you can easily copy and paste those properties using the target icons.

Step 25

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Type Tool(T) and add some new, white text as shown in the following image.

Step 26

Select the top text added in the previous step, focus on the Appearance panel and add a new fill using the Add New Fill. Select it, use the linear gradient shown in the following image then go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the data shown below and click OK.

Step 27

Focus on the rest of the text and add the same properties mentioned in the previous step.

Step 28

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick the Rectangle Tool(M), create a 5px square, fill it with R=50 G=50 B=50 and place it as shown in the following image. Switch to the Direct Selection Tool(A), focus on this new shape, select the right anchor points and go to Object > Path > Average (Alt + Control + J). Check the Both button and click OK.

Step 29

Reselect the triangle created in the previous step and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1px radius and click OK. Move to the Appearance panel, add a second fill for this shape and select it. Drag it below the existing fill, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1px Offset and click OK.

Step 30

Reselect the shape edited in the previous step and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Drag it down and and place it as shown in the first image. Select this copy, focus on the Appearance panel and replace the flat color used for the top fill with R=75 G=75 B=75. Reselect this copy along with the original shape, make two sets of copies and place them as shown in the second image.

Step 31

For the following step you will need a grid every 1px. So, go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and enter 1 in the Gridline every box. Pick the Ellipse Tool(L), create a 20px circle, fill it with the linear gradient shown below and place it as shown in the following image.

Step 32

Reselect the circle created in the previous step and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the data shown in the following image and click OK. Make sure that your circle stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a 2pt stroke, set its color at R=143 G=248 B=168 and align it to the inside. Select it, lower its opacity to 60% and change the blending mode to Screen. Keep focusing on the Appearance panel and add a second stroke for your shape. Make it 1pt wide, set its color at R=0 G=128 B=60 and align it to inside.

Step 33

Select the little triangle behind your green circle and bring it to the front (Shift + Control + ] ). Make sure that this shape is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and replace the flat color used for the top fill with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Step 34

Select all the shapes created in the last nineteen steps and group them (Control + G). Send this new group to the back (Shift + Control + ] ) and move it 22px up using the up arrow from your keyboard. Finally, select all the shapes created in the last nineteen steps and group them (Control + G). This will be your opened drop down menu.

And We’re Done!

Once more, this is what your final result should look like.

Now that you have finished with this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, feel free to take a moment and share your thoughts with us on it in the comment section. Let us know if you had any issues, or just drop us a link to where you have used to the menu, so we can see your work in action.

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