How to Create a Red Diamond-Suit Playing Card in Adobe Illustrator CS3 or CS4

Step 1

Using the Type Tool, click anywhere on the page and type the letter “Q”.
Set the letter size to 100pt, then, set the Fill and Stroke colors to none.

Next, go to the Appearance pallet and add NEW FILL from the pallet menu.
Set a red color for the new fill.

The Appearance pallet should look like this:

Step 2

In the Appearance pallet and add another new fill from the pallet menu,
set a light Gray color for the new fill.
Then, select the new Gray fill in the Appearance pallet and go to the
convert to shape effect – choose Rounded Rectangle and set the size to absolute (150mm*220mm)
withe 15 mm corner radius.
To finish this step, place the Gray fill below the red one in the Appearance pallet.

The Appearance pallet should look like this:

Step 3

In the Appearance pallet select the Red fill, then go to the Transform Effect (Effect>Distort&Transform-Transform) and in the Move section choose  fill horizontally -45mm and vertically 75mm.

Step 4

Go to the Appearance pallet and select the Red Fill, then duplicate this fill by choosing the Duplicate Item command from the Appearance pallet menu (as shown in the image below).

Next, select the new fill, then, double click the Transform Effect for editing, and set this fill to horizontaly 45mm and verticly -85mm.
Also, check the Reflect Y icon on the right side of the window.

Step 5

In the Appearance pallet and select the Red fill, then add another fill from the pallet menu.
Now, go to Effect>Convert to shape>Rectangle. set the size to absolute (30mm*30mm).

While the red rectangle is still selected, go to the Transform effect (Effect>Distort&Transform>Transform) and rotate the rectangle 45 degrees.

The appearance pallete should look like this:

While the red (now, rotated) rectangle is still selected, go to the Transform Effect again and scale it verticaly 120%

Your card should now look like this:

Step 6

We’re almost there, in the Appearance pallete, choose the Grey fill and duplicate it by choosing duplicate item from the pallete menu. Once you have two Grey fills, select the bottom one and go to Effect>Distort&Transform>Free Distort and scale it down with perspective:

Once you’re happy with the perspective, you can change the grey fill to a Black to White gradient.

That’s it! you’re done.
Note that you can always change your card to an Ace but suit symbols wise, it’s gonna have to stay in the Diamond suit till Adobe let’s us convert shapes to hearts…



10 Responsesto “How to Create a Red Diamond-Suit Playing Card in Adobe Illustrator CS3 or CS4”

1. Polprav says:

   October 15, 2009 at 5:06 pm

   Hello from Russia!
   Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
2. admin says:

   October 16, 2009 at 6:10 am

   Yes, you can quote our post, just make sure to have the link on, and give us proper credit. Also, please let us know where this is posted so we can go and check it out. Enjoy!
3. Elenore Vaine says:

   May 31, 2010 at 8:11 pm

   great post my friend, very nice. congrats!
4. Lawn Care Hockessin says:

   June 4, 2010 at 7:11 am

   Thanks!
5. John Reece says:

   October 7, 2010 at 7:11 am

   Thank you! This was very infomative. It’s always easy once you know how.