In this Illustrator tutorialyou'll create a geometric shape using the Pen Tool and a Commandcalled Divide Objects Below.
You'll create a pattern from that shape that can then be applied to the fillsand strokes of your artwork.
You can see some examples here.
To start in the Properties panelon the right, make sure the Smart Guides option is on so, it's easier to snap lines togetheras you draw.
You'll take this polygon shapethat's already here and divide it into three even parts using the Pen Tooland a Command called Divide Objects Below.
That way you can apply colorto each of the selected shapes.
So, to get started you're going to zoom into the polygon.
So, with the Selection Tool selected, click the polygon shape and then press Command + on Mac OS or Control + on Windows a few timesso you can zoom in a little bit.
Then to de-select this shape click in a blank area.
Now you'll draw a straight linewith the Pen Tool which is going to be part of the inside.
So, select the Pen Tool in the Toolbar, move the pointer over this corner and when you see the word Anchor click to set the first anchor point.
Seeing the word Anchor means the point on the new linewill snap to the point on this shape.
Move the pointer over this point.
Click and release when you seethe word Anchor again.
Now you'll add a new point to the linethat way you can bend it in the middle and you can make the part of the shapeyou see here.
Move the pointer somewhere over the path.
And when you seea + next to the pointer click to add a point.
Now to drag the point down select the Direct Selection Toolin the Toolbar and drag it downuntil it snaps in the center.
And you see the word Intersect, like this.
Now you need to be ableto add different color fills to the different parts of the shape.
But right now, this is just a line over the top of a shape.
So, you'll use this line to divide the larger shape into two.
With the line selected choose Object, Path, Divide Objects Below.
It's now two separate shapesthat you can color.
Now the last step is to draw a line here, so you can divide this shape into two separate shapes.
So, select the Pen Tool again and so you don't edit the shapes that areselected you want to de-select them.
So, choose Select, Deselect.
Now, click down here to add a pointwhen you see the word Anchor.
Then come up to the center and click when you see the word Anchorto make a path.
This line will be usedto divide this shape into two.
So, choose Object, Path, Divide Objects Below.
There are now three separate shapes.
To change the color of each, select the Selection Tool click one of the shapes then click the Fill colorin the Properties panel and select one of these swatches.
And to remove the border or stroke click the down arrow herefor Stroke weight until you see 0.
Do the same for the remaining two shapes.
With the artwork now madeyou'll make a pattern out of it.
First you need to select the artwork so, drag across it then choose Object, Pattern, Make.
You should now see pattern editing mode in here you can seea preview of the pattern, you can still edit the artwork and you can change Pattern Optionsin the panel that shows over here.
We'll keep this simple first click OK in this dialog box.
Now the blue box you see hereis called the pattern tile.
Everything inside of the boxis what is repeated in the pattern.
To change some options for the pattern, come to the Pattern Options panel here.
Try choosing Brick by Column to change how the artwork repeats.
It actually staggers each column.
Now to bring the cubes closer together click Width to select the value and then type 2.
75.
That changes the overall widthof the pattern tile.
Click Height and change the value to 3 press Return or Enterto accept that value.
Now to change how the cubesoverlap each other as they repeat try clickingthe Bottom in Front button here.
There are lots of Pattern Optionsto explore, but we're finished with this pattern, so click Done in the bar at the top.
The pattern is now savedas a swatch you can apply.
So, to see everything choose View, Fit All in Window.
With the Selection Tool we're going to apply the patternto this shape.
So, click this gray shape and change the fill to the new pattern.
Patterns are really a lot of fun.
Why don't you try exploring by changingthe color of these shapes and maybe creatinga new pattern from them? So, you can builda library of custom patterns of your own.
.
