Jacquelin Vanderwood
October 2004
My first suggestion in creating heraldry would be to set a template. Here I've created one box and then duplicated it with snap on.
In the layers palette select the corner arrow and choose Template. Create a new layer.
Draw a shape of half of a shield.
Select the two end points and open Path and Average.
Choose Vertical.
This evens up the end points vertically. Fill with white.
Press Control+C to copy and then Control+F to paste in front. Use the Reflect tool to flip it horizontally. Press Control+Y to view in outline form and zoom in to adjust the two end points so they just barely touch. Use the Direct Selection tool and select the two points and press Control+J to join.
Next create four squares as seen below. Create a pattern. Apply the pattern to the shield. Move the shield until you get the pattern centered then use Expand to make it permanent.
To make stars, click on the Star tool and then click on the art area. Specify 3 sides. Use the Rotation tool to make an opposite copy of the triangle specifying 190 degree turn. Use the Divide Pathfinder button to create a star where all the lines show. Duplicate and reduce the star then place in the lower red area.
Take your Pen tool and draw in the black filled rectangular style blocks.
At the top of the shield create one square then duplicate it right. Change it color. Select both squares and duplicate them to the right again. Then hit Control+D to duplicate them to the right thrice more. If they do not meet the edge, select all the squares at once and drag right to fit. Duplicate all squares and move up. Use the Reflect tool to flip the square horizontal.
For the decoration above, draw one curved line such as the one that represents the top edge. Duplicate it and move it down. Use the Pen tool and draw the left indented edge and connect the two sides with the pen in this way. Connect the two open ends by selecting the Direct Selection tool and selecting the two end points then press Control+J to join. Duplicate it and move it up. Change it's color to black. Use the Reflect tool to create the opposite side. Move into place.
I used the Pen tool and drew out the shape of the helmet then used a black stroke to create the detail. I changed to the Ellipse tool for the circles. I drew the feather in black and then duplicated and changed it's color. I then grouped the piece and moved it into place.
I created a new layer and dropped it below then used the Pen tool to make one half of the black piece and duplicated it, flipped it as we have done before, then used the Pathfinder option to make the selection one piece. I then duplicated it and reduced it size and changed it color to yellow, and then moved it upward.
I made a rectangle and then used the Add Anchor Point tool and added a point at each end then used the Direct Select tool to select the points one at a time. I used the arrow keys to move them inward. Create a white rectangle on the top just above the piece below. Add text for the arms and convert the text to outlines. Group the whole selection then open Warp Options and apply Arc or any version that pleases you.
The basic idea is to create something on a shield and around the shield that represents your family, your organization, club, etc. If your interest is to create a club coat of arms and the club let's say is for golf, you could create the shield with a golf club maybe across the shield, a golfer's hat at the top instead of a helmut, a golf ball somewhere, a tee, and a green. You can add trees and bushes, ribbons, you name it, it's all up to you.
Copyright (c) 2004, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved