Infographic Series - Fireworks for the 4th of July

3 sets of firework you can create to celebrate the 4th of July. Using Transform, Width Shape Tool and the Blend Tool you can create a simple yet effective set of fun fireworks using Adobe Illustrator. Enjoy and happy holidays.

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Start with several lines, in various length. Use the Stroke Panel to Cap the ends (hot dog) to make them round.

Select the set of lines, under the Effect menu choose Distort & Transform>Transform.
Click the Preview button in the dialog box to see the results then set an angle FIRST, then set the number of copies, then click the random button.

Adjust the angle in the Transform dialog box until you get a random burst pattern, then click OK.

Using the Direct Selection Tool, select the center line, then change the color of each line segment  in the set.

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Using the Width Shape Tool, select each line segment and vary the width of each.

Create different widths in several of the line segments, this will translate into all the copies of the lines

Here is the results of the colored line segments and varying the width of those segments.

For the color behind the burst, create a lighter colored larger circle, then a smaller circle centered on the larger circle in a darker color.

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Double-Click on the Blend Tool to call up the dialog box. Set the Specified Steps to 4. Then click on the edge of the first circle, then the edge of the second circle.

This will blend the circles together with 4 colors steps in between the inside circle and the outside circle.

Place the yellow blend behind the burst.

For the next set of fireworks, create a line and add a stroke of 4 pt.

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Use the Width Shape Tool to pull one of the ends wider. 

Duplicate the shape, then flip it inline with the first shape and select both with the Selection Tool.

Under the Effect menu choose Distort & Transform>Transform.
Click the Preview button in the dialog box to see the results then set an angle FIRST, then set the number of copies, then click the random button.

Once the burst looks like you want, click the OK button.

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For the sparkler effect, create a series of circles, random sizes clustered together.

Duplicate the set and change the randomness of the circles.

Double-Click on the Blend Tool to call up the dialog box. Set the Specified Steps to 16 (more if you want a longer sparkler burst). Then click on the edge of the first circle set, then the edge of the second circle set.

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The blend will create 16 steps from the top set of random circles to the bottom set.

You can use the opacity to create translucent shapes.

Or you can copy and use the Adjust Color under the Edit Menu > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors to change the colors of the object and shift the hue.