INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Waffle with Syrup

Create this tasty waffle with delicious drips of syrup. 

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Create a grid by using the Grid Tool in the Line drawing section of the Tool Bar. White drawing us the up/down arrows to add/remove rows and the left/right arrows to add/remove columns. 

Apply a color to the strokes of the grid. 

Draw a rectangle for the interior of the waffle. 

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Draw two lines, rotated at 45° and place then so they are centered on the squares and the lines run to the corners. Select the lines and the square and use the Divide function in the Pathfinder. Ungroup the results. 

Draw another square on top of the first square

Select each section of the first square and apply colors in varying shades to give the appearance of a bevel. Fill the center with the lightest color. 

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Select all the shapes and move them behind the grid. 

Select the grid and choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke. Select all grid and use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make the grid one shape. 

Apply a gradient to the outlined grid structure. 

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Apply a slight gradient to the inside squares of the waffle

Group the inside section together. 

Duplicate the interior shapes behind the grid to complete the waffle look. 

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For the syrup, create a rectangle them duplicate it several times with no space between the shapes. 

Stagger the length of the lines. 

Use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make all the shapes on shape. 

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Select all the lowest sections with the Direct Selection Tool and pull in the corner widgets.

Select all the inside sections with the Direct Selection Tool and pull in the corner widgets.

Select the shape and choose Object>Path>Offset Path. Set the path to be inside the first. Path. Repeat this with the second path and you will have 3 paths total. 

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Set each path with a slightly darker fill. Select all 3 paths. 

Choose Object>Blend>Blend Options and choose Specified Steps and set the value to 25. Then choose Object>Blend>Make to blend the 3 shapes together. 

Set the newly blended shapes to Multiply in the Opacity panel. 

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For the highlight, create a rectangle and Corner Widget one end.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to remove half of the lines. Set the strroke color to while and the opacity of the line to 50%.

Apply the highlights to the syrup dripping over the waffle. Tasty!