|
Remember the Spirograph? Relive your childhood
memories with this simple yet stunning effect. Learn
the "Ctrl+d" shortcut to save tons of time with
repetitive tasks and try out some different brushes
to get some cool variations on the same idea.
Step 1: Create a new
document, it doesn't matter what size, because you
can resize vector graphics to any size you want
without losing quality. Then, using the Ellipse
Tool, draw an ellipse shape - it
doesn't have to be a perfect circle.
Step 2: Select your ellipse.
Using the Rotate Tool, click an inch or so below
your ellipse. This sets the point around which you
will rotate your ellipse. Now click and drag,
starting somewhere above your ellipse and moving to
the right. Hold the ALT key, then release the mouse
button (this will make a copy of the ellipse). You
should be left with two ellipses side by side in
slight rotation.
 
Step 3: And for the cool
part, just keep pressing CTRL+d (CMD+d for
macs) to repeat the last step over and over until
you have a "circle of circles". For more excitement,
if you can handle it, just hold down CTRL+d for a
while. And that's all there is to it!
NOTE: Don't forget to try different shapes,
rotation angles, and stroke & fill.
Take a look at the bottom-right image for the same
starting ellipse with the 'Text Divider 15' brush
applied to the paths.
 
- Tutorial written by Slick Illustrator
| 
