Jason Hoppe Adobe Certified Expert & Adobe Certified Trainer - Jason Hoppe

Fast, easy Patterns

5/19/2019

Creating quick, easy patterns without using the Pattern panel. This uses a few Effects and the Appearance Panel to quickly change the look of these patterns.

Start with any object or shape. It can be an open line or a closed shape.

Select the shape and choose Effect>Distort & Transform> Transform.

Set the Move section - Horizontal to 20 mm to offset the shape. Set the number of copies at the bottom of the Transform Panel. Click OK. This will create a set of duplicate shapes.

Duplicate the first shape using COMMAND + D. Create several duplicates.

Select all the shapes, add a Pucker & Bloat filter from the Effect menu. Effect>Distort & Transform>Bloat at 50%.

This creates a quick pattern.

Edit the Pucker & Bloat to make quick changes to the shapes.

This is a Pucker added to the circle.

To edit the effect easily, edit the Effect in the Appearance Panel.

Try different Pucker & Bloat effects.

Try adding a Zig Zag.

This is the Zig Zag with rounded corners.

Try a staggered set of circles.

Add a Warp Effect, in this case with a Fish Warp

This creates a scale pattern like a fish.

Try some triangle shapes.

Apply a Pucker Effect.

This makes some nice integrated patterns.

Set the Align Stroke to the inside of the shape.

This will create a very cool flying triangle pattern.

When all the shapes are created, you can Expand the shapes into actual shapes (not a shape with an effect on it). Select the shapes and choose Object>Expand Appearance.

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TOUCH TYPE TOOL

5/12/2019

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The Touch type Tool in Illustrator is a tool that many people have no idea exists. It is very cool to be able to adjust each character while the text is live text and not outlined. Check it out.

To start, set some type using any of the type tools. Do not outline the type, the Touch Type tool works on active type only.

From the type tool menu, choose the last option on the list, the Touch Type tool.

With the Touch Type tool, click on a letter you want to edit the size, scale and position.

When you click on the letter, there are 5 points to click on and change the letter. Click on the corresponding point to scale, rotate or move the letter.

Each letter can be individually scaled, moved, rotated or scaled to make the letter fit into the overall look of your text.

This typeface is Marydale-Regular which is available on the www.fonts.adobe.com website or through your text menu in Illustrator by clicking on the Find More section at the top of your font menu to add fonts.. Using the Touch Type tool you can move, scale, position any character of active type and create a dynamic look with your text.

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Arrow with Target

5/5/2019

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This target uses The Polar Grid tool to make the concentric rings. Add the arrow and you have hit the bulls eye.

Select the Polar Grid tool (nested with the line tool). Click on the artboard to open the Polar Grid options. Set the number of Concentric Dividers to 4, radial dividers at 0. Click on both boxes to Create a compound path and fill the grid.

Fill the target with red. The Compound path feature will allow the circles to fill every other set of circles.

Create a circle the same size as the target. Choose the Ellipse Tool and click on the artboard to open the options. Set the size to the same size as the target.

Fill the circle with white, add a 4pt stroke.

Open the Stroke Panel and set the stroke to be on the inside of the circle.

Select the circle and chose Effects>Distort & Transform> Transform. Set the move to .25mm on both the horizontal and vertical settings. Set the number of copies to 25. Click OK.

Move the circle behind the target to create a dimensional look.

Draw a rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the left edge and pull the Corner Widgets in to round the end.
Create a duplicate the shape for later.

Apply a gradient from the Swatches Panel. Open the gradient panel and set the angle to -90° to get the gradient to go from light at the top to dark at the bottom.

Create a rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the top edge and move it to the left.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner and pull in the corner widget.

Duplicate and flip the shape and move the fins to the arrow.

Select the lower fin and click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Draw a rectangle in the shape. Fill it with 40% gray. Set the blend mode to Multiply in the Opacity Panel. Click on the Draw Normal mode.

Select all the shapes and group them together.

Rotate the arrow and place it on the target.

Use the duplicate rectangle to create a shadow from the arrow. Fill it with 40% gray. Set the blend mode to Multiply in the Opacity Panel. Done!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Chrome / Reflective Badge

4/28/2019

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Create a chrome or reflective look on type and add some gleamie specular highlights for a shiny effect.

Choose a typeface and create a word. This typeface is called Raceway and it is available on type.adobe.com and can be activated for use in Illustrator. Outline the font. Choose Object>Compound Path>Make to turn all the shapes into a single acting shape. Grouping it together will not create a single shape.

Fill the type with a gradient from white to a medium color.

Set the angle so the highlight is on the top and the darker color is on the bottom.

Add a stroke to the shape. In the stroke panel set the Align Stroke to the outside so it does not encroach into the the shape.

Add a gradient to the stroke by selecting the stroke icon in the gradient panel. Add a light color by clicking under the gradient ramp. Click under the ramp to add another color. With the color dot selected, set the color locations at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 to space the color out equally.

This will create a beveled look to the badge with a multi-step gradient on the stroke.

In the Appearance Panel, click on the add Stroke button in the lower left. Set the stroke to be under the initial stroke and twice the weight.

Click on the Stroke link in the Appearance Panel and set the Align Stroke to the outside.

Add a darker gradient to the second stroke.

The darker gradient on the second stroke give more of reflective edge on the bevel.

In the Appearance Panel, turn the strokes off by clicking on the eye next to the stroke.

Select the type and choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke. Set the offset to -1 to make the shape smaller. Click OK.

Move the offset type off the original shape.

Create a rectangle over the top of the offset path.

Select the type and the rectangle and choose Minus Front in the Pathfinder panel to cut off the top, leaving just the bottom of the offset type.

Move the cut off section to the lower of the type. Turn on the strokes in the Appearance panel.

Set the lower section to Multiply.

This blends the section into the type and makes the bottom inset appear darker.

Select the badge and set the Corners to be rounded in the Stroke Panel.

Add a gleamie highlight. Create the gleamie by drawing a Star. While drawing the star, use the UP ARROW to add points to the star. While drawing, hold the COMMAND key and pull in toward the center of the star to make the points longer.

Direct Select the end points and pull them longer and shorter.

Make the gleamies white and add them to the badge to create highlights.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Bathtub with Bubbles

4/21/2019

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Try this relaxing bubble bath. Add some water streaming, bubble and a stack of towels.

Start the tub with a rectangle.

Select the Free Transform Tool and choose the 3rd tool in the list, the Perspective Tool

Click on either lower corner of the rectangle and pull into the shape to pinch the bottom together.

Draw a rectangle, pull the Corner Widgets in to the max to round the ends.

Move the rounded rectangle to the top of the tub, Select both shapes.

Use the Pathfinder Unite tool to merge the two shapes together. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower 2 points and pull the Corner Widget in to round the bottom two edges.

Direct select the upper inside corners and round those Corner Widgets.

Add a heavy stroke to the shape.

Make the shower with a rectangle.

Direct Select the top two corners and pull the Corner Widgets in to the max.

Direct Select the lower right corner and delete it, leaving the shower arm. Round cap the ends (hot dog the ends) in the Stroke Panel.

For the shower head draw a circle. Direct Select the lower point and delete it. To join the line together, Choose Object>Path>Join.

Move the shower arm and head into position.

Create dotted lines for the shower water. Draw a line, set the ends caps to round (hot dog the ends) and click on the Dashed Line check box. Set the dash length to ZERO, gap to 12.

Move the dotted lines into position for the shower head.

For the legs, create a rectangle. Direct Select the top two corners and move them to the right.

Move the leg into position. Duplicate the leg and choose flip in the Properties Panel.

For the Towel, start with a rectangle.

Direct Select the top two corners and pull the Corner Widgets in to the max.

Direct Select the lower left corner and delete it, leaving the shower arm. Round cap the ends (hot dog the ends) in the Stroke Panel.

Duplicate the shape, and leave a wider space than the towel will be.

Select both shapes, and join the line together, Choose Object>Path>Join. Do this twice to close both ends of the towel.

Add a break line the upper edge of the tub. Add some circles with light blue and gray strokes for bubbles.

Place the towel at the edge.

Create a stack of towels. Draw a rectangle, pull the Corner Widgets in to the max to round the ends.

Duplicate the towel shape and stack them at the end of the tub. Draw a line for the towels and tub to sit on.

Select the tub, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Draw a rectangle, filled with 20% black. Set the Opacity mode to Multiply. Move the shadow into place and click on the Draw Normal mode to exit.

Duplicate the towel, fill it with 20% gray. Select the hanging towel on the tub and repeat the Draw Inside mode.

Copy and paste the gray towel into the towel. Move the darker towel shadow to the right of the towel.

Click on the Draw Normal mode. This added the shadow to the towel.

Do the same Draw Inside process to add the shadow to the shower head.

Select the stack of towels. To paste a shape inside all of the at one time, choose Object>Compound Path> Make. (Grouping these together will not give you one shape.) This makes it all one shape to Draw Inside. Do the same Draw Inside process to add the shadow to the Towels.