Illustrator

Useful Illustrator Trick To Create Geometric Shapes

January 29, 2016

Geometrical designs or brand identities are very common among graphic designers and every designer has its own way to design shapes in illustrator, but some tricks make life easier. So today I am going to teach you how you can create geometrical shapes or brand identities for your clients or business on your own, without overwhelming process or layers.

Now lets begin the work and at the end of this tutorial you will be able to draw geometrical shape in illustrator within 5 to 10 minutes. I assume you are beginner but if in case you have advance skills then bear with me. :p

Lets draw some shapes in illustrator

Step 1:

Begin with creating a new file. Simply click on file and then New (Ctrl+N).

A popup box will appear and ask for the artboard size.

Step 2:

Now select Rectangle tool (M) and click anywhere on the artboard. A popup box will appear, there you will see width and height, set both of them at 200pt to have a perfect square. Then press OK button.

Step 3:

You have a square now. While selecting the square just go to Object > Path > Split into grid.

As you click on Split into grid, you will have a popup box with the options of rows and columns. You have to deal with Rows, set Number at 5 and then click OK button. You will have a square with 5 rows as shown in figure. Select the complete square and group all the 5 rows by pressing (Ctrl+G).

Step 4:

Keep that square aside, then go to Rectangle tool (M) and select the option of Polygon Tool. Now create a hexagon shape while keeping its stroke nil and color of your own choice.

Step 5:

Now select both shapes (grid square and hexagon) and align them. You will see that hexagon is smaller than square. So, with Direct Selection Tool select the lower middle point of hexagon press Shift button and bring it equal to square as shown in the figure.

Step 6:

Now select the square only with the help of Selection Tool and just do Right Click with your mouse, some options will appear select Arrange > Bring to Front. The square will appear above the hexagon.

Step 7:

Now select the grid square with the help of Selection Tool and press (Ctrl+C) and then (Ctrl+F) from your keyboard. By pressing these, you will have a copy of square. Now rotate that square at the angle of -59.77. So you have 2 squares now.

Now select the second square and press (Ctrl+F) and then (Ctrl+F) from your keyboard and have another copy of square. Rotate it to the angle of -119.51. Now you have 3 squares.

Now select the first square bring it to little upper/lower position and you will see the triangle shapes.

Step 8:

Now select all the 3 squares and hexagon together with Selection Tool

and click on the Shape Builder Tool (Shift+M).

Now go to swatches and pick any color, then click on any triangle. The triangle has that color which you pick from swatches.

Now pick another color and do the same.

Step 9:

I make “N-shape” with different colors.

Step 10:

Now click on any colored triangle Ungroup them by Right Click of your mouse. Select the portion which you do not require as I did and Delete them.

Final Preview:

After doing all the process/steps you will have a perfect alphabet shape.

You can create different alphabets or shapes with this easy technique. Another example is also given below.

NOTE:

While coloring triangles the stroke option must be OFF.

Hopefully, this tutorial will help you to create different designs. Soon I’ll also share a video to make it more convenient for you guys.