In this icon design tutorial we will learn how to make a sweet and tasty donut icon from an initial sketch. So let’s begin, and remember: don’t try to bite the screen!

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

• Sketch
• Color Palette
• Texture

Step 1

As you probably see the first step is to draw a donut with pencil and paper. There’s no need to be precise because it’s only a reference image. Otherwise you can download my own sketch from assets.

Step 2

In Photoshop, create a 1024×1024 pixel document and import the donut sketch, you can also alter the donut with the Free Transformation command by pressing Command/Ctrl + T while the donut layer is still selected.

Step 3

For this project I created a color palette, you can download the .ACO file from Assets. On the Swatches Palette click the option menu button and select Replace Swatches to load the color palette.

Step 4

Let’s start with the bottom parts. With the Pen Tool (P) begin to trace the donut as below to create the shapes. Then select a creamy color from the color palette. Also keep your layers organized in groups.

Step 5

The next step is to draw the chocolate shape and select the appropriate color from the Swatches Palette.

Step 6

As usual draw another shape for the inner bite part. Use this color: e6d5b0.

Step 7

Draw another shape to define the thickness of the donut. Use the same color of the bottom parts. You can disable the sketch layer by clicking on the little eye icon in Layers Palette.

Step 8

Double-click on a bottom part layer in Layers Palette and add the following Layer Style. Do the same with the other parts, but remember to alter the values of Inner Shadow propriety correctly to the light direction. Use the image below as a reference.

Step 9

Now we have to create a texture for the bottom parts. Create a new layer and fill it with white. Next go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and select a value around 20%. Then go to Filter > Stylize > Emboss and set the values as the image below.

Step 10

Rename the layer as "Texture" and set it as a clipping mask by clicking on the line between the two layers while holding down the Alt key. Decrease the layer opacity to 5% and set the blending mode to Linear Light. You can transform the layers, as I did, to follow the shape of the donut by pressing Command/Ctrl + T on a texture layer. Repeat this step for each bottom part. There is no need to create a new texture, just duplicate the previous one by pressing Command/Ctrl + J.

(editor：admin)