This is a short Illustrator tutorial on making a vector-based comment icon..
What we want to achieve
We are going to make a simple comment icon that can be used on a website or CMS. We will use some simple illustrator techniques to achieve the effect.
Forming the shape
First, we have to make the shape. So pick the Ellipse Tool (L). Make a simple oval on the canvas. Now to give it the shape of a speech bubble, choose the Pen tool and draw a small triangle in the bottom right hand corner of the canvas.
To join the oval and the triangle together use the pathfinder tool. Navigate to Window > Pathfinder to open the menu. Then, use the Selection Tool (V) to ensure both the Ellipse and Triangle are selected. Then, click the Merge icon which is the third from the left at the bottom. This merges the shapes.
Adding more details
Make a simple border using Offset Path (Object > Offset Path). Choose an offset of -3 or any measure. You will see that the object has been duplicated inside the original one.
Give the new shape a gradient fill. Open the gradient menu and make the gradient. Then fill the new shape. Choose Linear for the type and then pick the angle of your gradient.
Give the outer shape a stroke and finally give the bubble a highlight by drawing another ellipse and filling it with a lighter gradient. Flip to the transparency menu (next to the Gradient menu). Select the screen option for your highlight.
For added effect add a pencil or pen in or whatever you need to denote your user actions.
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