How to Make Radial Shapes in Illustrator

Radial shapes mimic patterns visible throughout nature.

Radial graphics form visually appealing patterns by rotating duplicates of simple elements around a central or offset point of origin. You can use a short sequence of type or the output of any of Adobe Illustrator's drawing tools to create a radial shape. Because these graphics gain their visual appeal from the interplay among overlapping elements rather than the details of any individual element itself, you don't need live effects, complex gradient meshes or other advanced Adobe Illustrator features to create interesting designs. You can use radial shapes as the basis for projects ranging from logos to background patterns.

Instructions

1. Draw a shape with one of Adobe Illustrator's drawing tools or create a short text sequence using the Type tool. If you start your radial graphic with text, limit your typing to fewer than five characters unless you want to craft a large, complex shape.

2. Select the Rotate tool from the Adobe Illustrator toolbox. By default, the tool sets the point of origin for its transformation to the center of your actively selected object or the anchor point of selected text. Text objects' anchor points match text alignment, which places the anchor point at the center of centered text, the right end of flush-right text and the left end for all other alignment options. Drag the light-blue cross-hair target that marks the Rotation tool's point of origin to another location if you want your rotation to start at a different spot.

3. Double-click on the Rotate tool in the toolbox to open the Rotate dialog box and set parameters for your transformation. Set the rotation angle to 20 degrees and click on the "Copy" button in the Rotate dialog box. Adobe Illustrator creates a duplicate of your text or vector object, rotated around the point of origin you selected.

4. Hold down the "Control" key (Windows) or the "Command" key (Mac) and press the "D" key to repeat your transformation. Continue pressing this keyboard shortcut until your radial shape fills out with the 18th copy of your original object.

5. Choose the "Selection" tool from the Adobe Illustrator toolbox. Marquee around the full set of rotated objects that comprises your radial shape. If you built your graphic using live type and want to break its dependency on a specific typeface, select "Create Outlines" from the Type menu to convert its components to vector objects. To group the objects that comprise your radial shape, choose "Group" from the Object menu.

Tips & Warnings

• To simplify the task of rotating live type to create a radial shape, set your text alignment so your text anchor point matches your desired rotation point of origin.

• Radial shapes you create with an off-center point of origin for the Rotate tool are larger than those that use a centered point of origin because the full width of the starting shape defines the radius of the finished graphic.

• Create increasingly complex radial shapes by enclosing one set of rotations inside another. Draw or typeset your second starting object outside the perimeter of your first radial shape and set the point of origin for the second object's rotation to the center of the first set of rotations.

• Continuing to create rotated duplicates once your radial shape fills out places copies directly on top of other objects in your sequence of rotations and serves no practical purpose.

• Avoid gradient fills on objects you use to create radial shapes. Their coloration reveals that the last object in your rotation sequence lies on top of the rest of the radial objects.

References

• Adobe Systems: Using Adobe Illustrator CS5

Resources

• "The Adobe Illustrator CS5 Wow! Book"; Sharon Steuer; 2010
• "Real World Adobe Illustrator CS5: Industrial-Strength Production Techniques"; Mordy Golding; 2011
• "Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium All-in-One for Dummies"; Jennifer Smith, et al.; 2010
• "Illustrator CS5 for Windows and Macintosh Visual QuickStart Guide"; Elaine Weinmann, et al.; 2011
• "Adobe Illustrator CS5 Bible"; Ted Alspach; 2010