How to Create a Grid Illustration

Creating a grid in recent versions of Adobe Illustrator is a piece of cake thanks to the grid tool.

In the past, the best way to create a grid using programs like Adobe Illustrator and QuarkXPress involved creating a small square, naming it as a pattern and then using it as a fill for a larger rectangle. However, in recent versions of Illustrator, there is a "Rectangular Grid" tool located in the sub-menu of the "Line" tool. This new option makes creating a grid of any size a straightforward process.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Illustrator

Instructions

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and load the file to which you want to add a grid.

2. Click and hold the mouse button on the line tool until the sub-menu pops up. On the sub-menu, drag the mouse cursor to select the "Rectangular Grid Tool."

3. Click and drag the cursor across your artboard wherever you want the grid to appear. To obtain a perfectly square grid, hold "Shift" while dragging.

4. Send the grid to the back of the artboard so that all other objects appear on top of it by selecting "Object > Arrange > Send to Back." Save your work.

Tips & Warnings

• To create a grid that you do not want to appear when printing, choose "Show Grid" from the "View" menu.

• To enter the exact size of your grid when using the grid tool, click once somewhere on the artboard and enter the width and height in the dialog box that appears.

References

• Northlite Designs: Illustrator 10's New Rectangular Grid Tool