Create an Image Slider UI

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple image slider UI in Graphic for iPad.

For starters, you will learn how to setup a simple grid and how to create the main shapes using basic tools and vector shape building techniques. Using the Effects pane, you will learn how to add subtle shading and highlights for your shapes.

Finally, you'll learn how to create and adjust image fills and how to add simple pieces of text.

Step 1

From the Documents Browser, tap the plus button at the top-right corner of the Titlebar and choose the Grid document style.

Select Pixels for the base units, set the Width to 600 px and the Height to 500 px, and then tap the Create button.

Next, we'll set up the document grid. Focus on the right side of the Titlebar and tap the ruler icon to open the Properties panel and go to the Grid pane.

Make sure that the Snap to Grid feature is enabled and keep in mind that this is where you should come whenever you wish to enable or disable the grid or the Snap to Grid. Finally, open that Grid Settings pane, enter 5 px in both Spacing boxes and 0 lines in that Subdivisions box.

Step 2

Focus on the Toolbar and notice that by default the fill color is set to white while the line color is set to black.

Tap the fill color well and set the color to R=235 G=235 B=235 and then tap the line color well. Drag the Alpha slider to 0% and this will make your line invisible. Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool, focus on the newly opened Tool Options pane and drag that Radius slider to 5. Move to your canvas and create a 370 x 220 px shape.

Step 3

Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected, focus on the right side of your Titlebar and tap the leftmost icon to open the Appearance panel.

Go to the Effects pane and select the existing Stroke. Drag the Width slider to 2 pt, select the Inside Alignment button and then tap the color well that stands for your Stroke. Drag the Alpha slider at 100% and replace the existing color with a simple white (R=255 G=255 B=255). Return to the Effects pane and tap the cogwheel icon that stands for your Stroke. Tap the Blend Mode command, select the Soft Light blend mode and then tap that Done button. In the end things should look like in the following image.

Step 4

Make sure that your rounded rectangle stays selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a second Stroke using the plus button located in the top, right corner of your pane. Select this new stroke and replace the existing attributes with the ones shown in the following image.

Step 5

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a third Stroke using that same plus button. Select the new stroke and replace the existing attributes with the ones shown in the following image.

Step 6

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects ** pane and check the box that stands for the existing Drop Shadow** to activate it.

Enter 0 in the X box and 2 in the Y box, drag the Blur slider to 8 and then tap on the color well that stands for this effect. Drag the Alpha slider to 15% and replace the existing color with a simple black (R=0 G=0 B=0). Finally, drag this effect between the two Strokes.

Step 7

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and activate the existing Inner Shadow. Select this new effect, drag it right below the Fill and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 8

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a second Inner Shadow using that same plus button. Select this new effect, make sure that it lies below the existing Inner Shadow and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 9

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and add a new Inner Shadow using that same plus button. Select this new effect, make sure that it lies above that Drop Shadow and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 10

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, keep focusing on the Effects pane and activate the existing Inner Glow. Select this effect, drag it above that Drop Shadow and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 11

Return to your Toolbar, make sure that the Line is invisible and then set the Fill color to R=235 G=235 B=235.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool, make sure that the Radius is still set to 5 and move to your canvas. Create a 390 x 200 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image. The grid and the Snap to Grid feature should ease your work.

Step 12

Reselect the rounded rectangle that lies in the back and focus on the left side of your Titlebar. Tap that paperclip icon to open the Edit pane and then tap the Style > Copy Style command. Next, select your front rounded rectangle, re-open the Edit pane and this time tap the Style > Paste Style command. In the end things should look like in the first image.

Now, you need to send your front rounded rectangle to the back. Select it, focus on the right side of your Titlebar and tap that ruler icon. Go to the Arrange pane and drag that Order slider to the left. This should send your selected rounded rectangle behind the other shape as shown in the second image.

Step 13

Get back to your Toolbar, make sure that the Line is still invisible and then set the Fill color to R=74 G=196 B=237.

Pick the Rectangle Tool, create a 350 x 200 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 14

For this step you need to first save this free image inside your Photos. Get back to your document, reselect that blue rectangle and tap the Image command from the Appearance panel. Open the Image Fill pane, tap the Change Image commmand and then add the image saved a few moments ago.

You will probably notice that the image doesn't cover your entire rectangle. To solve this issue, make sure that your rectangle is selected and double tap it. Drag that Image slider slightly to the right until you can tell that your image covers the entire rectangle. Once you're done, tap outside your shape.

Step 15

Make sure that your rectangle stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the existing Stroke, drag the Width slider to 2 pt, check the Outside Alignment button and then tap the color well that stands for your Stroke. Drag the Alpha slider to 50% and replace the existing color with white.

Step 16

Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Add a second Stroke, make sure that it lies below the existing one and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 17

Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Add a third Stroke, make sure that it lies below the existing ones and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 18

Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Add a fourth Stroke, make sure that it lies below the existing ones and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 19

Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Glow, drag it right below the Fill and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 20

Get back to your Toolbar, make sure that the Line is invisible and then set the Fill color to R=0 G=174 B=15.

Using the Ellipse Tool, create a 10 px circle. Make sure that this new shape is selected and multiply it using the Copy and Paste commands from that Edit pane. Make four copies and spread them as shown in the following image.

Step 21

Reselect the five circle made in the previous step, open the Combine pane from the Properties panel and tap the Make Compound Path command. Place your new compound path as shown in the following image.

Step 22

Make sure that your compound path stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. First, tap the Fill color well, drag the Alpha slider to 10% and replace the existing fill color with black. Next, select the existing Stroke and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 23

Make sure that your compound path is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Add a second Stroke, make sure that it lies below the existing one and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 24

Make sure that your compound path is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow, drag it between the two Strokes and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 25

Make sure that your compound path is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Glow, drag it below that Inner Shadow effect and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 26

Return to your Toolbar, make sure that the Line is invisible and then set the Fill color to R=235 G=235 B=235.

Using the Ellipse Tool, create a 10 px circle and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the Stroke and replace the existing attributes with the ones shown in the following image.

Step 27

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects ** pane. Add a second Stroke**, make sure that it lies below the existing one and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 28

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow, drag it above the Strokes and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 29

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Inner Shadow, make sure that it lies below the existing one and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 30

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Drop Shadow, drag it between the two Strokes and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 31

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Drop Shadow, make sure that it lies below the existing one and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 32

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a third Drop Shadow, make sure that it lies below the existing ones and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 33

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a fourth Drop Shadow, make sure that it lies below the existing ones and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 34

Make sure that your circle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Glow, drag it right below the top Stroke and then enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 35

Get back to your Toolbar, make sure that the Line is invisible and then set the Fill color to R=255 G=185 B=2.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and drag that Radius slider to 2. Move to your canvas, create a 50 x 20 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the following image.

Step 36

Now, you will need a grid every 1 px which means that you need to return to the Grid pane, open the Grid Settings pane and enter 1 px for both Spacing boxes.

Focus on the left side of your yellow shape and pick the Rectangle Tool. Create a 3 x 20 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Pick the Path Selection Tool, focus on the newly opened Tool Options pane and activate the Add to Selection mode. This will allow you to easily select more that one shape by tapping them.

Select the rectangle made in this step along with your yellow, rounded rectangle, open the Combine pane and tap the Subtract command. In the end things should look like in the following image.

Step 37

Make sure that your yellow shape is still selected and pick the Rotate Tool. Focus on the newly opened Tool Options pane, enter an 180 degrees angle and then tap the Copy button to create a horizontally flipped copy of your yellow shape.

Select this copy, drag it to the right and make sure that you place it exactly as shown in the third image.

Step 38

Select your left, yellow shape and focus on the Effects pane. Replace the existing Fill color with R=235 G=235 B=235 and then activate the Drop Shadow. Simply replace the existing attributes with the ones shown in the following image.

Step 39

Make sure that the shape edited in the previous step is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects ** pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow** and enter the attributes shown in the following image.

Step 40

Make sure that the shape edited in the previous step is still selected, copy its style and paste it unto that remaining yellow shape.

Select this second shape, focus on Effects pane and inverse the values used in the X Offset section for the existing Inner Shadow and Drop Shadow effects.

Step 41

Pick the Text Tool and double tap inside that new field. Set the color to R=175 G=175 B=175, select the Arial Rounded MT **font and make it Bold. Drag the font size slider to 8** and then add the "PREV" piece of text. Place it as shown in the following image.

Using the same tool and text attributes, add the "NEXT" piece of text and place it as shown below.

Finished Design

Congratulations, you've finished the tutorial!

Hope you've enjoyed learning some of the techniques and processes presented in these steps. As always, feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own.