INFOGRAPHIC SERIES: Corner Widgets - Gears, Bursts and Stars

Using Corner Widgets in Illustrator is easy, and can produce cool results quite quickly. I created icons: a gear, a muffin tin and a virus all by using the Star Tool and the corner widgets.

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Start off with drawing a Star. You can change the number of point on the star while drawing by using the UP and DOWN ARROWS while drawing. 

Once you draw the multi-point star, select the the shape with the Direct Selection Tool. If the Corner Widget largest do not show up, click off the shape then back on the shape.

Click on one of the Corner Widgets and pull in toward the center of the shape:

Ilf you pull in a see a red line, that is the MAX amount the Widgets can be pulled in. In this case, pull the Widgets back out in between the MAX amount and the original starting point.

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In the Control Bar, you can change the corners from FLAT, ROUND or INVERSE ROUND. You can also change the corners ON the shape by OPTION + CLICKING on the Corner Widget.

Here is a FLAT corner, making a gear.

Here is the Inverse Rounded, making what I call a Virus

And the Rounded corner making it look like a muffin or cupcake tin. It is THAT simple!

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This is using more points on the star before changing the corners.

This is using less points on the star before changing the corners.