Blog Archives

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Create Beveled Type

7/29/2018

If you have wanted to put a bevel on a shape, type or anything that you create in Illustrator, here it is. This will show you how to create a bevel on any shape, square, curved or round.

Pick a typeface that you want to bevel

Choose Type>Outline Type to turn the active type into shapes. Ungroup the type.

Create divider lines on the shape to begin. To find the centers, make sure your Smart Guides are on under the View Menu.

If the Smart Guides do not show the centers of the shapes, create a rectangle the width or height of the shape and use the center of the rectangle to find the center.

Draw lines from the corners. They can extend beyond the corners. Hold the SHIFT key when drawing lines to get them to be at a 45° angle. In some cases, the angles will not be a 45° in all cases. The key is to have the angled lines meet at the center line.

When all the lines are drawn, make sure all the lines touch but do not go over their intersection points. The best way to check this is to go into Outline Mode under the View Menu to see up close how all the lines meet.

Select all the shapes, use the Divide Mode in the Pathfinder Panel. Ungroup all the shapes.

Select the shapes and add lighter colors to the highlight sides,

Fill with darker colors on the shadow sides

Here you have the beveled shape.

To create a bevel on a round or curved shape, the same principals apply. Find a center line on the vertical and horizontal lines. Draw the angle lines from the corners.

On the curved areas, create a rectangle on the width of the shape. Use the center of the rectangle to find the center of the width. Draw a line from the center of the rectangle to the center of the vertical.

Use the Curvature tool to curve the line to match the shape.

Repeat the process on the lower portion of the curve.

Select all the shapes, use the Divide Mode in the Pathfinder Panel. Ungroup all the shapes. Apply the lighter and darker colors to the sections.

For angled shapes, find the center of the shapes.

To find the center of the arms, draw a square.

Rotate the square 45° and scale the square so the points of the square touch the edges of the arms. Now you have the center to draw the line from

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and remove the upper part of the square (not needed) then select the bottom point and move it over to the center line.

Repeat the process on the other arm.

Go into Outline Mode to make sure all the lines touch but do not overlap. Select all the shapes, use the Divide Mode in the Pathfinder Panel.

Ungroup all the shapes. Apply the lighter and darker colors to the sections.

For square of rectangular shapes, this is much easier. You can find the centers of the rectangles and draw 45° angles to locate the centers if needed.

Here is the shape in Outline Mode.

The lines are easier to see and adjust in Outline Mode.

And the final shapes, all with the bevel applied. You can go into Outline Mode and move the lines to change the bevels after they are completed.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Frog in a Pond

7/23/2018

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Here is a happy frog, sitting on a lily pad in a pond. A butterfly flying around and a water lily keeping it company

Start the frog body with an oval. Fill and heavy stroke.

Add another oval on top of the body for the head.

Add circles on the head for the eyes.

Add dark green filled circles with a heavy white stroke for the eyes.

Use the Arc Tool to create a smile. Cap the ends (hot dog the ends) in the Stroke Panel.

Create ovals for the legs. Send them behind the body. Do this on both sides of the body.

Copy and paste the body. Fill it with a darker color and set the opacity to 30%. Copy this when done.

Select the main body, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool bar. Paste the darker body shape into the body and position it to give an offset shadow. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done.

Repeat this process of duplicate the shape of the head and legs. Fill with a darker, opacity of 30%. Then click on each body, do the Draw Inside and paste the body part.

Repeat the last process with the legs too. Don't forget to lick on the Draw Normal Mode when done with each shape!

Select all the shapes and group them all.

To create the water ripples, create a box, no fill. Add a circle to the edge.

Use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make them one shape.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and remove the bottom two points leaving just the the upper line and water bubble.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the end of the line to shorten or lengthen it. Remember to use the SHIFT key to keep the line straight when pulling the point.

Create a large rectangle in the middle of the space. This is where the the frog will be. Click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool bar.

Copy and paste the grouped frog into the box. Add a dark line underneath the frog to make it look like a lily pad.

Add the water bubble lines to give it the look of a pond

Create a water lily by drawing 2 circles that overlap. Select both and use the Pathfinder Minus Intersect Mode.

This leaves a petal or leaf.

Duplicate and rotate the pedals into a lotus flower look.

Add the flower to the lily pad

Create a butterfly by drawing an oval.

Duplicate the oval, rotate it, make it small and position it below the first oval. Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite mode to join them together.

Duplicate the wing shape and flip it to the other side. Add a rounded rectangle for the body.

Use the Arc Tool to create antenna for the butter fly. Select all the shapes and group them together.

Add the butterfly to the scene and you have one happy frog. Enjoy!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Camping under the stars

7/16/2018

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Happy camping! Out under the stars, in nature, in a tent. Slight moon with some light clouds on a warm summer night. You can recreate this is these simple steps. Enjoy!

Start eh tent off with a Polygon. While drawing the Polygon, use the DOWN ARROW to decrease the number of sides to 3.

Draw a line in the middle of the triangle..

Create a square.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and remove one of the corners.

Use COMMAND + J to Join the shape back together.

Round the corners of the stroke in the Stroke Panel. Fill it with a slightly darker color.

Copy the corner shape, rotate is 180° and fill it with an even darker color.

Place both triangles at the base and center of the tent to create the look of an open flap.

Anchor the tent with a line or rounded corner rectangle.

To create grass, draw two circles, overlap them with an offset.

Select both and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode to create a moon.

Draw a rectangle on the bottom of the moon.

Select both the moon and the box, use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mde.

Copy, flip and resize the first shape.

Select both and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode.

To create a tree, use several triangles, stack them in order of size, larger on the bottom, smaller on top. I have this previous tutorial to guide you through.

Add the trees and grass into the scene. Select everything and Group it.

Draw a dark circle and place it behind the scene.

Draw a rectangle over the circle, select both the rectangle and circle and use the Pathfinder Minus front Command.

Select all the scene and CUT it.

Select the dark, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Paste the scene into the dark shape. Click back on the Draw Normal Mode.

Add some stars using the Star Tool

Add some lines with rounded caps (hot dog the ends) for some whispy clouds.

Add a moon in there as well, place it behind the clouds. Now you are camping under the stars.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Cold drink with Ice Cubes

7/9/2018

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Summer is here and so is the heat. Stay cool with an ice cold drink and be cool creating this fun drink.

Start the glass with a rectangle, no fill.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner and use the LEFT ARROW to move the point left. Count the number of time you press the LEFT arrow key

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper right corner and use the RIGHT ARROW to move the point left. Press the RIGHT arrow key the same number of times to create a symmetrical glass.

Round the corners of the glass by using the Stroke Panel and the Round Corner option.

Select the glass, choose Object>Path>Offset Path. Set the offset to a negative number to get the shape inside the glass. Click OK and fill the new shape with a color.

Use the Curvature Tool to click on the top edge of the drink and pull up or down on the points to create a wave or curve on the drink.

Select the drink shape, RIGHT + CLICK on the shape. Choose Transform> Reflect Vertical. Click COPY. This will duplicate and flip the drink shape.

Set the new shape to a 45% Opacity and set the blending Mode to Multiply. Change the color to a lighter or darker color. Adjust the top curves with the Curvature Tool if you choose.

Create a rounded corner rectangle for the ice cubes. Pick a color that is light.

Select the glass, choose Object>Path>Offset Path. Set the offset to a negative number to get the shape inside the cube. Click OK and fill the new shape with a no color but add a darker color stroke to the new shape. .

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower left corner of the new shape. Delete the corner and the two sides will delete as well leaving a highlight. Round the end caps on the stroke (hot doge the ends). Group the two shapes together.

Add the ice cubes in the glass. Set the opacity to less than 100% to help give the translucent effect. Add some circles around the cubes to give the effect of bubbles.

Create a straw using the line tool Draw two lines and have them meet at the bend.

Set the upper part of the straw to have rounded ends, the lower part to have flat ends.

Select both parts of the straw, choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke. Select both shapes and choose Unite in the Pathfinder panel. Set the opacity of the straw to 75%.

Create lines over the straw for stripes. Select all the lines, group them and CUT them.

Select the straw and use the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the tool bar, Paste the stripes into the shape, position them then click on the Draw Normal mode. Use Object>Arrange>Send Backward to place the straw behind the cubes to give the effect of the having the straw in the drink.

Create a water droplet using a circle. Use the Direct Selection tool to move the top point up.

Duplicate the water drops and scale and place them on the sides of the glass to give the look of a sweating glass. Enjoy your ice cold drink!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Firecrackers & Fireworks

7/2/2018

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Happy 4th of July! Create some firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate.

Start with a rectangle, heavy stroke, no fill

Add an Arc and add rounded end caps in the Stroke panel to "hot dog" the ends.

Create a line at a 45° angle.

OPTION + CLICK and drag the line, then use COMMAND + D to repeat the duplication process. Select all the lines and group them, then CUT them.

Select the rectangle, choose Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

PASTE the grouped set of lines into the shape. Select the Draw Normal Mode to exit Draw Inside Mode.

I use asterisks to create the sparkly effect. Type several different ones, use different fonts to get the style you want. Select all of them and chose Type>Create Outlines.

Mix and match the asterisks to create a sparkly lit effect.

To create the rocket, create a rectangle and use the Polygon Tool to create a triangle.

Select the rectangle, choose Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. PASTE the grouped set of lines into the shape. Select the Draw Normal Mode to exit Draw Inside Mode.