Blog Archives

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Spray Bottle

4/30/2018

Create a spray bottle with a spritz coming our from it. Few tricks in here to make this work but the results are great, the process quick and fun.

Start with an oval.

Create a rectangle over the lower half of the oval.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

Create a rectangle over the upper tip of the oval.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode. This create the bottle.

Use the Curvature Tool to add a point to the right upper side and push the line in to form a flowing curve.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the shape and pull the Corner Widgets in slightly.

Go to Object>Path>Offset path to create an inner shape.

This is the resulting interior shape.

Create a rectangle over the upper part of the shape. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode. This create the bottle.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower corner points and pull the Corner Widgets in slightly.

Create a rectangle for the sprayer head.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner point and pull the Corner Widgets in.

Copy and paste the shape, then rotate that shape to get the rounded part at the left of the spray head.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

Paste the shape, then move that shape to get the rounded part at the lower right of the spray head. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.Draw a thin rectangle near the left edge.

This creates the spray tip.

Create two circles, off set them slightly. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

This create a moon shape.

Draw a rectangle over the tips of the moon. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

Draw a rectangle over the top half of the moon. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

This create the trigger.

Place the trigger on the sprayer head.

Draw a line, round the ends.

Choose Object>Expand and create a shape from the line.

Place the line in the center of the sprayer bottle.

Select the tube and the lower fluid section. Choose the Exclude Mode in the Pathfinder Panel.

Select the tube and the sprayer head section. Choose the Exclude Mode in the Pathfinder Panel.

Draw lines coming out of the sprayer head. Set the lines to dots using the Stroke dashed Line panel. Set the dash length to ZERO to get dots.

Place the dotted lines at the spray head.

Add some color to the bottle, sprayer and the spray head. You are done!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Create a Toaster

4/23/2018

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Breakfast is great way to start the day, so create this toaster to get things going.

Start the body of the toaster with a rectangle.

Select the top two corners with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the Corner Widgets in toward the center.

Duplicate the shape, send it to the back and fill it with a lighter color.

Use the Scissor Tool and click on two points on the edge of the front shape. Delete the line segment that the scissor tool cut out. Round the ends of the lines in the Stroke Panel (hot dog the ends).

Create a rectangle for the handle and a rounded rectangle for the slot to have the handle move up and down in.

Create a square for the bread to toast.

Create an oval, place it over the top center of the bread.

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

Duplicate the shape, send it to the back and fill it with a darker color. Create a rectangle in front of the bread, fill it with gray.

Set the gray box to Multiply in the Opacity panel.

Copy the rectangle, click on the bread and click the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool bar. Paste the gray bar in and move it to the bottom of the bread. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done.

Repeat the last step with the other piece of bread as well at the toaster face.

Add three lines to the bread. Make them zig zag using the Effect>Distort& Transform>Zig Zag.

Set the size and ridges to create toast marks.

Draw a rounded rectangle on the side of the toaster. Use the Scissor Tool and click on two points on the edge of the front shape. Delete the line segment that the scissor tool cut out. Round the ends of the lines in the Stroke Panel (hot dog the ends).

Create a rectangle . Select the right two corners with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the Corner Widgets in toward the center.

Remove the vertical line and part of the bottom line using the Direct Selection Tool.

Copy, flip and position the shape to create an "S" shape.

Place the cord at the side of the toaster.

For the plug head. Create a circle, use the Direct Selection Tool to select the right point, delete it, then Join the ends to close the shape.

Add two lines to the plug and place them at the end of the cord. You are ready to toast!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Juicy Burger Icon

4/16/2018

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Create a nice thick, juicy burger icon, stacked high with fun and easy to create.

Start with a rectangle, add a fill and a stroke.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower two corners and pull the corner widgets in to the center a small amount.

Create another rectangle for the top bun.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper two corners and pull the corner widgets in to the center to get large rounded corners.

Create a rectangle, add a fill and a stroke for the burger.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the shape and pull the corner widgets in to the center until the ends are rounded.

Draw a line.

Add a Zig Zag Effect under Effect> Distort & Transform> ZigZag. Use these settings to get a wavy line.

This is what the wavy line result is.

Choose Object> Expand Appearance to change the stroke to a line and not just an effect.

Draw another line above the wavy line.

Select both lines and Join them by using Object>Path>Join. Do this twice to join both ends.

Select the ends with the Direct Selection Tool to round the ends fully.

Fill the shape with green for lettuce and add it to the top of the burger.

Create a square.

Rotate the square 45°.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the top point and delete the lines leaving just the V.

Fill the V with yellow. Add a line above the V to look like a slice of cheese.

Create a rectangle and round the ends for tomatoes.

Assemble the burger with the parts.

Draw three rectangles and place them side by side.

Shorten the center, elongate the right side.

Use the Pathfinder Unite mode to create on shape.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower corners and pull the corner widgets in to the center to create drips.

Place the drips under the lettuce and make them yellow for mustard or red for ketchup.

For the seeds on the bun, use the Type Tool to type dots. Select a font that allow that has good "periods" for dots.

Choose Type>Create Outlines to outline the type, fill the dots with white, brown stroke.

Place the dots on the bun for seeds.

Add a rectangle, filled with black. Set the opacity at 30% and set the Blending Mode to Multiply in the Transparency Channel.

Copy the rectangle, then select the bun, click on the Draw Inside mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar, then paste the gray rectangle. Rotate the rectangle 30°. Click on the Draw Normal mode when done.

Repeat the last steps on the lower bun, patty, lettuce, tomato. Add some lines with rounded end caps for character. You are done!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Fire Hydrant

4/9/2018

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Create a fun fire hydrant icon with a dramatic shadow.

Start the body with a red rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the top corners, and pull the corner widgets in toward the center.

Create a rectangle at the base. Fill with a darker red.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the corners, and pull the corner widgets in toward the center.

Duplicate the base rectangle at the base of the arc.

Add darker rectangle, one on each side.

Create a circle in the middle of the base. Add a darker circle inside this circle.

Draw a rectangle. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the corners, and pull the corner widgets in toward the center to round the ends.

Copy the shape. Click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Paste the shape, change the color and move it to the right. Click on the Draw Normal mode when complete.

Duplicate these shapes across the face for ridges. Add a hex shape using the Polygon Tool. Fill it with gray.

Add a gray rectangle to the side rectangles.

Duplicate the shape, make it half as tall, fill it with a darker gray and place it over the light gray rectangle. Group the two gray rectangle together.

Duplicate the gray rectangle and put on on top, and one on the other side of the hydrant.

Select the entire hydrant and duplicate it. Use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create a solid shape. Fill it with gray.

Draw a rectangle over half of the shape. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

This will leave you with half the hydrant.

In the Control Bar, click on the Opacity Link, open the Opacity window and set the Mode from Normal to Multiply, and the opacity at 50%.

Place it over the left side of the hydrant and you are done! Fire hydrant with a darker shadow on the side.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Lawn Mower

4/2/2018

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Spring has arrived, and the outdoors are calling... and so is the lawn. Create a lawnmower and a few sprouts of grass to get a head start on spring.

Start with 2 circles for the wheels, add a heavy stroke and a fill.

Create a rectangle for the base of the lawn mower.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner and move the point up to create a trapezoid.

Draw a square for the engine, fill it with gray.

Place the block behind the mower. Object> Arrange> Send to Back.

Add a rectangle for the top of the mower. Use the Direct Selection Tool to Widget the upper corners. Fill it with orange. Create a rounded rectangle for the muffler. Add a few lines to the side of the engine.

Add a second rectangle for the top of the mower. Use the Direct Selection Tool to Widget the upper corners, make it slightly darker than the orange for the top. Duplicate that shape, make it smaller for the gas cap.

Create 2 lines for the handle. Heavy stroke with a rounded cap end (hotdog the ends)

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the 2 point where the handles come together. Use COMMAND + J to Join the shapes into one shape.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the joined corner, pull the corner widget to round the edge of the handle.

Draw a rectangle for the bag.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper right corner of the bag and bring it down to parallel the handle. Select the lower left corner to widget the corner.

Add a line to the middle of the handle. This is for the pull cord cord to come through.

Add a thicker line to create a pull handle.

Draw a darker circle on the top of the mower to have the pull cord come through.

Draw a rounded rectangle, no fill.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove half of the rectangle as shown. This is for the handle.

Place the red handle at the top of the handle.

Copy the bag, choose Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Paste the shape, lighten the fill color and move the shape to create a slip shadow. Click back on the Draw Normal Mode.

Copy the deck for the mower and repeat the process for the bag to create a slip shadow. Don't forget to click back on the Draw Normal Mode after each section.

Copy the wheel and repeat the process of drawing inside. Don't forget to click back on the Draw Normal Mode after each section.

Create a slip shadow on the mower top and muffler.

Add a slip shadow to the engine and the top lid.

Here is the result of adding slip shadows to all the shapes.

Draw a line, add a green stroke/dotted line under the mower.

Place the line after the back of the mower.

Create 2 outline circles, offset. Select both and use the Intersect Mode in the Pathfinder Panel to create a moon shape.

Draw a rectangle over the moon shape, select both shapes and use the Minus Front Mode in the Pathfinder panel.

This creates a blade of grass. Duplicate and flip the grass.

Draw a line to meet the lower point of the grass. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the end of the line and one end of the grass. Use COMMAND + J to join the shapes.

Repeat the Join on each end of the shapes as shown in the red highlights. In the Stroke panel set the line and grass shoots to have rounded corners on the strokes.

Place the line and shoots of grass under the mower and you are done!

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Design Points n PixelS

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Spray Bottle

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Create a Toaster

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Juicy Burger Icon

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Fire Hydrant

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Lawn Mower

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