INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - THERMOMETER

It is starting to feel like summer early. So lets make a thermometer to show the rising temps.

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Start with a circle, fill it with a gray, no stroke. 

Create a rounded rectangle to form the body of the thermometer.

Select both shapes with the Selection Tool and use the Unite feature in the Pathfinder Panel to create one shape.

Swap the fill for the stroke and set the stroke to 12 pt weight.

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Select the outlined shape, then choose Object > Path > Offset path. Set the path in (negative number) to create a second shape.

Swap the stroke for the fill in the new offset shape.

Draw a line, 4 pt weight. 

Round the ends of the line using the Stroke Panel to cap the end. I call it HotDogging since it makes it look like a hot dog! I should trademark that. HotDogging™

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OPTION + CLICK and DRAG the line once, then use COMMAND + D to duplicate the line several times.

Change the color of the lines to white. 

Choose Object > Path > Outline Stroke. Then Object > Compound Path > Make. This will make all the "pills" act as one shape.

Then select the center gray image and use the Pathfinder Panel to Minus Front and subtract eh "pills" from the center of the thermometer.

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Select the center section of the thermometer. At the bottom of the tool bar, select the Draw Inside Mode (far right option)

Draw Inside Mode shows the section with dotted edges or "clipping". This is really a clipping mask just made easier to use.

With the center object selected and the Draw Inside Mode active, draw a box and fill it with red. Then click back to Normal Draw mode. (Left icon of the Draw icons at the bottom of the tool bar.

Use the Arc Tool to draw a quarter circle at the bottom. White stroke.

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Round the ends of the line using the Stroke Panel. (Hot Dogging the ends)

And there you have your final thermometer. Have fun and share it!