How to Make Vector Sunrays

A designer can create vector sunrays streaming through the clouds.

Designers use sunrays in artwork for backgrounds, textures and logos. Once the designer creates the basic rays, she then adds color and transforms, scales and plays with different line effects. The vector file type makes it easy to scale the sunray while keeping sharp lines and colors. A designer may also decrease the lines to produce fewer rays or crop the lines in half for a rising or setting sun effect.

Instructions

1. Open your favorite vector graphic program such as Illustrator, Gimp or Inkscape.

2. Set the fill to none and the stroke to black.

3. Using the shape tool, drag a circle across the stage to represent the desired size of the sunray.

4. Increase the stroke color until it fills the circle. The circle should be completely black.

5. Click on the graphics program dash lines for the stroke option to create the rays.

6. Adjust as needed; change the stroke lines or add color.

References

• Pixel 77: 5 Steps for Drawing Complex Vector SunRays

Resources

• Adobe Products
• Gimp: Downloads
• Inkscape