How to Create a Monogram Pattern

Final product image — What You’ll Be Creating

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In the following tutorial, you will learn how to create a monogram in Illustrator using basic vector shapes. Once you’ve finished creating it, you will learn how to use it to create monogram background patterns.

If you don’t have the time to learn how to create a monogram in Illustrator, you can always try Envato Elements where you can find a massive collection of monogram design ideas. This collection of monogram designs is just one of the many examples.

Would you prefer to learn by video? Then you’ll love this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Learn how to create monogram background patterns by watching this video tutorial:

If you’d like to learn more about what a monogram is and discover more great resources, check out these cool tutorials:

What You’ll Learn in This Monogram Illustrator Tutorial

How to create a monogram in Illustrator
How to create a monogram pattern in Illustrator
How to create monogram background patterns in Illustrator

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, set the Width and Height to 850 px, and then click that Advanced Options button. Select RGB for the Color Mode and set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid or Control-“) and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-“). You will need a grid every 5 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, and enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-“ keyboard shortcut.

You can learn more about Illustrator’s grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator’s Grid System.

You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed. Now that you’re set, let’s see how you can create a monogram logo design in Illustrator.

2. How to Create a Monogram Design

Step 1

Focus on your toolbar and pick the Rectangle Tool (M), and then focus on the color settings. Select the stroke and remove the color, and then double-click the fill and set it to R=78 G=17 B=65.

Move to your artboard and create a 30 x 230 px shape—the grid and Snap to Grid should make it easier.

Step 2

Using the same tool and color settings, create a 135 x 30 px rectangle and two 85 x 30 px rectangles. Use the Selection Tool (V) to place these shapes exactly as shown in the following image. Once again, the grid and the Snap to Grid feature will make this easier.

Step 3

Using the Selection Tool (V), select all four rectangles and duplicate them (Control-C > Control-F).

Use the bounding box to rotate your new shapes 180 degrees, and then place them exactly as shown in the third image. If you can’t see this bounding box, you need to go to View > Show Bounding Box or press Shift-Control-B.

Step 4

Select all your shapes and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Set the Radius to 10 px and click OK to apply a bit of roundness to the corners of your shapes.

3. How to Create a Monogram Pattern

Step 1

Make sure that your shapes are still selected and simply drag them into the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save them as a pattern. Once you’re done, feel free to delete the shapes from your artboard.

Now double-click the pattern to edit it. Select Brick by Row for the Tile Type and 1/2 for the Brick Offset, check the Size Tile to Art box to set the H and V Spacing to 20 px, and then you can click that Done button below the control panel to apply the changes.

Step 2

Keep focusing on the Swatches panel and drag your pattern on top of that New Swatch button to duplicate the pattern.

Double-click this new pattern to edit it. Select all the shapes that compose it and just replace the fill color with R=213 G=104 B=187. When you’re done, remember to press that Done button to apply the changes.

4. How to Apply the Monogram Patterns

Step 1

Reselect the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard to create an 870 px square. Keep it selected and focus on the Appearance panel.

Set the fill color to R=213 G=104 B=187 and then add a second fill using the Add New Fill button. Select this new fill and click your first pattern from the Swatches panel to apply it.

Step 2

Keep focusing on the Appearance panel, make sure that the fill with the pattern is still selected, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.

Uncheck that Transform Objects box and check Transform Patterns to make sure that the effect will only affect the applied pattern. Drag both Scale sliders to 40% to decrease the size of the pattern and set the Angle to 30% to rotate your pattern, and then click OK to apply the effect.

Step 3

Finally, let’s use that other pattern to create a second design style.

Make sure that your square is selected and focus on the Appearance panel. First, select the bottom fill and replace the color with R=255 G=249 B=197, and then select the top fill and apply your second pattern.

Congratulations! You’re Done!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this monogram Illustrator tutorial and that you can apply these techniques in your future monogram designs. Feel free to adjust the final monogram design and make it your own.

Once you’ve finished, you might want to check how your design would look in real life. Check out this mockup from Placeit, or this one, and apply your monogram pattern with just a few clicks.

Popular Monogram Designs From Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an excellent resource for monogram design ideas. Here are some of the most popular monogram logo designs that you can find.

Snowflake Split Monogram Design (JPG, PNG, Ai, Ps)

Check out these snowflake monogram designs and choose between 24 monogram design ideas. All you have to do is add the text in the split area.

Monogram Design – M (JPG, PNG, Ai, Ps)

Looking for a Victorian monogram design centered on the letter M? This might be a good option. This vector monogram design is fully editable so you can adjust it as you wish.

Monogram Logo Design – A-T (JPG, PNG, Ai, Ps)

Check out this set of monogram designs and create clean or vintage monograms with just a few clicks.

Monogram Logo Design – D (JPG, PNG, Ai, Ps)

Looking for a vintage monogram logo design focused on the letter D? This might be what you were looking for. Feel free to adjust this monogram design and give it your own touch.

Monogram Logo Design – A (JPG, PNG, Ai, Ps)

Looking for a medieval monogram logo design dedicated to the letter A? This might be the perfect solution. This vector design is fully editable, and you can choose between several variations.