https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText0.jpg
In the following steps you will learn how to create a laces text
effect in Adobe Illustrator. For starters you will learn how to
create the main lace shapes using a simple rectangle, three
Transform effects and some basic vector shape building techniques.
Using similar effects and techniques along with the Warp and
Distort effects you will learn how to create the laces tips. Moving
on, you will learn how to save two simple pattern and how to use
them to create your own pattern brush. Finally, using that pattern
brush, some basic masking techniques and several Drop Shadow
effects you will create the text.
1. Create
a New Document and Set Up a Grid
Hit Control-N to
create a new document. Select Pixels from
the Units drop-down
menu, enter 1000 in the
width box and 660 in the
height box then click on the Advanced button.
Select RGB, Screen
(72ppi) and make sure that
the Align
New Objects to Pixel Grid box is
unchecked before you click OK.
Enable the Grid (View
> Show Grid) and the Snap to
Grid (View > Snap to Grid). For
starters you will need a grid every 5px, so simply go
to Edit
> Preferences > Guides > Grid,
enter 5 in
the Gridline
every box
and 1 in
the Subdivisions box.
You should also open the Info panel
(Window > Info)
for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do
not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels
from Edit
> Preferences > Units > General. All these
options will significantly increase your work speed.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText1.jpg
2. Create
the Main Lace Shapes
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool
(M) and focus on your Toolbar. Remove the
color from the stroke then select the fill and set its color
at R=45
G=83 B=208. Move to your artboard and simply create
a 6px square, the
Snap to Grid should ease your work.
Keep focusing on this tiny shape and switch to
the Direct
Selection Tool (A). Select the top, left anchor points and
drag it 2px up
and 4px to the
right, select the bottom, left anchor point and drag
it 2px up
and 2pxto the left then select the
right anchor point and drag it 6px to the
left.. In the end your shape should look like in the second
image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText2.jpg
Step 2
Make sure that your shape is still selected and go
to Effect > Distort
& Transform > Transform. Enter the properties shown
in the top window (in the following image),
click OK and go again
to Effect
> Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the
properties shown in the middle window,
click OK and go one
more time toEffect >
Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the
properties shown in the bottom window and
click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText3.jpg
Step 3
Reselect your blue shape and go to Object > Expand
Appearance. Make sure that the resulting group of shapes
is selected and hit Control-8 (or
go to Object > Compound Path >
Make) to turn it into a simpleCompound Path.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText4.jpg
Step 4
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 22 x 6px shape,
set the fill color at R=80 G=112
B=214 and place it exactly as shown in
the first image. Make sure that this new shape is selected, send it
to back (Shift-Control-[ )
then make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).
Select the copy along with your compound path, open
the Pathfinder panel
(Window >
Pathfinder) and click the Intersect button.
Make sure that the resulting group of shapes is selected and turn
it into a simpleCompound
Path (Control-8 or Object
> Compound Path > Make). Move to
the Layers panel
(Window >
Layers), open your layer, double-click on
your newly created compound path and simply name it "pattern".
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText5.jpg
3. Create
the Lace Tips
Step 1
Reselect your "pattern" compound
path and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).
Select this copy and simply drag it a few pixels down as shown in
the first image. Make sure that your new compound path stays
selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform >
Transform. Enter the properties shown in the following
image and click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText6.jpg
Step 2
Reselect your compound path copy and go
to Object > Expand
Appearance. Make sure that the resulting group of shapes
is selected, click the Unite button
from the Pathfinder panel
then turn those shapes into a
simple Compound
Path (Control-8 or Object
> Compound Path > Make).
Move to the Layers panel
(Window >
Layers), double-click on
your newly created compound path and simply name it "tipPattern".
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText7.jpg
Step 3
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 22 x 24px shape
and set the fill color at R=80 G=112 B=214. Place this new
shape as shown in the first image then send it to back
(Shift-Control-[ ).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText8.jpg
Step 4
Reselect your "tipPattern"
compound path along with the 22 x
24px rectangle
and Group them
(Control-G). Make
sure that this new group is selected and go
to Effect
> Warp > Bulge. Enter the properties shown in the
following image, click OK and go
to Effect
> Distort & Transform > Free Distort. Drag those
points roughly as shown in the following image then
click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText9.jpg
Step 5
Reselect your "pattern" compound
path and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).
Select this copy and simply drag it a few pixels up as shown in the
first image.
Make sure that your new compound path stays selected and go
to Effect
> Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the
properties shown in the following image and
click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText10.jpg
Step 6
Reselect your compound path copy and go
to Object > Expand
Appearance. Make sure that the resulting
group of shapes is selected, click
the Unite button
from the Pathfinder panel
then turn those shapes into a
simple Compound
Path (Control-8 or Object
> Compound Path > Make).
Move to the Layers panel
(Window >
Layers), double-click on
your newly created compound path and simply name it "tipPatternSecond". Make sure that
your "tipPatternSecond"
compound path is selected and go to Object > Transform >
Reflect. Check the Horizontal box
and click OK. In the end things should
look like in the fourth image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText11.jpg
Step 7
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 22 x 24px shape
and set the fill color at R=80 G=112 B=214. Place this new
shape as shown in the first image then send it to back
(Shift-Control-[ ).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText12.jpg
Step 8
Reselect your "tipPatternSecond"
compound path along with the new, 22 x
24px rectangle
and Group them
(Control-G).
Next, you need to copy the effects applied for the existing group
and paste them onto this new group. You can easily do it using the
target icons. Go to the Layers panel,
focus on the right side and you'll notice that every shape, group
or layer comes with a little grey circle. That's a target icon.
Hold the Alt button from
your keyboard, click on the target icon that stands for your first
group and simply drag onto the circle that stands for the group
made in this step. In the end things should look like in the second
image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText13.jpg
Step 9
Make sure that your top group is still selected and go
to Object > Expand
Appearance. Select the resulting group of shapes and go
to Object
> Transform > Reflect. Simply check
the Horizontal box
then click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText14.jpg
Step 10
Focus on the top group of shapes. Select the shape highlighted in
the first image and make a copy in front (Control-C >
Control-F). Select this copy along with the front compound
path and click the Intersect button
from the Pathfinder panel.
Make sure that the resulting group of shapes is selected and turn
it into a simple Compound
Path (Control-8 or Object
> Compound Path > Make).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText15.jpg
Step 11
Move to the bottom group, select it and go
to Object > Expand
Appearance. Focus on the resulting group, select the shape
highlighted in the second image and make a copy in front
(Control-C >
Control-F). Select this copy along with the front compound
path and click the Intersect button
from the Pathfinder panel.
Make sure that the resulting group of shapes is selected and turn
it into a simple Compound
Path (Control-8 or Object
> Compound Path > Make).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText16.jpg
Step 12
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 2 x 24px shape,
set the fill color at white (R=255 G=255 B=255) and place it
as shown in the first image. Focus on the bottom side of this thin
rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A).
Select the left anchor point and drag
it 4px to the left
then select the right anchor point and drag
it 5px to the
left. Make sure that your white shape is still selected, lower
its Opacity to 70% and
change the Blending
Mode to Overlay.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText17.jpg
Step 13
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 2 x 24px shape,
set the fill color at black (R=0 G=0 B=0) and place it as
shown in the first image. Focus on the bottom side of this thin
rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A).
Select the right anchor point and drag
it 2px to the
right then select the left anchor point and drag
it 3px to the
right. Make sure that your black shape is still selected, lower
its Opacity to 50% and
change the Blending
Mode to Soft Light.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText18.jpg
Step 14
Reselect both black and white shapes and go
to Object > Transform
> Reflect. Check the Horizontal box
then simply click the Copy button.
Select the newly created shapes, drag them up and place them as
shown in the third image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText19.jpg
Step 15
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 2 x 6px shape,
set the fill color at black, place it as shown in the following
image, lower its Opacity to 50% and
change the Blending
Mode to Soft Light. Make sure that
thatRectangle Tool
(M) is still active and create a
second 2 x
6px shape. Place it as shown in the
following image, set the fill color at white, lower
its Opacity to 70% and
change the Blending
Mode to Overlay.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText20.jpg
Step 16
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create two, 1 x 45px shape,
set the fill color at R=53 G=32
B=168 and place them as shown in the
first image. Using the same tool, create a
new 1 x
45px rectangle, set the fill color
atR=44 G=63
B=188 and place it as shown in the second
image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText21.jpg
Step 17
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 2 x 45px shape
and a 1 x
45px shape. Fill both shapes
with R=45
G=83 B=208 and place them as shown in the
first image. Using the same tool, create
a 2 x
45px shape and
a 1 x
45px shape. Fill both shapes
with R=82
G=114 B=219 and place them as shown in
the first image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText22.jpg
Step 18
Using the Rectangle Tool
(M), create a 1 x 45px shape,
set the fill color at R=113 G=141
B=227 and place them as shown in the
first image. Select this thin shape along with the other seven
rectangles highlighted in the second image
and Group them
(Control-G).
Duplicate this new group (Control-C > Control-F),
select the copy, drag it up and place it as shown in the third
image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText23.jpg
4. Save
a Simple Pattern Brush
Step 1
Reselect all the shapes made so far and go
to Object > Transform
> Rotate. Enter a -90 degrees
angle and click OK. In the end things should
look like in the second image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText24.jpg
Step 2
Select the shapes highlighted in the first image and simply drag
them inside the Swatches panel
(Window >
Swatches) to save your own pattern. Once you can see it in
the Swatches panel
you can get rid of the shapes that you used to create it.
Return to the Swatches panel, double-click on
your pattern and name it "startTile". Select the shapes
highlighted in the second image and turn them into your second
pattern. Name it "endTile"
then simply remove the shapes that you used to create this new
pattern.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText25.jpg
Step 3
Focus on your artboard, select the remaining shapes, open
the Brushes panel
(Window >
Brushes) and click the New
Brush button (pointed by the little, blue
arrow in the following image).
Check the Pattern
Brush box then
click OK to open
the Pattern Brush
Options window. Enter "Laces" in
the Name box, drag
the Scale slider
at 70% then move
down to the Tile boxes.
Select the Start Tile box
and add the "startTile"
pattern from the list then select End Tile box
and add the "endTile".
Finally, click OK and you
should find your new pattern brush inside
the Brushes panel.
If you can see it simply remove the shapes that you used to create
it.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText26.jpg
5. Create
the Text and Use Your Pattern Brush
Step 1
Disable the Grid (View
> Hide Grid) and the Snap to
Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Pick
the Type
Tool (T), simply click on your artboard and add the
"Laces" black piece of
text. Make sure that it stays selected and open
the Character panel
(Window > Type >
Character). Select the "Edwardian Script ITC" font then
set the size at 300pt and the
tracking at 100. Lower
the Opacity of your
text to 30% then move
to the Layers panel
and simply lock it to make sure that you won't accidentally
select/move it.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText27.jpg
Step 2
Now the challenging path. Using the Pen Tool
(P) or
the Paintbrush
Tool (B) (if you happen to own a tablet)
draw a smooth path along your text as shown in the following image.
Try to use the text in the back as a rough reference.
For starters use a simple, red stroke for your path. Once you feel
that it looks good enough, replace the red stroke with your
"Laces" pattern brush.
Move to the Layers panel, double-click on
the path made in this step and simply name it "Laces". Also, delete that locked
piece of text.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText28.jpg
6. Add
Subtle Shading for the Overlapping Laces
Step 1
Make sure that your "Laces" path is
still selected and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).
Select this copy, focus on the Appearance panel
(Window >
Appearance) and replace the pattern brush used for the
stroke with a 15.5pt stroke.
Set its color at R=41 G=100 B=190.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText29.jpg
Step 2
Focus on the the path with the blue stroke and take a closer look
at the overlapping areas. Using theScissors Tool
(C), cut the portions of the path that overlap. Keep
focusing on the overlapping path and decide which path goes in the
back and which path stays in front. Now, select the front paths and
replace the blue with yellow (R=255 G=222 B=23) then select
the paths in the back and replace the blue with red (R=237 G=28 B=36).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText30.jpg
Step 3
Select one of the remaining paths with a blue stroke and go
to Select > Same >
Appearance to select the rest of the
shapes with similar Appearance attributes.
Once you have all those path selected simply hit theDelete button
from your keyboard to get rid of them.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText31.jpg
Step 4
Select all the paths with a red stroke and go
to Object > Path >
Outline Stroke. Make sure that the resulting shapes are
selected and turn them into a
simple Compound
Path (Control-8).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText32.jpg
Step 5
Select all the paths with a yellow stroke and go
to Object > Path >
Outline Stroke. Make sure that the resulting shapes are
selected, turn them into a simple Compound
Path (Control-8) and bring it to front
(Shift-Control-] ).
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText33.jpg
Step 6
Reselect your yellow compound path and make a copy in front
(Control-C >
Control-F). Select it along with the red compound path and
click the Minus
Front button from
the Pathfinder panel.
Turn the resulting group of shapes into
a Compound
Path (Control-8) and set its fill
color at white.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText34.jpg
Step 7
Reselect your yellow compound path and focus on
the Appearance.
Select the existing fill, replace the yellow with black and go
to Effect
> Stylize > Outer Glow. Enter the properties shown
in the following image and click OK.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText35.jpg
Step 8
Reselect your white compound path and bring it to front
(Shift-Control-] ).
Select it along with the black compound path, open the fly-out menu
of the Transparency panel
(Window >
Transparency) and go toMake Opacity Mask. In the end
things should look like in the third image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText36.jpg
7. Add
a Second Lace and Recolor It
Step 1
Using the Pen Tool
(P) or
the Paintbrush
Tool (B), add a path around your text and use that same
"Laces" pattern brush.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText37.jpg
Step 2
Make sure that the path surrounding your text is still selected and
go to Edit > Edit Colors
> Recolor Artwork. Go to
the Edit section,
make sure that the Recolor
Artwork box
and Link
harmony colors buttons are checked, then
simply play with the Brightness and
the color handles. There are countless possibilities.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText38.jpg
8. Add
Shading for Both Laces
Step 1
Reselect the two main paths and add the
five Drop
Shadow effects (Effect > Stylize > Drop
Shadow) shown in the following image.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText39.jpg
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and
can apply these techniques in your future projects.
https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads/2014/01/lacesText0.jpg
加载中…
(2017-06-17 09:52:49) 
