Create a button with a piece of text and the control panel "look"

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Software: Adobe IllustratorDifficulty: BeginnerCompletion Time: 30 minutes

In the following steps you will learn how to create a social button using only one piece of text in Adobe Illustrator. For starters, using the Type Tool, a basic font and a nice dingbat font you will create that piece of text. Next, taking full advantage of the Appearance panel, using multiple fills, strokes and effects along with some basic blending techniques you will learn how to create the actual button. Finally, you will learn how to easily edit and recolor your button.

Create a New document, pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character or hit Control + T). Simply click on your Artboard, add the "Subscribe V" piece of text and make sure that there is some space between the "Subscribe" and the "V". Use the "Myriad Pro" font with the size set at 13pt and the color at black (R=0 G=0 B=0). Using the Type Tool (T), select only the "V" and focus on the Character panel. Increase the font size to 18pt and replace the "Myriad Pro" font with the "Social Media Icons Bold" dingbat font.

Make sure that your piece of text is selected, open the Appearance panel and simply add a fill using the Add New Fill button (pointed by the little, blue arrow). Select this new fill, use the linear gradient shown below and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Make sure that your piece of text stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill using that same Add New Fill button. Select this new fill, drag it below the existing fill, set the color at R=241 G=90 B=41 and go to Effect > Convert to Shape > Rectangle. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius and click OK.

Check the Relative box from the Convert to Shape – Rectangle effect and the properties of the effect will automatically change when you decide to change the size of the text.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, make sure that the orange fill is selected and hit the Duplicate Selected Item button (pointed by the little, blue arrow in the following image). Select the newly added fill, replace the orange with white, change its Blending Mode to Overlay and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1px Offset and click OK.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, make sure that the white fill is selected and hit again the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill, replace the white with the linear gradient shown below, change its Blending Mode to Normal and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, select the bottom fill and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the left window (in the following image), click OK and go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the right window (in the following image) and click OK.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, select the existing stroke, set the color at R=221 G=70 B=21, make sure that the size is set at 1pt and go to Effect > Convert to Shape > Rectangle. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -0.5px Offset and click OK.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel and add a second stroke using the Add New Stroke button (pointed by the little, blue arrow in the following image). Select this new stroke, make sure that the size is set at 1pt, set the color at R=35 G=31 B=32, lower its Opacity to 10% and go to Effect > Convert to Shape > Rectangle. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 0.5px Offset and click OK.

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, make sure that the black stroke is selected and hit the Duplicate Selected Item button. Focus on this newly added stroke, increase the size to 3pt and open the existing Offset Path effect. Increase the Offset to 1.5px and click OK. Make sure that this new stroke is still selected and lower its Opacity to 5%.

Here are the small changes that you need to make if you want to turn your "Subscribe" button into a "Twitter" button. First, make sure that the Type Tool (T) is active and focus on your piece of text. Replace the "Subscribe" with "Follow us" and the "V" with a "B". Make sure that your piece of text stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel and replace the orange fills with the blue ones shown in the following image.

Finally, here are the Appearance attributes that you should use for a "Favorite" button or a "Facebook" button. For the "Favorite" button replace the "V" with a "K" and for the "Facebook" button replace the "V" with an "S". Also, if you choose to create the "Favorite" button, select the white fill, lower its Opacity to 75% and change the Blending Mode to Color Dodge.

Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.

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So create a unique USB sign in button in Adobe Illustrator

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In the following steps you will learn how to turn simple USB stick illustration into a nice sign in button. It’s another one of those tutorials that focuses a lot on the Appearance panel. We’ll start with a simple rectangle, the Rounded Corners effect and some simple Pathfinder and Transform options. Once we get the stating shapes we’ll move inside the Appearance panel where we’ll use a bunch fills and strokes along with a lot of effects and some blending techniques. For the final touches we’ll use a simple piece of text and some basic vector shape building techniques along with some new effects.

Hit Command + N to create a New document. Enter 600 in the width box and height boxes 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 your click OK.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). For this tutorial you’ll need a grid every 1px. Simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. 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 > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 146 by 49px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 24.5px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. The white number from the gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.

Using the Pen Tool (P), draw a 65px, vertical line and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new path along with the rounded rectangle made in the previous step, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Divide button. Make sure that the resulting group of shapes is selected and hit SHIFT+CTRL+G to Ungroup it. Move to the Layers panel and you will find two simple shapes. Double click on the bottom one and name it "leftPiece" then double click on the other shape and name it "rightPiece".

Focus on the Layers panel, select "rightPiece" and go to Object > Transform > Move. Enter 43 in the Position-Horizontal box and 0 in the Position-Vertical box then click OK.

Select "leftPiece", focus on the Appearance panel and add a second fill using the Add New Fill button (pointed by the little, blue arrow). Select this new fill, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel and use the linear gradient shown in the following image. Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, select the top fill and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the top window (make sure that you check the bottom reference point) , click OK and go again to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the bottom window (make sure that you check the top reference point) and click OK.

Select "leftPiece", focus on the Appearance panel, add a third fill and drag it between the existing fills. Make sure that this new fill is selected, set its fill color at R=175, G=175, B=175 and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image (make sure that you check the bottom reference point) and click OK.

Select "leftPiece", add a fourth fill and drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel. Make sure that this new fill is selected, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1px Offset and click OK.

Select "leftPiece", add a fifth fill and drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel. Make sure that this new fill is selected, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1px Offset, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Make sure that "leftPiece" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel, select the fill added in the previous step and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the first window, click OK then add the other three Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image.

Select "leftPiece", add a sixth fill and drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel. Make sure that this new fill is selected, lower its Opacity to 50%, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -5px Offset, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 7px radius and click OK. The yellow zero from the gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.

Next, you need to copy the properties used for "leftPiece" and paste them onto "rightPiece". You can easily do it using the target icon. Move to the Layers panel, focus on the right side and you’ll notice that every shape comes with a little grey circle, that’s a target icon. Hold Alt, click on the target icon that stands for "leftPiece" and simply drag onto the target icon that stands for "rightSide". In the end your "rightPiece" should look like in the first image. Select it and move to the Appearance panel. Focus on the two fills highlighted in the second image and edit those linear gradients as shown below.

Focus on the right side of "leftPiece". Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1 by 49px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown in the first image and place it as shown below. Make a Copy of this thin rectangle (Control + C > Control + F), select it, move it 1px to the left and replace the linear gradient used for the fill with the one shown in the second image.

Keep focusing on the right side of "leftPiece". Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1 by 4px shape, fill it with R=155, G=155, B=155 and place it as shown below. Make a Copy of this small rectangle (Control + C > Control + F), select it, move it 1px to the left and replace the flat color used for the fill with the linear gradient shown in the second image.

Focus on the left side of "rightPiece". Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1 by 49px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown in the first image and place it as shown below. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 1 by 4px shape, fill it with R=155, G=155, B=155 and place it as shown in the second image.

Using the Type Tool (T), add the "Sing in" piece of text, set its color at R=210, G=210, B=210 and place it as shown in the first image. Use the "Utsaah" font, set the style at Bold and the size at 22pt. Make sure that your piece of text is still selected and hit Shift + Control + O (or go to Type > Create Outlines). Select the resulting group of shapes and turn it into a Compound Path (Control + 8 or Object > Compound Path > Make).

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Select the compound path made in the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and hit the down arrow from your keyboard to move it 1px down. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting group of shapes, turn it into a Compound Path (Control + 8) and fill it with R=165, G=165, B=165.

Select the compound path made in the fifteenth step, focus on the Appearance panel and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. Return to the Appearance panel and add a 0.5 Stroke Weight. Select it, set the color at R=196, G=196, B=196 and align it to inside.

Enable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create an 18 by 13px shape, fill it with R=210, G=210, B=210 and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 2px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Continue with the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 10 by 12px shape and place it as shown in the second image. Fill it with none, but add a 2.5pt stroke, set its color at R=210, G=210, B=210 then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke. Select the resulting path along with the other shape made in this step and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

Keep focusing on the shape made in the previous step. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 2 by 5px shape, fill it with a random color and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shape along with the shape made in the previous step and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Grab the resulting shape and place it as shown in the third image.

Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Select the shape made in the previous step and make two copies in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1px down using the down arrow from your keyboard. Reselect both copies and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting group of shapes, turn it into a Compound Path (Control + 8) and fill it with R=165, G=165, B=165. Reselect the shape made in the previous step, focus on the Appearance panel and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. Return to the Appearance panel and add a 1.5 Stroke Weight. Select it, set the color at R=196, G=196, B=196 and align it to inside.

Focus on the right side of "leftPiece". Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 30 by 29px shape, fill it with the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 4px radius and click OK. Send this new shape to back (Shift + Control + [ ), make sure that it stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill for this shape and select it. Use the linear gradient shown in the second image then lower its Opacity to 20% and change the Blending Mode to Multiply. Move to the Layers panel and name this new shape "stickPiece".

Make sure that "stickPiece" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel, select the bottom fill and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. Add a third fill for "stickPiece" and drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel. Select this new fill, add the linear gradient shown below and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Select "stickPiece", focus on the Appearance panel, make sure that no fill or stroke is selected and add the five Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image.

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 5 by 6px shape and fill it with R=90, G=90, B=90. Place this new shape as shown in the first image and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1.5px radius, click OK and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a 1pt stroke, set its color at R=60, G=60, B=60 and align it to inside. Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, make sure that no fill or stroke is selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the first image, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the second image and click OK.

Select "leftSide", make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F) and bring it to front (Shift + Control + ] ). Select this copy, focus on the Appearance panel and simply remove the bottom fill and the three Drop Shadow effects highlighted in the second image. Once you’ve done it go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Select the group resulted from the previous step and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with black.

Move to "rightSide" and repeat the techniques mentioned in the last two steps.

Select the two black shapes made in the last three steps and turn them into a Compound Path (Control + 8). Select it and simply change its Blending Mode to Overlay. This would be helpful if you’re looking to add a bit of darkness to your button. Finally, you can use this compound path to easily recolor your entire button. Simply replace the black used for the fill with the color that you prefer. Try different Blending Modes. For instance a R=39, G=170, B=225 fill color with the Blending Mode set at Color Burn look pretty good (image #3). You should also try to combine the Blending Modes as shown in the final image. Feel free to try different combinations.

Now your work is done. Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.

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To create a detailed keyboard button illustration in Adobe Illustrator

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In the following steps you will learn how to create a detailed keyboard buttons illustration. You’ll see how powerful the Appearance panel can really be! For the main part of the button you will use a simple rectangle with fourteen fills, linear and radial gradient, three strokes, some basic blending techniques and over fifty effects. In the end, taking full advantage of the Appearance panel, you will only need four rectangle, the background shape plus the little pieces of text.

Hit Command + N to create a new document. Enter 600 in the width box and 450 in the height boxes 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 your click OK.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 1px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to replace the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. Al these options will significantly increase your work speed.

We’ll start with the background. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a shape the size of your artboard, fill it with R=225, G=225, B=225 and focus on the Appearance panel. Add a second fill for this shape using the Add New Fill button from the bottom of the Appearance panel. Select this new fill and add the radial gradient shown below. The yellow zero from the gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.

Make sure that the rectangle made in the previous step is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a third fill. Select this new fill, make it black, lower its Opacity to 3%, change the Blending Mode to Multiply and go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. This will be your simple background. Move to the Layers panel and lock this shape to make sure that you won’t accidentally select/move it.

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 58 by 57px shape and fill it with the linear gradient shown in the following image. The white number from the gradient image stands for location percentage. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this new shape and simply name it "ButtonMain".

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill and simply click on the Duplicate Selected Item button (pointed by the little, blue arrow). Obviously, this will add a copy of the selected fill. Select this new fill, lower its Opacity to 80% and replace the linear gradient with the radial gradient shown in the following image. Remember that the yellow zero from the gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and simply click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill, lower its Opacity to 70% and replace the radial gradient with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and simply click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill, lower its Opacity to 5%, replace the linear gradient with a simple black then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a fifth fill using the Add New Fill button (pointed by the little, blue arrow). Select this new fill, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel, set the color at R=145, G=145, B=145 and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 7.5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image (make sure that you check the middle, top reference point) and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill and replace the flat color with the linear gradient shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill and replace the existing linear gradient with the one shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added fill and edit the angle used for the linear gradient as shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill and replace the existing linear gradient with the one shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added fill and edit the angle used for the linear gradient as shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Add New Fill button. Select this newly added fill, set the color at white, lower its Opacity to 20% and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown below and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added fill, lower its Opacity to 10% and open the existing Transform effect. Enter "2" in the Move-Vertical box, click OK then open the existing Offset Path effect and raise the Offset to 2px.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add another fill using the Add New Fill button. Select this new fill, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel, add the linear gradient shown in the following image and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 7px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1px Offset, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image (make sure that you check the middle, top reference point), click OK and go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Enter the properties shown below and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add another fill using the Add New Fill button. Select this new fill, drag it in the bottom of the Appearance panel, add the linear gradient shown in the following image, lower its Opacity to 75% and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 1px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 6px Offset, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 5px radius and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the first added fill and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the top window, click OK and go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the bottom window and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the ninth step and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the top window, click OK and go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown in the bottom window and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the seventeenth step and add the four Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a 1pt, white stroke. Select it, align it to inside, lower its Opacity to 10% and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Lower. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. Finally, make sure that this stroke is placed in the top of the Appearance panel.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a second stroke using the Add New Stroke button (pointed by the little, blue arrow). Select this new stroke, make it 2pt wide, set the color at black, drag it below the fill added in the thirteenth step, lower its Opacity to 30% and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 7.5px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image (make sure that you check the middle, top reference point) and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the stroke added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added stroke and decrease the size at 1pt.

Select "ButtonMain" and make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select this copy and focus on the Appearance panel. Remove all those fills and strokes, but save the third fill (start the count from the bottom of the Appearance panel). Focus on the remaining fill, make it red and remove the two Drop Shadow effects. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this new shape and name it "ButtonNoise".

Make sure that "ButtonNoise" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill, make it black, lower its Opacity to 5%, change the Blending Mode to Multiply and go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonNoise" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill, make it white, raise the Opacity to 100%, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and remove the Film Grain effect. If you prefer the darker version of the button you can easily hide this white fill by clicking on the little eye icon from the Appearance panel. Now, select "ButtonMain" and "ButtonNoise" and Group them (Control + G).

Select "ButtonMain" and make a Copy in front (Control + C > Control + F). Select this copy, drag it above the group (in the Layers panel) and drag it 85px down. Focus on the Appearance panel, remove all those fills and strokes, but save the second fill (start the count from the bottom of the Appearance panel). Focus on the remaining fill and remove the Inner Glow and the four Drop Shadow effects. Move to the Layers panel, double click on this new shape and name it "ButtonSupport".

Make sure that "ButtonSupport" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added fill, remove the Offset Path effect then replace the existing linear gradient with the one shown in the following image.

Make sure that "ButtonSupport" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill added in the previous step and click on the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select this newly added fill, replace the linear gradient with the radial gradient shown below and go to Effect > Path Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset and click OK. Drag this effect below the Rounded Corners effect then go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the properties shown below and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel and add a 3pt, black stroke. Select it, align it to inside, lower its Opacity to 10% and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 7px radius, click OK and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -2px Offset, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Arc Upper. Enter the properties shown in the following image, click OK and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following image (make sure that you check the middle, top reference point) and click OK.

Make sure that "ButtonMain" is still selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the bottom fill and add the four Drop Shadow effects shown in the following image.

Select "ButtonSupport", make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F), select it and focus on the Appearance panel. Save the second fill and remove the stroke and the other two fills. Select the remaining fill, make it black, lower its Opacity to 5%, change the Blending Mode to Multiply and go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the properties shown in the following image and click OK. Select this copy along with the "ButtonSupport" shape and Group them (Control + G).

Duplicate the two groups created so far (Control + C > Control + F). Select these copies, drag them 80px to the right and focus on the top bar. Check the middle, left reference point and simply enter 88 in the Width box. In the end your group copies should look like in the second image.

Using the Type Tool (T) add some simple pieces of text as shown in the following image and use the properties shown below. Move to the Layers panel and drag these pieces of text inside the groups, between the "ButtonMain" and "ButtonNoise" shapes.

Select the text added in the previous step, focus on the Appearance panel and simply add two fills using the Add New Fill button. Select the top fill and set its color at R=30, G=30, B=30. Move to the bottom fill, select it, add the linear gradient shown below and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 1px Offset and click OK.

Finally, multiply the groups created so far and play a little with the arrangement.

Now your work is done. Here is how it should look. You can easily recolor your button using that second fill from the "ButtonNoise" shape. Simply replace the white with the color that you prefer. You can also try a different Blending Mode or a higher/lower Opacity percentage for that fill. There are countless possibilities.

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