Blog Archives

Infographic Series - Metal Patterns

6/21/2016

Quick tutorial on how to make metal looking patterns in Illustrator using the Pattern creator. Simple to create, easy to use.

Start with a circle, fill it with a dark color.

Duplicate the circle, then create another duplicate just off from the first.

Use the Pathfinder to Minus Front the two circle to create a wedge. Color the wedge lighter and place it on the first circle.

Select the circle and the highlight. Open the Pattern Panel under the Window Menu. Click on the cheese grate (drop down menu) and select Make Pattern

This will create a pattern and put it in the Swatches Panel for later use.

The Pattern will show up as a center element that you can adjust or change size, then the see how the pattern looks with the other elements around it.

From the Pattern Type in the Pattern Panel, choose the alignment of the pattern.

Create a shape and fill the shape with the new pattern that is in the swatch panel.

This one I put a darker box behind to make it look like a drain grate.

To create a screen, start with a square.

Create a copy of the square then duplicate the square off to the side a bit. Use the Pathfinder to Minus Front the two circle to create a sliver. Color the sliver lighter and place it on the square circle.

This gives the look of a highlight. Then select the shapes and using the Pattern Panel, turn it into a pattern.

Create a shape and fill it with the patter and it now looks like a screen.

The this is a metal fence look. Draw a line.

Use the Effects menu > Distort>Zig Zag. Set the settings to smooth and one "lump".

Then choose Object > Path > Outline Stroke.

Duplicate the squiggle and then create another copy of it. Offset them and use the Pathfinder to Minus Front the two circle to create a higlight. Color the highlight lighter and place it on the first squiggle.

Copy the set then turn them so they are perpendicular to each other. Select both and turn it into a pattern.

Fill a shape with the new pattern.

To edit any pattern, simply double click on the pattern in the swatch panel and make any adjustments. It will then change the look of the places where the patterns were applied.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Moon & Craters

6/12/2016

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Using the Blend Tool, Width Shape Tool and the Gradient Tool you can create this moon with craters and a ring. Fun, quick and easy to create.

Start with a circle, fill it with a color.

Create a smaller circle, fill it with a lighter color. Place it near the top of the first circle.

Create a 3rd circle, make it into an oval and fill it with a lighter color than the other two shapes.

In the Tool Bar, double click on the Blend Tool to open up the dialog box. Choose Smooth Color from the Spacing drop down menu.

Select all the shapes. Using the Blend Tool, click on the bottom of each of the shapes as indicated by the red circles. Start with the top shape, click on the bottom point, then the bottom point of the middle shape, then the bottom shape.

This will create a smooth blend of all the shapes into a highlighted sphere.

Create another circle. Add a stroke and add a gradient fill.

Open the Gradient panel to adjust the colors of the gradient. Click on the gradient color stops to call up the swatches to choose from.

Use the Gradient Tool to change the direction and the distance of the gradient.

Duplicate the shapes (craters) then use the Eyedropper tool to select the attributes of the first circle to make the gradient go the same direction on them all.

For the ring, create an oval, apply an 8 pt stroke.

Use the Width Shape Tool to make one side wider than the other by pulling on the stroke to make it wider.

Select the ring and choose from the Object Menu>Path>Outline Stroke

Using the Group Selection Tool (nested in the Direct Selection Tool), select the outer ring of the moon

Copy the outer ring to put it behind the ring.

Select both the ring and the circle with the Selection Tool. Use the Pathfinder Panel to select the Divide Mode.

After the Divide has been applied, use the Direct Selection Tool to select and delete the shapes you don't need to leave just the ring.

With all the shapes taken away, this leaves the ring with rounded ends that match the shape/arc of the moon.

Move the ring into position. And your moon with craters is done!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - 3 D Pie Charts the Easy Way

6/5/2016

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Here is a way to create 3D objects just by duplicating items using the OPTION key and the UP / DOWN arrows. Quite simple and easy.

Start with the Pie Chart Tool. Draw a shape with the Pie Chart Tool and it opens the dialog box to input the information.

Once done, the pie chart comes up with fills of gray and an outline.

Ungroup the chart and it will warn you that you can no longer edit it using the chart feature.

Fill each shape with a color, no fill.

Use the Selection Tool to turn the chart into an oval.

Select one of the shapes, hold OPTION then hold the UP ARROW until it duplicated numerous times. Then make the top part a slightly darker color.

This is what it look like in outline mode. Just the same shape repeated numerous times.

Select the fill color and the go to the Select Menu>Same>Fill Color. Then use the Pathfinder Tool to add all the same color shapes together into one.

Repeat the same steps for each pie shape.

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Design Points n PixelS

Infographic Series - Metal Patterns

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Moon & Craters

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - 3 D Pie Charts the Easy Way

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