Canadian Flag

This flag was taken from the web and is too pixely to use in print publications. Recreate it using Illustrator.

How many shapes are in this image? Three or four? How many red rectangles are there?

  1. Download the canadian flag file and immediately save it in your folder. Remember to save every 15 minutes or so.
  2. Make a NEW layer in the layer palette. Make sure the new layer is above the "instructions" layer.
  3. Name that layer "Red Rectangle"

4. Use the eyedropper to select the red on the flag as the fill color.

5.Make the stroke gray and 2 points thick..


6. Make a red rectangle on top of the flag so that it overlaps the entire flag.


7. Turn the Red Rectangle layer OFF so that you see the instruction layer again.
8. Make a new layer. Name it "white square." Make sure it is above the red rectangle layer.


9. Make a white square on that layer so that it covers the rasterized white square. Make sure the stroke is off.

10. Align the top and bottom edges of the square so that they don't overlap the red rectangle's gray stroke.There shouldn't be any red visible between the white square and the stroke of the red rectangle either.


11. Turn the white square layer off.
12. Make a new layer. Name it "Leaf"
13. Trace the leaf using the pen tool (click once on each consecutive corner.). Choose a stroke color other than red, so it will be easier to see your path. Make sure the fill is OFF while you trace. There are NO curves in the leaf, so do not click-and-drag.


14. Make sure the leaf is a completed shape.
15. Fill in the leaf with the proper shade of red. Turn the stroke off.
16. Select both the white square and the leaf with the black arrow tool.

17. Subtract the leaf from the white square by pressing the second button on the pathfinder palette.

18. Be sure to press the "expand" button.

19. Turn on the red rectangle layer. Select both the rectangle and the square and Group the objects together (Control-G).
20. Turn off the Instructions layer. Choose "flatten artwork" from the layer palette options. You DO want to discard hidden art.


21. Save it in the Finished Canadian Flag folder as your last name.

Your finished flag should look like this, only without any pixels.