INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Security File Folder

Here is a simple way to create a Security File Folder using Illustrator. Simple lock symbol with a file and a file folder complete with an action line to show the file going into the folder. Enjoy!

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Create a rectangle, filled and a contrasting stroke.

Draw another rectangle offset on the top. Select both shapes.

Use the Pathfinder Minus Front mode to remove the smaller rectangle, leaving the file folder tab.

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Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper right corner of the tab, them move it to the left to create an angle. (Remember to click OFF the folder before clicking on the upper corner point or the entire shape will move). 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select all the corner and pull the corners in to create equal corners, here I did a 35mm corner. You can see this measurement in the Control Bar. 

Create another rectangle with the same rounded corners, fill with a lighter color. 

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Round the stroke corners using the stroke panel. 

Draw a circle with no fill. 

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Move the circle behind the body of the lock.

Create a circle and a triangle for the key hole.

Stretch the triangle taller and place it on the circle.

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Place the key hole in position on the lock body. Group all the shapes together in the lock. 

Create a rectangle with rounded corners on the stroke. 

Create a rectangle, rotate it 45° and place the center of the rectangle on the upper right corner of the vertical rectangle. 

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Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode to create a file icon. 

Create an arc from the file into the folder.

Set the stroke weight to 50pt and add rounded end caps (hotdog the ends). Click the dashed line check box. Set the dash length to ZERO and the gap to twice he stroke weight. 

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Illustrator does not have a dotted line option, so creating a dashed line with rounded end caps and ZERO length dash creates 2 half circles and puts them together to for a dot!

To get the dotted line, you only need to fill in the first two fields for the dash and gap, not all six.

Copy the dotted line, Choose Edit>Paste In Place and set the color of the stroke to white and reduce the stroke weight to half of the underlying stroke weight. 

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For the folder slip shadow, copy the folder rectangle, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool bar, choose Paste, remove the stroke, darken the fill color and shift it to one side. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done. 

.Create a white line on the file and the folder. Create a random dashed line using the Stroke Panel and the values shown above

You have just created a file folder with a security icon!