In the following steps you will learn how to create a set of detailed balloon pattern brushes and how to use them to create a neat text effect in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters you will learn how to set up a simple grid, how to create the main shapes and how to add subtle shading and highlights. Once you have all these shapes, you will learn how to easily slice them and how to save a set of patterns. Moving on you will learn how to create your three pattern brushes.
Finally, using these pattern brushes along with the Width Tool, a bunch of Drop Shadow effects and some raster effects, you will learn how to create your neat text effect.
1. Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 600 in the width box and 690 in the height box, and then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 1 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, and enter 1 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 should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
2. Create the Main Shape and Add Subtle Shading & Highlights
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and focus on your Toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke, and then select the fill and set its color to R=30 G=154 B=232. Move to your artboard and simply create a 50 x 30 px rectangle. Make sure that this shape stays selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corner. Enter a 20 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 2
Return to your Toolbar and replace the existing fill color with a simple white (R=255 G=255 B=255). Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 26 x 4 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image. With this shape selected go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and simply click that "Opacity" piece of text to open the Transparency fly-out panel. First, change the Blending Mode to Overlay and then lower the Opacity to 20%.
Step 3
Disable the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-') and then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set to 1 px.Make sure that your blue rounded rectangle is selected and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1 px Offset and click the OK button. Select the resulting shape and make a copy in front using the Control-C > Control-F keyboard shortcut. Select this copy and simply move it 1 px up using the up arrow button from your keyboard.
Reselect both shapes made in this step, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click the Minus Front button. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with a simple black (R=0 G=0 B=0), lower the Opacity to 15% and then change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 4
Make sure that your blue rounded rectangle is selected and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px up using that same up arrow button from your keyboard.Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with white, and then lower the Opacity to 20% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 5
Make sure that your blue rounded rectangle is selected and go again to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1 px Offset and click the OK button. Select the resulting shape and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Move this copy 3 px up, and then reselect both shapes made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with black, lower the Opacity to 15% and then change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 6
Make sure that your blue rounded rectangle is selected and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px down using the down arrow button from your keyboard.Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with white and then lower the Opacity to 70% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 7
Make sure that your blue rounded rectangle is selected and go again to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1 px Offset and click the OK button. Select the resulting shape and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Move this copy 2 px down, and then reselect both shapes made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with white, lower the Opacity to 30% and then change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
3. Create a Set of Rounded Rectangles
Step 1
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 34 x 8 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to R=209 G=248 B=252 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 6 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 30% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 2
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 30 x 4 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to R=209 G=248 B=252 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 40% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 3
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 20 x 2 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to R=209 G=248 B=252 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 4
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 34 x 8 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to black and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 6 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 10% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 5
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 30 x 4 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to black and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 5% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 6
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 20 x 2 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to black and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 5% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
4. Create Several Blends
Step 1
Enable the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-').Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 5 x 12 px shape, place it as shown in the first image and focus on the Appearance panel. Set the fill color to white and lower the Opacity to 0%. Return to your artboard and make sure that the Ellipse Tool (L) is still active. This time create a 1 x 7 px shape, place it as shown in the second image and return to the Appearance panel. Set the fill color to black and lower the Opacity to 10%.
Focus on your Toolbar and simply double click on the Blend Tool to open the Blend Options window. Select Specified Steps from the Spacing drop-down menu and simply enter 50 in that white box. Reselect the two shapes made in this step and simply hit Alt-Control-B to create a new blend. In the end things should look like in the fourth image.
Step 2
Make sure that your blend is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Change the Blending Mode to Overlay and then go to Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter all the attributes shown in the following image and then click the OK button.
Step 3
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 7 x 16 px shape, place it as shown in the first image and focus on the Appearance panel. Set the fill color to white and lower the Opacity to 0%. Return to your artboard and make sure that the Ellipse Tool (L) is still active. This time create a 1 x 9 px shape, place it as shown in the second image and return to the Appearance panel. Set the fill color to white and lower the Opacity to 15%.Select both shapes made in this step and simply hit Alt-Control-B to create a new blend. In the end things should look like in the fourth image.
Step 4
Make sure that your newest blend is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Change the Blending Mode to Overlay and then go to Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter all the attributes shown in the following image and then click the OK button.
Step 5
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 3 x 16 px shape, make it white and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected, switch to the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and simply click on the top and bottom anchor points (highlighted in the first image). In the end your white shape should look like in the second image.
Step 6
Reselect your white shape and go to Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter the attributes shown in the following image, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 15% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Step 7
Reselect your blue rounded rectangle and bring it to front using the Shift-Control-] keyboard shortcut. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 26 x 4 px shape, place it as shown in the second image, set the fill color to R=52 G=213 B=254 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 8
Reselect both blue rounded rectangles and create a new blend using that same Control-Alt-B keyboard shortcut. Send this new blend to back using the Shift-Control-[ keyboard shortcut.
Step 9
Reselect your main blend and go to Object > Expand. Then select the left and right blends and go to Object > Expand Appearance.
5. Create the Opening Side of the Balloon
Step 1
Select all the shapes made so far and Group them using the Control-G keyboard shortcut. Move to the Layers panel, open the existing layer, double click on that group and rename it "Body".Duplicate this group (Control-C > Control-F), focus on your artboard, make sure that only the copy is selected and drag it down roughly as shown in the following image. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 3 x 8 px shape, place it as shown below and set the fill color to R=30 G=154 B=232.
Step 2
Make sure that your tiny blue rectangle is still selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1.5 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter the attributes shown in the following image, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.Make sure that the newly made shape is selected and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Select the resulting shape, focus on the Appearance panel and replace the existing fill color with R=4 G=122 B=208.
Step 3
Disable the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-').Keep focusing on the tiny blue shapes made in the previous step. Select the bigger one and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px to the right.
Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and replace the existing fill color with a simple white.
Step 4
Enable the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-').Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create 4 x 6 px shape, place it as shown in the first image and pick a random orange for the fill color.
Focus on the left side of this new rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the top anchor point and move it 2 px down and then select the bottom anchor point and drag it 2 px up. This should turn your orange rectangle into a simple trapezoid as shown in the second image.
Make sure that it's selected and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the attributes shown in the following image, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 5
Focus on the Layers panel and simply drag your orange shape below the shapes that make up the balloon opening.Make sure that your orange shape is still selected and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select the main blue shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1 px Offset and click the OK button. Select the resulting shape along with the copy of your orange shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.
Make sure that the newly made shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 20%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and replace the existing fill color with black.
Step 6
Reselect your orange shape, bring it to front using the Shift-Control-] keyboard shortcut and replace the existing fill color with R=22 G=136 B=225. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 4 x 1 px shape, place it as shown in the second image and set the fill color to R=36 G=172 B=237.Select this new rectangle along with the shape edited in the beginning of the step and create a new blend (Control-Alt-B). Move to the Layers panel and simply drag this new blend below the set of shapes that make up the balloon opening as shown in the fourth image.
Step 7
Make sure that the blend made in the previous step is still selected and go to Object > Expand.
6. Create the Deflated End of the Balloon
Step 1
Focus on the left side of your top "Body" group. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 40 x 4 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to R=30 G=154 B=232 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3 px Radius, click the OK button, and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 2
Make sure that your long rounded rectangle is still selected and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 12 px circle, make it black and place it as shown in the first image.Select the new shape along with the copy made in the beginning of the step and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, and then change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and lower the Opacity to 50%.
Step 3
Disable the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-').Make sure that your long rounded rectangle is selected and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px to the right using the right arrow button from your keyboard. Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.
Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 40%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light, and replace the existing fill color with a simple black.
Step 4
Make sure that your long rounded rectangle is selected and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px up. Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 15%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and replace the existing fill color with a simple white.
Step 5
Make sure that your long rounded rectangle is selected and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy, move it 1 px up and then duplicate it (Control-C > Control-F). Select this second copy and move it 1 px up. Reselect both shapes made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Fill the resulting shape with black and then reselect that long rounded rectangle and make a new copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select it along with the black shape made in this step and this time click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 50% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 6
Make sure that your long rounded rectangle is selected and make two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px down. Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 70%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and replace the existing fill color with a simple white.
Step 7
Reselect your long rounded rectangle and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1 px Offset and click the OK button. Make sure that the resulting shape is selected and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy and move it 1 px to the right. Reselect both shapes made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 70%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay and replace the existing fill color with a simple white.
Step 8
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 35 x 1 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to white and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance. Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, lower the Opacity to 90% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 9
Reselect your long rounded rectangle and bring it to front using that same Shift-Control-] keyboard shortcut. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 36 x 1 px shape, place it as shown in the second image, set the fill color to R=52 G=213 B=254 and then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1 px Radius, click the OK button and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 10
Reselect the two rounded rectangles highlighted in the first image, create a new blend (Control-Alt-B) and send it to back (Shift-Control-[).
Step 11
Make sure that the blend made in the previous step is still selected and go to Object > Expand. Select the resulting group of shapes along with the rest of the shapes used to highlight this side of your balloon and Group them (Control-G). Send this new group to back (Shift-Control-[).
7. Save the Three Patterns
Step 1
Make a new copy of your "Body" group and drag it down as shown in the following image.
Step 2
Focus on the bottom "Body" group. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 10 x 34 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, set the fill color to R=0 G=161 B=75 and then send it to back (Shift-Control-[).
Step 3
Select that green rectangle along with the "Body" group that lies in front and pick the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Hold the Shift and Alt buttons from your keyboard and then drag a simple selection roughly as shown in the first image. Make sure that you're not going over the edge of that green rectangle. In the end things should look like in the second image.
Step 4
Reselect that green rectangle along with the remaining parts of that "Body" group and use that same Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Make sure that you're holding the Shift and Alt buttons from your keyboard and then drag a new selection roughly as shown in the first image. Again, make sure that you're not going over the edge of that green rectangle and in the end things should look like in the second image.
Step 5
Reselect that green rectangle and get rid of it using the Delete button from your keyboard. Select the remaining shapes and simply Group them (Control-G). Later, we'll use this group of shapes to create a set of pattern brushes.
Step 6
Move to the middle "Body" group. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 10 x 34 px shape, place it as shown in the first image and set the fill color to R=0 G=161 B=75. Select this green rectangle along with the group that lies behind, and reselect that Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Hold the Alt button from your keyboard and drag a simple line from top to bottom as shown in the second image. In the end things should look like in the third image.
Step 7
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the set of shapes highlighted in the following image and simply drag them inside the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save them as a simple pattern. Double click on this new pattern, rename it "startTileRound" and then make sure that you hit the Cancel button.
Step 8
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the set of shapes highlighted in the following image and turn them into a second pattern. Double click on this new pattern, rename it "endTileRound" and again, make sure that you hit the Cancel button.
Step 9
Move to the top "Body" group. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 10 x 34 px shape, place it as shown in the first image and set the fill color to R=0 G=161 B=75. Select this green rectangle along with the set of shapes that lie behind and reselect that Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Make sure that you're holding the Alt button from your keyboard and drag a simple line from top to bottom as shown in the second image. In the end things should look like in the third image.
Step 10
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the set of shapes highlighted in the following image and turn them into a third pattern. Double click on this new pattern, rename it "startTile" and make sure that you hit the Cancel button.
Step 11
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the set of shapes highlighted in the following image and turn them into a fourth pattern. Double click on this new pattern, rename it "endTile" and make sure that you hit the Cancel button.
8. Create Your Pattern Brushes
Step 1
Get back to that bottom group (highlighted in the following image), open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes) and click the New Brush button. Check the Pattern Brush box and then click the OK button to open the Pattern Brush Options window.Name it "Pattern Brush A", enter all the attributes shown in the following image, and then move to the Tile boxes. Open the Start Tile drop-down window and add the "startTileRound" pattern from that list and then open the End Tile drop-down window and add the "endTileRound" pattern. Finally, click the OK button and you should be able to see your new pattern brush inside the Brushes panel.
Step 2
Keep focusing on the Brushes panel, select your pattern brush and duplicate it by dragging it above that New Brush button. Double click on the newly made pattern brush to open the Pattern Brush Options window. Rename it "Pattern Brush B" and then focus on the Tile boxes. Open the Start Tile drop-down window and replace the existing pattern with the "startTile" one.
Step 3
Keep focusing on the Brushes panel and make a new copy of your "Pattern Brush A". Open the Pattern Brush Options window for this new pattern brush, rename it "Pattern Brush C", and then focus on the Tile boxes. This time open the End Tile drop-down window and replace the existing pattern with the "endTile" one.
9. Create the Text and Recolor Some of Those Paths
Step 1
Using the Pen Tool (P), create a set of paths roughly as shown in the following image. Make sure that none of these paths has a fill color, and add random stroke colors. Once you're done, select these paths one by one and simply replace the strokes with your three pattern brushes as shown in the second image.
Step 2
Select the set of paths that make up your first "P" and go to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork.Move to the Edit section, make sure that the Recolor Art box and the Link harmony colors buttons are checked, and then simply drag the Brightness slider and the color handles roughly as shown in the following image. Once you're done, click the OK button. Move to the Brushes panel and you'll find the recolored versions of your pattern brushes that can easily be used later.
Step 3
Select the set of paths that make up your "O" and go again to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. Move to the Edit section, make sure that the Recolor Art box and the Link harmony colors buttons are checked, and then drag the Brightness slider and the color handles roughly as shown in the following image. Once you're done, click the OK button.
Step 4
Select the set of paths that make up your second "P" and go again to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. Drag the Brightness slider and the color handles roughly as shown in the following image, and then click the OK button.
10. Take Full Advantage of the Width Tool
Step 1
Focus on the blue balloons. Select the one that makes up the tail of the dog, pick the Width Tool (Shift-W) and use it to squeeze the selected path roughly as shown in the following image. Select the remaining paths one by one and use that same Width Tool to squeeze or enlarge your balloons as shown in the third image.
Step 2
Move to the paths that make up your text and use that same Width Tool (Shift-W) to squeeze/enlarge those balloons roughly as shown in the following image.
11. Add Extra Shading and a Neat Texture
Step 1
Reselect all the shapes that make up your balloon dog and duplicate them (Control-C > Control-F). Select these copies and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Make sure that the resulting group of shapes are selected and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.Select the newly made shape and move to the Appearance panel. Remove any stroke color and then select the fill and set its color to R=4 G=122 B=208. Move to the Layers panel, find the shape made in this step and simply rename it "shadow".
Step 2
Make sure that your "shadow" shape is still selected and add the six Drop Shadow effects (Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow) shown in the following image. One you're done, open the Graphic Styles panel (Window > Graphic Styles) and simply hit that New Graphic Style button to save the Appearance attributes used for your "shadow" shape.
Step 3
Make sure that your "shadow" shape is still selected and send it to back (Shift-Control-[). Make a copy of this shape, bring it to front (Shift-Control-]) and focus on the Appearance panel.Remove the six Drop Shadow effects and then select the fill. Replace the existing color with a simple black, lower the Opacity to 10%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1 px Offset, click the OK button and then go to Effect > Distort > Diffuse Glow. Enter the attributes shown in the following image, click the OK button and then return the Appearance panel and add a second fill using the Add New Fill button.
Select this new fill, make sure that the color is set to black, lower its Opacity to 15%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay and then go to Effect > Sketch > Chrome. Enter the attributes shown below, click the OK button and then return to the Appearance panel and add a third fill. Select it, change the Blending Mode to Color Burn and replace the existing color with R=32 G=193 B=254. Return to the Graphic Styles panel, make sure that the shapes made in this step are still selected, and save a new graphic style.
Step 4
Select the paths that make up your first "P" and duplicate them (Control-C > Control-F). Select these copies and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Make sure that the resulting shapes are selected and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.Select the newly made shape, add your first graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel, and then focus on the Appearance panel. Replace the existing fill color with R=113 G=175 B=8 and then open the existing Drop Shadow effects one by one and replace the color used for those effects with R=30 G=154 B=232.
Once you're done, move to the Layers panel and rename the shape made in this step "shadow".
Step 5
Make sure that your newest "shadow" shape is still selected and send it to back (Shift-Control-[). Make a copy of this shape, bring it to front (Shift-Control-]) and keep it selected.Add your second graphic style from the Graphic Styles panel and then focus on the Appearance panel. Select the top fill and simply replace the existing color with R=171 G=217 B=33.
Step 6
Move to the paths that make up your "O" and repeat the techniques used for the first "P". Use your graphic styles and don't forget to replace the existing colors with the ones indicated in the following image.
Step 7
Move to that last "P" and once again use the techniques mentioned in the previous steps. Remember to use the colors shown below.
12. Add the Background
Step 1
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 610 x 700 px shape and set the fill color to R=232 G=252 B=254. Send this new rectangle to back (Shift-Control-[) and make sure that it covers your entire artboard.
Step 2
Make sure that your background rectangle is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill using that same Add New Fill button.Select this new fill, lower its Opacity to 20% and then add the radial gradient shown in the following image. Use the Gradient Tool (G) to adjust your gradient as shown below and keep in mind that the yellow zero from that Gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.
Step 3
Make sure that your background rectangle is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a third fill using that same Add New Fill button. Select this new fill, set the color to black, lower its Opacity to 40%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and then go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the attributes shown in the following image, click the OK button and you're done.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.