How to Make Cogs in Illustrator
There was a time when illustrations were done entirely by hand, but computer software changed all that. Artists can use a program such as Adobe Illustrator to create almost anything they need for a project. For example, you might want to make a representation of machine parts, possibly as a graphic for a logo of a machine shop. The process is fairly simple.
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Instructions
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Start the Illustrator application. Select “File” from the menu and choose “New.” In the dialog that appears, enter the width and height you want and click “OK.”
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Select the “Ellipse” tool from the toolbar. Make the “Fill” color at the top "gray." Hold down the “Shift” key and drag out a circle on the canvas.
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Select the “Rectangular” tool. Draw a rectangle above the circle. Switch to the “”Direct Selection” tool. Click on the top-left point of the rectangle. Use the tool to move the point to the right slightly. Then repeat this with the right point, except you should move it the same distance to the left.
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Use the “Selection” tool to move the cog part down, so the lower points are just inside the circle. Click on the “Rotate” tool. Then hold down the “ALT” key and click the center of the circle.
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Set the number in the dialog to 36 and click “Copy.” Then hold down the “CTRL” key and click "D" several times to add cogs all the way around.
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Select “Window” from the menu and choose “Pathfinder." In the dialog that opens, click on the “Unite” button. Save your work.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
