Creating a Page of Blended Shapes
To download a pdf of step-by-step instructions to recreate this class exercise - click here
This is what we are going to make:
- Using the Rectangular Tool, create a
1” by 1” square
Illustrator Tip: Hold the “option” or “alt” key and a dialog box will appear allowing you to
input the exact dimensions you want your shape to have.
- Give it a fill color, and get rid of
your stroke
- Using the black arrow tool, move your
shape to the upper left hand corner if it is not already there
- Create a new shape, in this example I
will create a star of about the same size using the Star Tool under the
Rectangle tool, but this exercise should work with any vector art as long
as it has a fill and no stroke.
- I’m going to color my star a light
blue by clicking the light blue swatch in the “swatches” palette.
Illustrator Tip: If you are ever missing, or cannot see one of your palettes, you can turn it on
using the “Window” menu. All your palettes will be under there.
- Now with the black arrow tool, select
your first shape (for me it will be my red square)
- Select the “blend” tool, and holding
down the “option” or “alt” key click on the red square
- In the dialog box that appears, change
spacing to “Specified Steps” of “4” with an up-down orientation. Click
“Ok”.
- Now click on your second shape (for us
it will be my blue star)
Illustrator Tip: If your two shapes are two close together, you can use your white arrow tool to
select a particular shape and move it, just make sure your objects are
deselected first. You can also use the white arrow tool to select a shape and
change its color.
- Next, we’ll create our bottom shapes by creating another
shape in the lower left hand corner about the same size as our 1” by 1”
square. I’m going to make a green circle. The Circle Tool is located under
the Star Tool.
- Then I will create a second shape for my green circle to
be blended into. I’m going to create an orange polygon. Again, the polygon
tool is located in the same place as our Rectangle, Star, and Circle Tool.
- Now I will repeat steps 6-9 to create a blend between by
green circle and my orange polygon
- To create a full page blend between our two blends we
will need to first expand both blends.
- With the black arrow tool, select both blends
- Go “Object > Expand”
Illustrator Tip: Once a blend is expanded, you will not be able to change the color of a shape in the blend and have the rest of the blend change accordingly, so make sure you like your colors before you expand!
- Now take your blend tool and click on your first shape
in your first blend (our red square) and then click on your first shape in
your second blend (our green circle)
Viola! You now have a
page full of blended shapes!