Blog Archives

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Chrome / Reflective Badge

4/28/2019

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.

Add some asterisks and crosses to the bubbles to make them look like they are popping.

Relax and enjoy the fun bubble bath.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Marshmallow Roasting over a Camp Fire

4/14/2019

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Make a fire and break out the marshmallows and get roasting. This is a fun way to enjoy roasting marshmallows and a cool way to create a stick and fire.

Start with a rectangle, heavy stroke, white fill. Use the Stroke Panel to round the corners of the stroke.

Draw an oval the exact same height as the rectangle. Duplicate it. Move the duplicate to the right end of the rectangle.

Select the rectangle and the oval. Choose the Pathfinder Unite Mode to join the two shapes together.

Move the other oval to the left side of the rectangle to form the marshmallow.

To create the stick, create a rectangle with a heavy stroke and a fill. Use the Stroke Panel to round the corners of the stroke.

Duplicate the stick and shorten the rectangles. Move and rotate them to a 45° angle. Select all the shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape.

Use the line tool to create thinner, lighter lines inside the stick for the wood grain. Use the Stroke Panel to round the end caps (hot dog the ends) of the stroke. Select all the stick parts and group them together.

Create a rectangle over the stick. Copy the end oval of the marshmallow and place it halfway the end of the rectangle as shown. (The opacity is being simply as a guide)

Join the rectangle and oval together using the Pathfinder Unite Mode. No fill or stoke on the shape. Click on the Draw Inside mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

CUT the Stick and PASTE it into the newly created shape. Position it so the stick is in the center of the oval vertically and move the stick so the right end is masked by the oval. Click on the Draw Normal Mode.

Create a rectangle. Copy the oval from the end of the marshmallow. Use the Direct Select Tool to delete all but the lower right arc of the oval. Duplicate the arc over the rectangle.

Select the arcs, choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke.

Select all the shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape. Group all the shapes together.

Click on the marshmallow shape. Click on the Draw Inside mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

CUT the shading and PASTE it into the marshmallow shape. Position it so the shading rests at the bottom of the shap. Click on the Draw Normal Mode.

Add some darker lines to the bottom of the shading. Move the stick into position at the end of the marshmallow.

For the flame, draw a rectangle. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and corner widget the lower right corner only.

Use the Skew Tool to skew the shape to the left.

Duplicate the shape to the right. Select both shapes. Use the Pathfinder Minus front mode to remove the extra parts.

This is the remaining result.

Duplicate and flip the shape so the shapes overlap each other. Use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make it one shape.

Add a heavy stroke to the flames, lighter fill. Duplicate the shapes, use darker and lighter warm colors to make the flames. Select all the flames and group them together. CUT the flames.

Draw a rectangle. Click on the Draw Inside mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. PASTE the flames into the shape, hiding the bottom of the flames. Click on the Draw Normal Mode.

Add some wood to the fire by creating a rectangle, wide and short. Use the corner widgets to round the ends fully. Use the Direct Selection tool to select and remove one end of the rectangle. Move the wood under the fire.

Add some dots and lines to the flames. Add sparks and dots to the fire. Move the stick and marshmallow over the fire and get roasting.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Submarine under the Sea

4/1/2019

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Create a fun submarine under the water. add some waves and some water highlights to complete the undersea adventure.

Start the body of the sub with two circles, overlapping half way.

Use the Pathfinder Intersect Mode to make the eye shape.

Create a rectangle the same height as the eye shape.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create on shape.

Draw a rectangle over the end of the body.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode to remove the end.

Draw a square. Add a darker stroke.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the two right edges and pull the Corner Widgets in. OPTION/ALT + CLICK on the Corner Widgets to cycle through the corner styles until you get to the flat corners.

Place the fins behind the body of the sub. Choose Object>Arrange>Send To Back. Add the same stroke to the body that was added to the fins.

Draw a rectangle on the end and use the Corner Widgets the on the outside end.

Draw a black line coming out of the body. Add caps to the line ends (hot dog the ends).

To create the propeller, create two over lapping circles.

Use the Pathfinder Intersect Mode to make the propeller.

Use Corner Widgets to pull in the ends slightly.

Place the propeller blades on a a rectangle on the end of the black line.

Add circles for windows. Add a white stroke and a blue fill.

In the Appearance Panel, add an additional stroke by clicking on the stroke button at the bottom left of the Appearance Panel. Add a red stroke with a smaller stroke weight to the same circles.

For the top, create a square.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner. Pull the corner in and use the OPTION/ALT + CLICK on the Corner Widget to cycle through the corners. Add the shape to the top of the sub.

Add the shape to the top of the sub.

Draw a line with rounded ends.

Use the Width Shape Tool and widen one end of the line. Outline the Stroke. Choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke.

Add the same fill and stroke to the fin.

Place the fin at the end of the sub before the propeller.

Create a rectangle for the periscope. Use the Corner Widgets to round one end. Place the periscope behind the sub.

Copy the periscope and create a right angle with the shape.

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

Place the second periscope at the top of the sub.

Create 2 rectangles. Fill one with white, 85% opacity.

Fill the second rectangle with 10% black and set the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Select the top pod, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Copy and paste the white and gray rectangles into the pod.

Scale the rectangles to fit them into the pod to create a a highlight and shadow. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done.

Repeat the Draw Inside on the tail fins, paste the highlight and shadow rectangles.

To create the shadow on the propellers. Copy the propeller and and fill the copy with 10% black and set the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Repeat the draw inside on the propellers and paste the gray prop shadows into the propellers.

Repeat the Draw Inside for the body of the sub.

Draw a line at the front of the sub. Use the Curvature Tool to curve the line.

Add a circle behind the sub, fill it with light blue.

Draw a line and add a Zig Zag effect to the line, make the corners smooth.

Place the line over the top portion of the circle. Expand the appearance the of the line under Object>Expand Appearance.

Select the line and the blue circle and use the Pathfinder Divide Mode. Ungroup the shapes. Delete the upper shape.

Create a line. Round the ends.

In the Appearance Panel, add an additional stroke by clicking on the stroke button at the bottom left of the Appearance Panel. Add a white stroke with the same stroke weight.

Select the White Stroke in the Appearance Panel and add a Transform Effect (Effect>Distort & Transform> Transform. Move the line with a H & V offset of 6mm.