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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - SPOOKY HALLOWEEN SCENE

10/30/2017

Halloween is right around the corner so lets create some spooky characters. Here is the spider, bat, ghost, cat, skull and a pumpkin along with a dark and ominous cloud hiding the moo. The only thing that isn't scary is how easy it is to build all of this! Enjoy and and have a great time.

Create a rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection tool and select the top 2 corners and pull the corner widgets in to the middle.

Create a circle and then delete the upper half.

Move the half circle into position touching the open tips. Select each set of touching tips with the Direct Selection tool and Join them. COMMAND + J.

Select the joined set of half circles. Use the Free Transform Tool to shear the circles to the left.

Use the Direct Selection tool and select the bottom stroke and delete it.

Move the waves into position under the body. Use the Direct Selection tool and select the points where the half circles touch the body and Join them.

Use the Direct Selection tool and select the points where the half circles touch the body and Join them.

Add ovals for the eyes and mouth. Add a gray fill to the body, slightly darker for the eyes and mouth.

Copy the body shape. Click on the body and select Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the copied body into the body, move it slightly to the left, fill it with white. Click on the Draw Normal Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Create and oval.

Duplicate the oval partly over it self.

Select both shapes. Use the Unite Mode in the Pathfinder Panel. Add a black stroke around the body.

Copy the body shape. Click on the body and select Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the copied body into the body, move it slightly to the left, fill it with a lighter orange. Click on the Draw Normal Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Add an Arc on top for a stem. Round the ends (hot dog) in the Stroke Panel.

Add ovals for eyes and a triangle for the eyes.

Create a circle for the body of the bat.

Create another smaller circle at the top of the body.

Select both shapes, use the Pathfinder Minus Front Mode.

Create 3 circles, touching each other but not overlapping.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove the bottom half of the circles. Select each set of touching tips with the Direct Selection tool and Join them. COMMAND + J.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove the bottom half of the body.
COPY this for later.

Move the half circle into position under the body. Use the Direct Selection tool and select the points where the half circles touch the body and Join them.

Create a rectangle for the head.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove the bottom line of the rectangle. Select the top 2 corners and pull the corner widgets in.

Fill the head with white. Place it over the body. Add eyes in the head.

For the ears, place 2 circles over each other 1/2 overlapping.

Use the Pathfinder Intersect Mode to create the ear.

Paste the body (which was copied a few steps back). Choose Object>Path>Offset Path.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove the first and second layers of paths.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove sections of the 3rd path to get the wing highlights.

Move the items into place.

Use the Pen Tool to create the tail by clicking on the open points of the wing.

Create an oval for the spider body.

Use the Arc Tool to create a leg.

Duplicate the leg to mirror the first leg. Draw a straight leg as well. Group the legs, duplicate them then Reflect them for the other side.

Add ovals for eyes. Copy the body.

Copy the body shape. Click on the body and select Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the copied body into the body, move it slightly to the left, fill it with white. Click on the Draw Normal Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Add a line for the web the spider hangs from.

Create a circle and a square for the skull.

Select both shapes and Unite them with the Pathfinder.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the INSIDE corners where the neck meets the head and pull the corner widgets OUT.

Add ovals for the eyes, triangle for the nose and and white filled squares for the teeth. Fill the head with a light gray.

Copy the head. Click on the body and select Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Paste the head into the shape, fill with white then click on the Draw Normal Mode.

Create 2 circles, overlap them half way.

Use the Intersect Mode in the Pathfinder. Copy this shape for later use.

Place a rectangle 2/3 of the way down the shape.

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Minus Front.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to corner widget the bottom corners slightly.

Add an oval for the head.

Paste the shape you copied. Make 2 of them for the ears. Add a stroke to all the shapes.

Unite the body and the ears. Draw an Arc for the tail, place it behind the body.

Paste the shape again for the eyes. Copy the body.

Click on the body and select Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the head into the shape, fill with white then click on the Draw Normal Mode.

Open the Gradient Panel. Create a gradient with some reds and oranges.

Create a shape behind all the spooky characters and fill it with the new gradient.

Add some darker ovals under the characters. Place the ovals behind the characters.

Create some darker orange, large ovals and place them behind the character. These ovals will extend way beyond the art work.

For clouds, create several rectangles, all the same height but varying width. Stagger them, select them all (make sure they are all touching) and Unite them in the Pathfinder Panel.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select JUST the OUTER corners and pull the Corner Widgets in to the center.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select JUST the INNER corners and pull the Corner Widgets in to the center.

Fill the clouds with gray and add a dark stroke.

Create the moon by creating 2 circles with a slight overlap.

Select both shapes and use the Minus front command in the Pathfinder Panel.

Arrange all the characters, add the moon behind the clouds. For added effect, copy the clouds, remove the stroke and set the opacity to 40% and place it behind the characters to create a dark spot where the cloud goes over the scene. Happy Halloween everyone!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Little Birdie

10/23/2017

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Quick little birdie icon build that is simple and easy to create. With just a few changes you can have a bird in flight, resting, cruising along or in full dive mode. Enjoy!

Create a rectangle, fill with a color, no stroke.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the opposite corners and pull the Corner Widgets in toward the center.

Rotate the body 45°. Hold SHIFT while rotating and it will snap to 45°.

Duplicate the body and fill it with a lighter color. Copy this shape.

Select the body and click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the secondary body shape and move it into an offset position.

Click the Opacity Link in the Control bar. Set the Blend Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 80%. Click the Draw Normal button at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Create another rectangle for the wing.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to corner widget the lower right corner.

Place the wing into position on the body.

Duplicate the wing, change the fill color and tuck it under the other wing.

Create a triangle using the Polygon Tool, put it behind the body for the beak.

Create a white circle and a black circle for the eye.

Change the orientation of the body and wing to show the bird in flight.

Draw 2 arcs for the feet. Overlap the arcs. Thin the wings and you have a bird at rest.

Rotate the body, slim the wing and you have a bird in full dive.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Robot

10/16/2017

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This looks like a complex robot but to build it is entirely easy and fun. Add come of your own touches to create a unique mechanical robot in just a few minutes. Simple tricks in here to create shadows and highlights will have you adding these to all your creations.

Create a rectangle for the body.

Use the Corner Widgets to round the corners.

Create a rectangle for the neck.

Create a Square for the head and use the Corner Widgets to round the corners.

Draw a line on top of the head. Use the Stroke Panel to add a small dot to the end of the line.

Add lines to the antenna on top the head. Round the ends of the lines in the Stroke Panel.

Add 2 circles for eyes and a rectangle with rounded corners.

Draw white lines over the mouth. Group all the lines and CUT the lines.

Select the mouth and choose the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Paste the lines and move them into position.

Click on the Draw Normal mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar when done.

Add small rectangles for ears.

Add rectangles for the arm joints.

Add larger rectangles for the arms.

Add smaller rectangles for the fore arms.

Draw a circle for the hands. Grab the Angle Widget off the right side of the circle and move it 90°.

Or use the Transform Panel to set the Angle Widget to 90° on the panel.

Place a smaller circle over the 3/4 circle. Select both and use the Pathfinder Minus Front Command.

Here is the hand.

Rotate the hands into position.

Duplicate the upper arms and use them for the legs.

Add a stroke to the hands, set the stroke to the OUTSIDE in the stroke panel.

Create a rectangle and round the corners to the max amount to create wheels.

Add some interesting components to the center of the robot. The wavy line is a line with the Zig-Zag effect on it with smooth corners.

Add some color to the center components.

Add color to the neck, arm sockets and the wheels. I added another white circle to the eyes.

I added 15% gray to the body parts, 30% gray to the forearms.

To add shadows to the body parts, create a rectangle with a 60% gray fill and 30% opacity. Copy the "shadow"

Select the arm and choose the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the shadow and move it into position. Click on the Draw Normal mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar when done.

Repeat the shadow process on the tops of all the body parts; head, arms, legs, neck. I added shadows to the interior components and the bottoms of the wheels.

Create lines with "hot dog ends" (rounded ends) and place them on one side of the body parts for highlights. Duplicate them and change the length to create long and short highlights. You have done a great job!

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Fun With Toast

10/9/2017

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Toast of all kinds and flavors. Just a bit of fun with making slices of bread and turning them into toast. Simple and versatile, you can make it fun with all different variations. Butter, extra toasty, stacked, with a fried egg or just super thick bread. Enjoy!

Create a rectangle.

Add an oval on top, centered on the box.

Use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to join the two shapes together.

Add some texture with a few circles to show the grain of the bread.

Add a square, fill with yellow, round the corners slightly.

Copy the bread shape. Choose Object>Path>offset Path. Create a second path inside by setting the offset to a negative number.

With the new Offset path, remove the stroke.

Create lines for a toasty look. Make them darker than the bread. Group all the lines together then CUT the lines. Edit>Cut.

Select the offset path. Choose the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the grouped lines into the shape. Click on the Draw Normal Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Add some butter just because you can.

Copy and paste a new slice of bread. Add a thicker stroke.

Draw a circle. Choose Effect>Distort & Transform> Roughen. Make smooth edges and not much distortion.

Here is the distorted circle, and the basis for your fried egg.

Put a yellow circle on top of the distorted circle, then all of it on top of the bread. It's a fried egg!

Create 4 circles, in a row with a slight curve to create a bite mark.

Choose the Pathfinder Unite mode to make them one unit.

Place the shape over the edge of the bread.

Choose the Pathfinder Minus Front mode to make them one unit.

Copy the bread slice again. Create a vertical line.

Duplicate the line to create a few vertical lines.

Select all the lines, choose Effect> Distort & Transform> Zig Zag. Create small, smooth waves.

Group the waves together.

Select the lines, choose Effect>Blur Gaussian Blur.

Blur them slightly to create toasty marks.

Copy the bread slice again. Use the Free Transform Tool to shift the bread into perspective.

To make the slice thick, select the bread, hold OPTION and click the UP ARROW key several times. This duplicates it each time you click the up arrow. Group all the pieces together.

Copy and stack the slices! Keep it toasty my friends.

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INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Hoodie Sweatshirt

10/2/2017

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Fall has arrived and so has the cooler weather. So stay warm with a nice stylish hoodie that you can create easily.

Create a rectangle, dark stroke, 10 pt wide, white fill.

Use the Free Transform Tool to pinch the body slightly at the bottom.

Draw another rectangle for the arm. COPY it for later use.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper left corner to reveal the corner widget. Drag the widget to its max amount into the center.

Rotate the upper arm slightly to have it stand away from the body.

Paste the previously copied upper arm rectangle. Use the Free Transform Tool to pinch the arm slightly at the bottom.

Place the arm in position. Select ALL the shapes, open the Stroke Panel and ROUND all the corners on the shapes. This will round any hard corners.

Select both sections of the arm and choose Unite in the Pathfinder Panel to make them one unit.

Select the left arm, RIGHT+CLICK and choose Transform>Reflect. Choose Reflect on the Vertical and click COPY.

Position the left and right arms into the body slightly as shown.

Select both arms and the body. Choose Unite in the Pathfinder Panel to make them one unit.

Draw an oval on the top of the body. Choose MINUS FRONT in the Pathfinder Panel to remove the neck line from the body.

Draw another, larger oval and Send To Back.

Duplicate the oval on top of the previous oval and choose MINUS FRONT in the Pathfinder Panel.

This creates the folded hoodie look on the back of the sweatshirt.

Draw two lines at slight angles coming down from the neck.

In the Stroke Panel add rounded ends from the Arrowheads drop-down menus. Reduce the size of the end so it is in proportion.

Draw a rectangle in the lower body.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and delete the bottom line.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper corners. OPTION+CLICK to cycle through the corner styles and drag them in to create inverse rounded corners.

This is your pocket. Pull the pockets to stretch them vertically.

Place the pocket in the desired location.

Add lines to the ends of the sleeves to create the cuffs.

Fill the body and hood with a color.

To create stripes draw a line, apply a stroke color.

Duplicate the first line using OPTION+CLICK+
DRAG then repeat the duplicate using COMMAND + D.

Group all the lines together, set the opacity lower, this is at 50%. CUT the lines.
Select the body, choose the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the lines into the body, position them where they work well then click on Draw Normal mode in the Tool Bar. You are done!

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Design Points n PixelS

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - SPOOKY HALLOWEEN SCENE

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Little Birdie

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Robot

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Fun With Toast

INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Hoodie Sweatshirt

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