INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - TAPE OR PAPER ROLLS

A quick tutorial on making wrapped paper or tape effect look like it hangs or wraps around items. Better yet we can also make it look like a roll of ribbon or paper that is continuous. Have fun creating!

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Start with a rounded rectangle. While drawing you can adjust the corners using the UP or DOWN arrows.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to delete the rest of the rectangle with the exception of the 3 points you see here. You'll need these!

Duplicate the shape, hold shift and OPTION + DRAG  the shape to keep it in-line.

Select both shapes, and do a COMMAND + J twice. This joins the two open ends, then joins the other 2 open ends creating a closed shape.

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Fill the new object and turn off the stroke.

Duplicate the shape you just filled.

Select the 2nd shape and use the Reflect Tool to flip it vertically on its axis.

Move the shape so that they over lap at the tips.

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Take one shape and fill it with a darker or lighter color, you choose. Overlap them so they look like a curved unit.

Next draw a circle and fill it. No stroke on this one.

Choose Effect> 3D>Extrude...

Click the preview button in the 3D panel to see what is going on. Extrude it 450 pts. Rotate the "rod" so that it is parallel to the page.

This is what it looks like. 
If you need to edit the angle, choose Window>Appearance and call up the Appearance Panel. Click on the 3D extrude... link and edit the shape

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Move the "curves" onto the bar. Send one of the curves to the back to make it look like the bar is int he middle.

Duplicate the set to get a hanging effect.

Here is another way to make a continuous ribbon. Use one of the curves from the first set and then shear it with the Shear Tool to get it skewed.

Duplicate that shape and use the Reflect Tool to reflect the new shape over the vertical axis.

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Make the new shape darker or lighter, you choose.

Take that new shape, duplicate it and rotate it 180°. Line it up at the end of the current shape.

Take the very first shape, duplicate it and rotate it 180° and move it to the end of the ribbon.

And here is your continuous tape or ribbon!

​Pass this along!