MAKE AN UBUNTU LOGO BY YOUR OWN

Foreword

Ubuntu is one of the big and famous gnu/linux distro in the world. Everybody who use linux for their desktop needs 99,9% know this distro. Ubuntu has unique yet simple logo design. In this article, I will explain how to make an ubuntu logo by your own hands. Enough talk, just fire up your linux box and start your lovely inkscape program, then have fun! (Get PDF version here).

Investigation

The ubuntu logo implemented a very basic rotating technique. It consist of one 120 degree punched donut shape and three circle surrounding the main donut shape that punch the main donut shape too. Another simple things is it using just three different color. To make this logo, we just need 9 circles and 3 rectangles. Quite simple isn't it? Lets do it!

Step One

Make a three circles (e-drag+hold ctrl) with three different size. Select all these circles (ctrl+a) then align them (ctrl+shift+a) to horizontal and vertical axis. We call this three circle as group A. This group will be the main donut shape in the future.


makeubuntulogo_01

Step Two

Make two circle again, then align both them to horizontal and vertical axis, and make them a single group (ctrl+g). We name it group B. This group will be circles that surrounds the main donut shape.


makeubuntulogo_02

Step Three

Make a guideline between smallest and medium size circle of group A. Place group B like picture below, then align it to the horizontal axis of the group A.

makeubuntulogo_03

Step Four

Duplicate the group B twice (ctrl+d). Then pick one of duplicated group B with the biggest circle of group A (F1-click-shift click). Open the transformation dialog (ctrl+shift+m), set to rotate counter clockwise for about 120 degree. Repeat the sequence, but rotate it clockwise for about 120 degree. Leave the rest just like picture below.

makeubuntulogo_04

Step Five

Pick all these objects, then do ungroup command (ctrl+shift+g).


makeubuntulogo_05

Step Six

Now we make the main donut shape. Pick the smallest and second circle on group A.. Do difference command (ctrl+-). To make sure that the medium circle already punched, Color it red. Then punch the donut shape with all biggest circle of group B, one by one.


makeubuntulogo_06a

...and will look like this...

makeubuntulogo_06b

Note: Make sure the puncher object placed top most (home) and always pick it first.

Step Seven

Flip all remaining objects vertically (ctrl+a, then V). Then make a rectangle. Align it to the vertical center axis of biggest circle. Duplicate it twice, and rotate it like step four.


makeubuntulogo_07

Step Eight

Punch the donut shape with all three rectangles, like step six. And the result will like this...

makeubuntulogo_08

Last Step

Break the donut shape apart (ctrl+k). Select the donut shape and rotate it 90 degree clockwise. Then color it with hot yellow (ffcc00ff),orange (ff6600ff) and red (ff0000ff) one by one (ctrl+shift+f) just like picture below. For very last step, remove the outline biggest circle, and replace it with grey square.


makeubuntulogo_01

Conclusion

Rotating technique is quite nice and even make some bang when implemented with another technique. In this case, ubuntu guy really do it!

SVG Source

PDF Version


Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 30, 2009 at 1:11 PM

    good tut ! congratulations !

    In the last step, when breaking the donut shape apart, its CTRL + SHIFT +K instead of CTRL +K.
    I've been keep pressing CTRL + K :)

    David

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 6, 2009 at 6:51 AM

    Brilliant tutorial, logical method, thank you.

    Could you explain why you used a guideline in step 3. I see that group B "snaps" to it but did not understand why this was necessary?

    ReplyDelete
  3. baabullahMay 9, 2009 at 4:38 AM

    @ david
    thank for your correction

    @ number 2
    that guideline will leads us to divide the distance between circles.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 5, 2010 at 6:42 PM

    11111111111111112222222222222222222333333333333333344444444444444444445555555555555555666666666666666666677777777777777778888888888888888888999999999999999900000000000000000001111111111111111222222222222222222233333333333333334444444444444444444555555555555555566666666666666666667777777777777777888888888888888888899999999999999900000000000000011111111111111111122222222222222222

    ReplyDelete
  5. JanaMarch 27, 2015 at 8:38 AM

    Thanks for helpful tricks. Good job.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ictpelangikasihAugust 20, 2015 at 8:41 PM

    Baca juga kupas tuntas Inkscape di http://zabdielnotes.blogspot.com/p/zabdiel-pengenalan-program-inkscape.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. ictpelangikasihAugust 20, 2015 at 8:42 PM

    Baca juga kupas tuntas Inkscape di http://zabdielnotes.blogspot.com/p/zabdiel-pengenalan-program-inkscape.html

    ReplyDelete

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