Blog Archives

Trees - 12 styles

2/23/2020

12 trees. Different styles, all fun and easy to create. Add your own style and flair to make them your own!

Tree #1
Start with a polygon, while drawing use the down arrow to reduce the sides to 3. Add a fill and a white stroke.

Use the Curvature Tool to click on the bottom center point and pull the bottom line down to create a curve.

Duplicate the shape and move it up over the first shape. Reduce the size of the new shape.

Duplicate the shape again, reduce the size of the third shape.

Use the Direct Selection tool to select all but the top most point and pull the corners in to round them.

Add a rectangle to the base to create the the trunk. Done.

Tree #2
Draw a circle, add a fill and a white stroke. Duplicate the shape and make it smaller.

Create a line, add a heavy stroke for the trunk.

In the Control Bar, click on the Profile drop down menu and choose the tapered profile.

Move one of the lines to the front and one to the back. Done.

Tree #3
Draw a circle, add a fill and a white stroke.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the top point and move it straight up.

Duplicate the shape and move one behind the one behind the other and overlap them,

Add the profile lines from Tree #2

Tree #4
Copy the tapered tree trunk from Tree #3.

Duplicate the tapered line and make them smaller, rotate them to make branches

Add circles with a fill and a white stroke. Size them to fit the branches.

Tree #5
Draw a line, add a heavy stroke.

Draw a Arc to create the branches.

Duplicate the arcs to create more branches.

For the leaves, create two circles and overlap them by half.

Select both shapes and use the Intersect Mode in the Pathfinder panel.

Rotate the leaves and scale them to fit the branches. Done.

Tree #6
Draw a circle, no fill and heavy stroke.

Duplicate the shapes and make them different sizes.

Select all the shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make them one shape.

Copy the trunk from tree #4. Choose Object > Expand Appearance. Add a white stroke to the expanded shape. Done.

Tree #7
Create an oval. Duplicate the over half way over itself. Use the Minus Front mode in the Pathfinder. Add a white stroke to the shape.

Duplicate the shape and rotate it and move it behind the other. Create 3 leaves.

Copy the leaves and use the flip feature in the Properties Panel. Add the trunk from Tree #4. Done.

Tree #8
Create a circle. Add the trunk tapered tree trunk. Choose Object > Expand Appearance. Add a white stroke to the trunk. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the tip of the trunk and pull the corner widget in to round the tip.

Select the circle and add a Zig Zag effect from the Effect Menu > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag.

Change the amount of Zig Zag to create the puffy or spiky tree. Done.

Tree #9
Use the lines and arcs from Tree #5. Use the Stroke Panel to round cap (hot dog) the ends.

Create a rectangle with a fill and white stroke. Select the shape with the Direct Selection Tool and pull in the corner widgets.

Scale the shapes and add them to the tree to create a topiary tree. Done.

Tree #10
Draw a line and hot dog the ends in the Stroke Panel.

Create an arc and rotate the shape to create a lower branch.

Duplicate the lower arc, scale it smaller and move it to the top.

Select the top and bottom arcs and choose Object > Blend Options. Set the Spacing to Specified Steps and set it for 3.

Choose Object > Blend > Make to make the blend happen. Done. Yes, it is a dead tree.

Tree #11
Use the trunk tapered tree trunk in the other trees.

Use the Curvature Tool to select the middle of the trunk and curve the trunk.

Copy the leaf from Tree#5. Move it to the side of the top of the trunk. Select the leaf then select the Rotate Tool and OPTION/ALT click on the tip of the trunk to set the rotate point and open the Rotate dialog box.

Choose how many leaves you want and type in 360/ (the number of leaves you want) then click COPY. Don't click OK.

Use Command + D to duplicate the rotated leaf. Repeat the Command + D to create duplicates.

Copy a leaf and make the leaf a lighter color and smaller. Select the leaf then select the Rotate Tool and OPTION/ALT click on the tip of the trunk to set the rotate point and open the Rotate dialog box.

Repeat the last two steps to make a duplicate the set of leaves. Done.

Tree #12
Create a triangle using the Polygon Tool. Pull the shape taller.

Duplicate the shape and make it a lighter fill.

Use the Direct Selection Tool and select top point of each and pull them together to form a tree.

Use the Direct Selection Tool and select right point of each and move them up.

Create a rectangle and fill it with a dark color, duplicate it and fill it with a lighter color.

Use the Direct Selection Tool and select the bottom right and bottom left corner of the shape and pull in the corner widgets.

Move the stem behind the tree. Done.

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Brick of Swiss Cheese

2/17/2020

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This Swiss Cheese uses a cool gradient effect where two gradients are set to opposite directions to make a circle look like a hole; perfect for Swiss Cheese. As always there are a few other tricks in here as well.

Start the wedge of cheese with a circle.

With the handle on the right side (the lollipop) move the handle around to create a wedge.

Pull the bounding box to shorten the height of the wedge. You can still move the lollipop handles to change the wedge shape.

Draw a rectangle the width of the wedge. Fill it with a slightly darker color.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and move the sides of the rectangle to match up to the edges of the wedge.

Create a circle for the holes.

In the Gradient Panel, click on the fill section in the upper left to activate the gradient ramp. Double-click on the color stops (dots) under the ramp. Create a gradient from darker to lighter.

Create a slightly larger circle and send it to the back using Object > Arrange > Send Backward.

Change the gradient in the circle behind to be lighter on the left, darker on the right, This will give the look of an inverted circle with the gradients going opposite directions.

Select the lighter outer ring and darker inner ring and choose Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Move the circles onto the cheese. Duplicate these circles and resize them and place them around the cheese.

To create a hole that is on the edge, create a circle and move it over the edge.

Select the circle and the cheese shape and use the Minus Front command in the Pathfinder panel.

To create the shaded section of the edge cutout with two over lapping circles.

Use the Minus Front command in the Pathfinder panel to make a crescent shape. Apply the dark to light gradient.

Move the gradient crescent over the opening.

Repeat the process with the edge shape. Select the oval and cheese and use the Minus Front Pathfinder mode.

Copy the gradient from the last edge and paste it behind the new edge shape.

To create and edge hole, create two ovals and use the Unite Mode in the Pathfinder Panel.

Create a 2 pt larger shape by using Object > Path > Offset Path. Send the shape Backward behind the front shape.

Apply a Gaussian Blur Effect to the shapes.

To create an odd hole, create 2 overlapping circles and use the Unite Mode in the Pathfinder Panel to make it one shape.

Create a 2 pt larger shape by using Object > Path > Offset Path. Send the shape Backward behind the front shape. Apply a Gaussian Blur Effect to the shapes.

Apply the holes to the cheese shape.

Select some of the holes and make them less perfectly round.

Choose Effect > Transform > Pucker & Bloat. Set the Bloat to 5%. This will make the shapes less perfect.

And this how you make a slice of Swiss Cheese!

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Large French Fries

2/9/2020

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Create a nice stack of large fries.

Start with 2 rectangles. Lighter fill color in one, darker color in the other.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and move the edge of one of the rectangles.

Repeat the last step with the other rectangle.

Create a rectangle and fill it with a lighter color.

Use the Direction Selection Tool to select a corner of the new rectangle and move the points to the rectangle to match the points on the vertical rectangles.

Make the sides of the new rectangle parallel with each other to create the top.

Make several versions by making the vertical rectangles wider or narrower. The top rectangle can be flatter or steeper to change the look of the tops.

Select each fry and choose Object > Envelop Distort > Make With Warp... Use the Arc Style and set the Bend to Vertical.

Bend the Arc to create difference curves on the fries.

Duplicate and warp the fries to create a stack.

Create a box with a rectangle.

Use the Curvature Tool to click on the bottom center and pull up to create a curve.

Use the Free Transform Tool and select the Perspective Distort to pull the top edges wider.

Create a rectangle with a darker fill.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select each corner of the rectangle to create the edge of the box.

Copy and flip the edge for the other side.

Use the Curvature Tool to click on the top center and pull down to create a curve.

Place the fries behind the box.

Select some of the fries and change the color by using Edit >Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. Click on the Edit Tab, lock the colors together in the lower right. Move the paddles left or right to change the color of the selected fries.

Repeat the Recolor artwork on other fries to subtly change the colors to set them apart. Add an oval on the front of the box and you are done!

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Comb Through Fuzzy Fur

2/2/2020

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Super simple comb. Sometimes the simple ideas are the most amazing. And this is a fast way to create a comb. Yet the fun part is creating the fuzzy look. This would be great when creating a stuffed animal or plush toy, a feather boa or feather duster.

Start with a rectangle Fill with no stroke.

Click on the Free Transform Tool and choose the Perspective Distort option.

Pull the bottom corners in to taper the shape.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper corners, pull the corner widgets in a bit to round the corners.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower corners, pull the corner widgets in a bit to round the corners.

Draw a line with a white stroke. Ruund the end caps (hot dog the end) in the stroke panel.

Choose Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. set the Horizontal Move to space the teeth apart then enter the number of Copies at the bottom of the panel.

Adjust the Move and Copies as needed to achieve the desires number of teeth and spacing. Click OK.

Select the lines and choose Object > Expand Appearance. This will turn the "effect" of the lines into individual lines.

Choose Object > Expand to turn the lines into shapes.

Select all the teeth with the Direct Selection Tool but not the ends. Pull the corners widgets in to round the teeth.

Select the first and last teeth with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the corners widgets in to round the teeth.

Once the ends are rounded, they will look short.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and pull the ends lower to match the length of the other teeth.

Use the Curvature Tool to select the top of the comb and pull up to curve the top.

Select the comb and choose Object > Path > Offset Path and set the offset to a large negative number so only the top part of the comb shape is created.

Select the new offset path and fill it with a different color for contrast.

To warp the comb, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Warp...

Choose the Arc and set the selection to Horizontal and a 5% Bend. When the Envelope is done, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Expand to set the Warp effect.

To create the fake fur, create a circle and fill it with a gradient.

Click on the round color stop at the bottom of the gradient ramp to select the gradient colors of the circle.

Create multiple circles by using the Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Set the Horizontal move to 10 pt and the number of copies to 50.

This will create a set of circles. Choose Object > Expand Appearance to break them into individual objects.

Choose Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Set the size to 50%, the Detail to 75/in and the Points to Corner.

To get the best result, you may have to rotate the gradient to get the best, fluffy look.

Put the comb in the fake fur.
Change the color of the comb to a contrasting color.

To change the color of the fur quickly, choose Edit > Edit Colors >Recolor Artwork. Click the Edit tab at the top, then the unlink chain in the lower right corner. Move the paddles around the color wheel to create other type of fur.

Choose contrasting colors for a bolder look and more depth.

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Design Points n PixelS

Trees - 12 styles

Brick of Swiss Cheese

Large French Fries

Comb Through Fuzzy Fur

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