How to Create Star Patterns Brush in Illustrator

Creating custom brush in Adobe Illustrator is easy. You draw objects/shapes directly onto the canvas and then drag it to the Brushes palette to save for future use. You can then use those patterns like real-life brush(es) on your Illustrator graphics to save time. This tutorial will guide you to create many custom brushes at once.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Illustrator, any version
• PC Microsoft Windows XP / Vista, any version of

1. Start with a new file/canvas. Use the Pen tool to draw star shapes onto the canvas. You can draw any shape you want for the brush, but this tutorial will just use the "stars" for instructional clarity.

2. 
   Illustrator tutorial

   Use the "Select" tool to bring up the "Pathfinder" window: Window > Pathfinder. Click "Add to Shape Area" to select the "star" shapes on the canvas.

3. Bring up the Brushes window: Window > Brushes, then drag the stars into the Brushes window.

4. Choose "New Scatter Brush" on the Brushes window and then name them one by one (file name, that is), depending on the number of "stars" you've drawn on the canvas. Each "star" will become a separate custom brush.
   
   After you have added the "stars" to the Brushes palette, delete the stars on the canvas. The new "star" brushes are ready to use.

5. If you want to use the brush: click on the Brush tool on your Tool Box, and then use the Brush tool to click on a shape on the Brushes palette that you want to use.

6. 
   Modify Illustrator brush

   You may wish to modify the brush before using. To do this, double click the brush in the Brushes palette. From there a settings menu will show, you can then change the brush properties from there.

7. There are brush add-ons on the market for Adobe Illustrator to quickly let users add to their brush collection. But creating brushes for yourself to use in the program adds another fun element to it.

[sonni57]

on 7/12/2009 Thanks for the good instruction on star patterns in Illustrator.