Blog Archives

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Zipper

8/27/2017

This is one of the simple yet effective tutorials. It uses type for the zipper teeth, along a path to create the effect. It is surprisingly simple yet really cool when it's done.

Draw an Arc, hold down SHIFT to make a perfect arc.

Draw a straight line, hold SHIFT to make it vertical.

Select both the Arc and the Line and then join them, COMMAND + J. Object>Path>Join.

Select the Type on a Path Tool from the Tool bar.

Select a font that has a square cap T, Playbill is what I used for a font.

Type along the path. I extended the width of the T to 150% in the Character panel as the T was a bit narrow.

Select the Type with the selection Tool and Outline it. Type>Create Outlines or SHIFT+COMMAND+O

Select a portion of the type with the Direct Selection Tool. You can only select portion of the type, if you select all the corner widgets won't show up.

Set the corners to the same amount, with this font 1 PX worked well. This forms the teeth of the zipper.

Select the rounded type on a path, RIGHT + CLICK and call up the Transform>Reflect Menu.

Reflect it on the vertical axis and click COPY.

Move the paths into position so the teeth fit together.

This is how it looks when it begins to open up.

Now for the Zipper. Start with a rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the top two corner widgets.

Hold OPTION and click through the corners to get to flat corners.

Use the Free Transform Tool to narrow the bottom of the shape.

Bring the bottom ends in slightly less than the top edges.

Shorten the height to get the zipper section.

Flip the stroke and the fill. Beef up the stroke. Draw a rectangle inside.

Draw another rectangle, stroke and not fill.

Use the Free Transform Tool to narrow the top edge.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select all the corners and bring the corners in to the max amount.

Draw 2 circles top and bottom. I added orange here just for demonstration purposes.

Select all 3 shapes and use the Exclude pathfinder mode.

This will knock out the hole in the zipper handle. You can swap out the orange fill for white fill.

Place the handle on the catch and bring the small rectangle to the top. Select all the parts and group them.

Place the zipper/catch on the zipper where the teeth begin to join.

And you are done. Nice job, you just created a zipper. Now that was fun!!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Bumble Bee Icon

8/20/2017

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Summer is buzzing. Create a Bee icon while the summer flies by. Add a flower or two and enjoy what the beauty of summer!

Create an oval. Fill it with black.

Draw a circle, fill it with yellow.

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

In the Control Bar click on the Convert Anchor Point to create a corner point from the round top point. This forms the wing.

Draw a rectangle, fill it with yellow.

Duplicate the rectangle on top of the existing rectangle. Repeat the process until you have several bars.

Delete every other rectangle to create the stripes. Group all the rectangles together. Object>Group. Then CUT the grouped rectangles. Edit>Cut.

Select the black oval. Click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the tool bar.

Select the Polygon Tool and draw a triangle.

Narrow the triangle. Fill it with black for the point. Place the point at the end of the body.

PASTE the grouped shapes into the black oval. Move them so the stripes are balanced top to bottom.

Draw a circle for the head. Fill it with black.

Draw and Arc.

Add a rounded end "arrowhead" from the Stoke Panel. Adjust the size to be in proportion with the stroke weight.

Copy and flip the antenna for the other side of the head.

Select the wing and add a black stroke. Hold SHIFT & rotate the wing 45°.

Copy the wing and hold SHIFT to rotate the wing -45°.

Select the body of the bee using the Layers Panel. Add a stroke to the body.

And you have a finished Bee Icon!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - DNA Helix

8/13/2017

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Create a DNA Helix icon. Sounds complex, but it is quite simple. This is take on ropes, knots and twists that had been posted a while back. Simple twists, over and under lapping of lines and you have a twist!

Start with a line. give a stroke weight of 35 px.

Select the line and add a Zig Zag effect from the Effect Menu> Distort & Transform> Zig Zag. Set the line to Smooth, Size to 50 pt to get a nice wave effect. Click OK.

This is the Zig Zag effect.

Go to the Object Menu and choose Expand Effect to convert this to an editable line.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to delete all but the portion of the line as shown.

Open the Appearance Panel. Click on the lower left corner icon to add an additional stroke to the existing stroke. Make the stroke BEHIND the blue stroke white, make it 60pt.

Select the line and RIGHT + CLICK and choose Transform> Reflect.

Reflect the shape and choose COPY.

This will duplicate and flip the shape.

Using the Appearance Panel set the top stroke to black.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select a single portion of the line. Copy that portion of the line and paste it onto the end of the chain.

Send the line to the back or to the front to get the effect of the overlapping/ underlapping lines.

Repeat the copying of the lines.

Send the line to the back/ bring to the front to get the overlap.

Add lines and send them to the back to create connection lines in between the helix.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Water SplaSh

8/6/2017

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Summer is here, the heat is on and it's time to jump in the pool, swim in the water or run through the sprinkler. Any way you cool down you want to make a splash, and here is a quick way to create a great splash icon in Illustrator.

Start with the Line Tool and draw several lines, varying lengths.

Add a thicker stroke to the lines, pick a darker blue.

Select all the lines and add an end cap (hot dog the ends).

Use the Width Shape Tool to widen the ends of the lines.

Pull the width of the line ends wider and narrower. Select all the shapes and choose Object, Expand Appearance to convert the lines to shapes.

Move all the shapes so the small tail ends are all overlapping each other.

Select all the shapes, use the Pathfinder Panel and Unite all the shapes.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the inner convergence point and pull the corner widgets out.

Use the Direct Selection Tool on each of the inner convergence points and pull the corner widgets out in varying distances.

This is the result when all the inside corner widgets are pulled out.

Add several circles, vary the sizes, around the splatter.

Select the main splatter shape, then go to Object, Path, offset Path. Set the offset to a negative number and click OK.

Fill the offset inner shape with a lighter blue.

Select both the inner and outer shape, use the Blend Tool and click on the two points in correlation with the inner and outer shapes.

The default for the Blend Tool is Smooth Color. This will blend the shapes and give it depth.

Repeat the Offset Path steps with the smaller circles. Use the Blend Tool to blend the circles like the main shape.

Add some Arcs to the rounded end. Cap (hot dog) the ends of the lines. Add white as the stroke and scale the arcs to fit the rounded ends. Set the opacity down to 60% on the Arcs.

The smaller dots can be left solid color. You have created a water splatter with depth and dimension. Enjoy this tutorial!

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Design Points n PixelS

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Zipper

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Bumble Bee Icon

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - DNA Helix

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Water SplaSh

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