01: Make new document Details: 8 x 8 02: Set Guides & Grid Preferences Details: Grid style=lines, line=.5, sub=1 03: Draw first diagonal line Details: Start with the longest line 1st. 04: Duplicate first line Details: Learn Key-Combos 05: Ensure correct spacing! Details: Important! 06: Ensure correct intersection! Details: Important! Page 1
07: Group first line set and duplicate Details: Learn Group key command 08: Repeat Group/duplication steps Details: 8 lines intersect whole doc. 09: Name your current layer lines Details: Open and use Layer Panel 10: Make new layer called circles Details: give it a new color for guides 11: Lock the lines layer Details: Select circles to start using 12: Draw first circle, tangent to lines Details: Option/Alt + Shift from center Page 2
13: Duplicate first circle Details: Use keyboard shortcuts 14: Group first set of circles Details: Ensure tangency first! 15: Duplicate circle set and group 4 Details: Repeat steps, = grid of 16 16: Complete grid of 16 circles Details: Group them 17: Turn visibility off of lines layer Details: Also, View > Hide Grid 18: Center the group on the artboard Details: Use Align Panel and Save Page 3
19: Create layer for additional guides Details: draw lines on new layer 20: Copy the grid into a new document Details: 11 x 8.5 doc, 4 grids 21: Print templates + sketch ideas Details: min: 16 grids total (4 x4) Page 4
01 New Document Make a new document that is 8 x 8 You can either use the Illustrator menu: File > New or you can use the keyboard shortcut: Mac: Command + N PC: Control + N Page 5
02 Set Guides and Grid In the Illustrator Preferences, set the grid to match the ones in the example to the right. You can use other grid settings, but these will duplicate the same results as the demo. Mac Preferences are located: Illustrator > Preferences PC Preferences are located: Edit > Preferences Page 6
03 Draw Diagonal Guide Lines For this exercise we will only be using the grid for visual geometric lines. We will not be using the grid s Snap feature to draw the circles. 1. Draw the first line using the Line Tool in the toolbar. Set the Stroke color to black, and in the Stroke Panel, set its size to 0.25pt. 2. To constrain it to a 45 degree axis, hold down the SHIFT key as you draw the line diagonally. 3. Be sure to draw the longest line first, as it will be used to duplicate other lines. Page 7
04 Duplicate the first line. 1. Click and hold the original line 2. Hold down the shortcut keys to duplicate AND constrain the line to a 45 degree axis, as follows: a. Mac: Option + Shift b. PC: ALT + Shift 3. When the new line is in the correct place, release the MOUSE first. If you release the shortcut keys first, it will fail to duplicate or constrain the line. The result of releasing the keys first is simply moving the original line to the wrong place. If this happens, use the Undo command shortcut: a. Mac: Command + Z b. PC: Control + Z Page 8
05 Ensure the correct spacing before continuing! If you have the wrong spacing now, you will duplicate the error throughout the template guides, making a useless grid. Make sure that the spacing looks like the picture on the right. The highlighted grid marks are simply to help you count the grid divisions easily. Page 9
06 Check intersections before continuing! You also need to check the intersections carefully before continuing. To do this, you MUST zoom in with the magnification Zoom Tool. Zoom Tool If the line is slightly off, move it with the Selection Tool. To zoom out, hold down Option (Mac) or ALT (PC) while clicking zooming. Page 10
07 Group and duplicate 1. Select the first two lines and group them using keyboard shortcuts: a. Mac: Command + G b. PC: Control + G c. HINT: To ungroup objects, select the group and add the Shift key to the above combos. 2. Duplicate the group using Option/ALT + Shift similarly to step 06. 08 Repeat, Repeat, Repeat Repeat the steps above until you produce 8 lines that fully intersect the page with the proper spacing and placement. To the right...8-line document: Page 11
09 Name Layer 1. Open the Layers Panel (Window > Layers). <- 09 figure left 2. Double-click the layer and rename it lines. 10 Make circles layer 1. Click New Layer button in Layer Panel. 2. Double-click the new layer and rename it circles. 3. Set the color to a different color than your previous layer. This is the color to highlight a layer s guides and selected objects. ^ 10 figure above 11 Lock lines layer and select circles This will protect the lines and create new objects in circles. 11 figure right -> Page 12
12 Draw first circle Make sure SNAP is OFF! Draw the first circle using the Ellipse Shape Tool. It MUST be tangent to its enclosing diagonal lines to ensure a sound grid structure. Set its fill to transparent, stroke to black, and its stroke size to 0.25. ***For a perfect circle, you must hold down SHIFT while drawing. HINT for circles Illustrator will, by default, start drawing an ellipse/ circle based on its perimeter line, making it hard to predict where to start the drawing. To draw a predictably-placed circle, start from its desired center area, and press Option/ALT + Shift. The Option/ALT key will draw the circle from the center, radiating outward. Page 13
13 14 15 16 Page 14
17 Turn off visibility for lines layer Let s see how it looks without the diagonal guides. 18 Center to Artboard With the entire set of 16 circles selected, open the Align Panel and do the following: 1. Select the Artboard button 2. Select the Horizontal Align feature 3. Select the Vertical Align feature 4. Save the document. Page 15
19 Create new layer This layer will be to draw intersecting guide lines through the center points of the circles at all 90 and 45 angles. Thus, you will draw horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines intersecting all circles. This will create a drawing template on which you can see the correct geometric anchors in order to create perfect curves. You can unlock the circles layer and enable Snap to Point. This will help you draw lines based on the circles points for accuracy. Do NOT Snap to Grid. Page 16
20 Copy the grid to a new document With the new layer and circles layer unlocked, press (PC) CONTROL + A or (Mac) COMMAND + A to Select All. Copy both the guide lines and circles. Create a new file 11 x 8.5 and paste. Group the pasted selection and scale it down so that you can duplicate 4 of these grids on the page. While selected, lower the transparency of the grids so that they can be seen when printed, but so that they won t visually overwhelm your sketches. Page 17
21 - Final Step Print and Sketch Print AT LEAST 4 of these empty grid template pages. You will use these to handsketch some ideas before you start working with the pen tool. Turn in BOTH your digital file as well as the sketches for a grade. Suggestions You should start with simple shapes, being sure to use only the intersections on the perimeter of the circles. These will allow a harmonious grid-based design with good proportions. Page 18