Kwaku Amprako is a logo expert, brand identity designer, speaker, and founder of Akrivi — a platform shaping the future of brand identity design through automation, systems, and precision.
How to Make a Logo Grid (Adobe Illustrator Step-by-Step Guide)
Learn how to make a logo grid in Adobe Illustrator - a simple step-by-step guide.
Starting a new logo project? Your first step should always be building a solid foundation. I'll show you exactly how to make a logo grid in Adobe Illustrator, focusing on creating essential base grids.
Even though powerful Adobe Illustrator plugins and scripts exist, knowing how to build grids by hand sharpens your eye and understanding. We'll cover making a square grid and, using my personal technique, an isometric grid.
If you're wondering why grids are so essential, I've explained the core benefits in detail in this one article.
What is a Base Grid (and why it's so important)?
A base grid is the very first framework you lay down before you even begin sketching a logo. It’s your starting point for everything.
It ensures your initial logo shapes and proportions are balanced and consistent. This sets the stage for a strong final design.
I dive deeper into the different types of logo grids in another guide.
How to Make a Square Base Grid Manually in Adobe Illustrator
Ready to create a simple, classic square grid? Follow these steps:
Step 1: Set Up Your Document and Grid.
- Open Adobe Illustrator. Create a new document.
- Go to View > Show Grid. This makes Illustrator's default grid visible.
- Enable View > Snap to Grid. This makes drawing and aligning much easier.
Step 2: Draw Your First Square & Duplicate
- Select the Rectangle Tool (M). Click and drag while holding Shift. This creates a perfect square.
- Make sure it snaps perfectly to the visible grid lines.
- Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and drag a copy of your square horizontally. It should snap to the next grid point.
- Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac) repeatedly. This duplicates the square at the same spacing, creating a row of squares. Extend this to your desired width.
Step 4: Duplicate Vertically.
- Select all the squares in your horizontal row.
- Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and drag a copy of the entire row downwards. It should snap to the grid below the first row.
- Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac) repeatedly. This duplicates the row, creating your full square grid. Extend this to your desired height.
Step 5: Group and Lock.
- Select all the squares that form your grid. Group them (Ctrl/Cmd + G).
- Lock the layer (or press Ctrl/Cmd + 2) so your grid stays put while you design.
How to Make an Isometric Grid Manually in Adobe Illustrator
Creating a dynamic, 3D-feeling isometric grid by hand is a fantastic skill. Here's how I approach it:
Step 1: Draw the First Line.
- Start with a clean artboard. Use the Line Segment Tool (\). Draw a straight vertical line.
Step 2: Duplicate for Angled Lines (First Direction).
- Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and drag a copy to the right. Ensure the spacing is even.
- Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac) to repeat this many times. This creates a series of vertical lines.
Step 3: Group and Rotate.
- Select all these vertical lines. Group them (Ctrl/Cmd + G).
- Double tap Rotate tool in toolbar, then add Angle > Enter 60 degrees. These lines will now angle.
Step 4: Rotate for Second Direction.
- Keep selection on the diagonal lines.
- Double tap the Rotate tool again, for Angle > Leave it at 60 degrees. But this time, Instead of OK you tap Copy.
Step 5: Final Group and Lock.
- Select all the angled lines you've created. Group them (Ctrl/Cmd + G).
- Lock the layer (or Ctrl/Cmd + 2) or make guide (View > Guides > Make Guides). Now you have a precise manual isometric grid!
Bonus Step: Clean Up Uneven Grid Lines
After creating your grid, you might have lines extending past your main design area, if you are a nerd like me, you can’t let them slide. Here's how I clean them for a much tidier look:
- Draw a Bounding Frame: Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to draw a rectangle exactly around the area where you want your grid to be.
- Select All: Select all your grid lines AND this new bounding frame.
- Use Pathfinder Divide: Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). Click the "Divide" icon (it's often the first one in the "Pathfinders" section). This will cut your grid lines at the edges of the frame.
- Select Outer Parts: Click outside your main grid area. Select one of the grid line pieces that extends beyond your bounding frame.
- Select Similar: Go to Select > Same > Stroke Color (or Stroke Weight if all your lines are the same). This will select all those unwanted outer pieces.
- Delete: Press Delete. There you have it – a much cleaner grid, perfectly contained!
Why Learning Manual Grids Still Matters
Building grids by hand truly sharpens your precision. It also deepens your understanding of geometry. This knowledge makes you a much better designer.
It helps you appreciate just how powerful Adobe Illustrator plugins and extensions like Akrivi’s tools are when you need to work fast.
Save Time with Akrivi's Base Grid Generator™
While knowing manual methods builds great skill, sometimes I need speed and instant results.
This is where Akrivi's Base Grid Generator™, an Adobe Illustrator extension, truly shines. It instantly creates square, isometric, hex, and golden ratio grids, saving me all the tedious manual dragging, duplicating, and rotating.
That means more time for design, less time for busywork!
Free Logo Grid Templates
Many designers love having a good logo grid template. And who doesn't love free stuff?
We've put together a FREE logo grid template as part of our Logo Grid Templates. It also includes an ebook, all about mastering logo grids inside Adobe Illustrator.
Conclusion
Learning how to make a logo grid, especially base grids like square and isometric, is a key skill. It boosts your precision, balance, and professionalism. Whether you build them by hand or use smart tools, understanding grids will transform your work.
