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Spines
Replacing and editing
the Spine in a blend. |
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In this tutorial, we'll use a blend to create
a 3D string of spheres. If you are new to Blends
in Illustrator, check out my Basic
Blend Tutorial.
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3D String of Spheres |
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1. Create
a circle path with no fill or stroke. Make sure your circle
is selected, otherwise you won't be able to see it.
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2. Make sure both your Swatches
and Gradient palettes are showing.
Gradient Palette > Radial.
Now, click + drag a color swatch from
your swatches palette, onto one color stop on the gradient palette,
just like my image here shows.
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3. Get
your Gradient Tool (G)  .
Click + drag a gradient from
the top left to the bottom right of your circle path.
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4. With your selection tool (V)
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make a duplicate of your sphere, (Click
+ Alt + Drag // Click + Option + Drag)
Change the duplicates color and scale it
down small.
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5. Place
your two spheres, something like mine here.
Use your selection tool (V) ,
and make sure both spheres are selected.
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6. Object
> Blend > Blend Options > Specified Steps > 15 >
Orientation: To Page.
Now go: Object > Blend > Make
or (Ctrl + Alt + B // Cmd + Option + B).
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7. With
your pencil or paintbrush, create a squiggly path, with no fill
or stroke, like mine.
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8. With
your selection tool (V) ,
select both your Blend and squiggle.
Now go: Object > Blend > Replace
Spine.
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9. You
should be looking at something like this now on your artboard.
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Tip!
You can still modify this Blend.
Make sure it's selected and try these examples.
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| a) Object
> Blend > Reverse Front To Back |
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| b) Object
> Blend > Reverse Spine |
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- Object >
Blend > Reverse Front To Back
- Object > Blend > Reverse Spine |
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10.
To make precise adjustments to individual objects in a blend, do
this.
Note: Once you do this, you no longer
have an editable Blend.
Object > Blend > Expand.
Now use your Direct Selection Tool (A)  ,
to select individual spheres, or whatever you might have, and
adjust them accordingly.
You can also adjust individual points along the spine, altering
the path the blend follows. Use your Direct Selection and Pen
Tools as you would for any other path. The Blend is Live and will
adjust accordingly.
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| email: rkovacs@thevein.com
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© 2001 Rod Kovacs -- A RK
Tutorial |