Learn To Create A Glowing Google Plus Icon/Illustration

What We'll Be Creating

Setting Up Our Canvas

Create a new document (Ctrl + N) with the dimensions 1000 x 800 pixels, fill (G) your background with any color and/or pattern just to make the icon stand out. I've just added a simple gradient with a diagonal lines pattern to mine as shown below.

Select the "Ellipse Tool" (U) then in the options bar at the top change the path type to "Shape Layers".

Before we drag out our ellipse lets just setup two guides so that when we make the four sections of the icon they will all be the same. Go to "View > Rulers" (Ctrl + R) then go to "View > Snap" (Shift + Ctrl + ;). From the left side of the ruler left click and drag out a guide, drag it towards the middle of the canvas and it should snap into place. Repeat the same for the top ruler.

Drafting Out The Icon

Now drag out the ellipse onto the canvas, make the ellipse as big as you want. Once created select the "Move Tool" (V) and position the ellipse in the center, it should automatically snap into place.

With the "Ellipse Tool" (U) once more, drag out a new smaller ellipse inside of the one you just created. When creating this ellipse hold down the "Shift" key on keyboard, holding down the shift key will simply add the new ellipse to the vector mask of the first one.

We now need to cut away some of the ellipse to create our quarter of a circle. Select the "Rectangle Tool" (U) then change the option in the options bar to "Subtract From Shape Area".

Now drag out a rectangle over one of the quarters of the ellipse, the rectangle should snap to your guide making a perfect cut.

Repeat the steps above until you are left with just one quarter of the ellipse.

Completing the Draft

Turn off the "Snap" option by going to "View > Snap" (Shift + Ctrl + ;) then duplicate your quarter ellipse layer, once duplicated flip the duplicated layer horizontally "Edit > Transform Path > Flip Horizontally". Select the "Move Tool" (V) and place the duplicated layer in line with the original.

Now select both quarter ellipse layers and duplicate them, once duplicated flip them vertically "Edit > Transform Path > Flip Vertical". Position the two new duplicated layers in line at the top.

You should now have 4 layers in total each having a quarter of the ellipse on each layer.

Adding The Layer Styles

This is where we transform each quarter into there different colors, red, blue, green and yellow. Start off by adding the following layer styles to each one of the quarters.

You should have something like this.

Were now going to add some additional layer styles to each section of the ellipse, we'll start with the top left quarter which is red.

The next quarter is the top right quarter which is the color blue.

Next quarter is the bottom right quarter which is the color green.

Finally the last quarter is the bottom left quarter which is the color yellow.

You should have something like this.

Creating The Inner Ellipse

Select the "Ellipse Tool" (U) then drag out an ellipse inside of the colored quarters.

Once you've created the ellipse add the following layer styles using the settings below.

You should have something like this.

Select the "Type Tool" (T) then add a plus symbol (+) inside of the ellipse.

Now add the following layer styles to the plus symbol using the settings below.

You should have something like this.

Creating The Buckle's

Select the "Rectangle Tool" (U) then drag out a small rectangle which covers the joins between each of the color's

Now add the following layer styles to each of the black rectangle's.

For the top and bottom buckle's change the gradient angle to 90 degree's this will ensure the gradient flow's in the right direction. You should have something like this.

Creating The Outer Ellipse

To finish off the icon select the "Ellipse Tool" (U), then drag an ellipse around the outer side of the logo.

Now set the fill percentage to 0% and opacity to 50%, finally add the following layer styles.

That's it all done!

Conclusion

Thanks for taking part in this tutorial, if you managed to finish this tutorial I'd love to see some of your results. Feel free to post them up on our Facebook Fan Page.