Create a Plastic Balls Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

12/6/2015 CreateaPlasticBallsTextEffectinAdobeIllustratorTuts+Design&IllustrationTutorial

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/createaplasticballstexteffectinadobeillustratorcms23869 1/60

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WhatYou'llBeCreating

InthefollowingstepsyouwilllearnhowtocreateacolorfulplasticballstexteffectinAdobeIllustrator.

Forstartersyouwilllearnhowtosetupasimplegridandhowtocreatethemainshape.Next,usingbasicblendingandvectorshapebuildingtechniques,someneatstrokefeatures,asimpleblendandabunchofeffects,youwilladdshadingandhighlightsforyourshape.

Onceyoumakeyourfirstplasticball,youwilllearnhowtomultiplyitandhowtoeasilyrecolorthesecopiesusingtheRecolorArtworkfeature.Movingon,youwill

TEXTEFFECTS

CreateaPlasticBallsTextEffectinAdobeIllustratorbyAndreiMarius 2Jun2015 2Comments

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learnhowtoturnyourplasticballsintosimplesymbolsandhowtousethemforacolorfultexteffect.Finally,you'lllearnhowtoaddasubtletextureforyouroverallillustration.

1.CreateaNewDocumentandSetUpaGrid

HitControlNtocreateanewdocument.SelectPixelsfromtheUnitsdropdownmenu,enter700inthewidthboxand400intheheightboxandthenclicktheAdvancedbutton.SelectRGB,Screen(72ppi)andmakesurethattheAlignNewObjectstoPixelGridboxisuncheckedbeforeyouclickOK.

EnabletheGrid(View>ShowGrid)andtheSnaptoGrid(View>SnaptoGrid).Youwillneedagridevery1px,sosimplygotoEdit>Preferences>Guides>Grid,andenter1intheGridlineeveryboxand1intheSubdivisionsbox.Trynottogetdiscouragedbyallthatgriditwillmakeyourworkeasier,andkeepinmindthatyoucaneasilyenableordisableitusingtheControl"keyboardshortcut.

YoushouldalsoopentheInfopanel(Window>Info)foralivepreviewwiththesizeandpositionofyourshapes.DonotforgettosettheunitofmeasurementtopixelsfromEdit>Preferences>Units>General.Alltheseoptionswillsignificantlyincreaseyourworkspeed.



2.CreatetheMainShapeandAddSubtleShading

Step1PicktheEllipseTool(L)andfocusonyourToolbar.RemovethecolorfromthestrokethenselectthefillandsetitscoloratR=0G=141B=237.Movetoyourartboardandsimplycreatea20pxcirclethegridandtheSnaptoGridfeatureshouldmakeyourworkeasier.



Step2Makesurethatyourbluecircleisstillselectedandmakeacopyinfront(ControlC>ControlF).SelectonlythiscopyandfocusontheAppearancepanel.

First,removethecolorfromthefill.Next,selectthestroke,makeitblack(R=0G=0



B=0)andthenclickonthat"Stroke"pieceoftexttoopentheStrokeflyoutpanel.IncreasetheWeightto3pxandthenselectWidthProfile2fromtheProfiledropdownmenu.



Step3Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmakeanewcopyfront(ControlC>ControlF).ReselectthecirclewiththeblackstrokeandgotoObject>Path>OutlineStroke.Selecttheresultingshapealongwiththecopymadeinthebeginningofthestep,openthePathfinderpanel(Window>Pathfinder)andclicktheIntersectbutton.

MakesurethattheresultingshapestaysselectedandfocusontheAppearancepanel.Simplyclickthat"Opacity"pieceoftexttoopentheTransparencyflyoutpanelandthenlowertheOpacityto20%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step4Makesurethatyourbluecircleisstillselectedandmakeanewcopyinfront(ControlC>ControlF).SelectonlythiscopyandfocusontheAppearancepanel.



Removethecolorfromthefill,selectthestroke,makeitblackandthenopentheStrokeflyoutpanel.IncreasetheWeightto6pxandthenselectthatsameWidthProfile2fromtheProfiledropdownmenu.



Step5Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmakeanewcopyfront(ControlC>ControlF).ReselectthecirclewiththeblackstrokeandgotoObject>Path>OutlineStroke.SelecttheresultingshapealongwiththecopymadeinthebeginningofthestepandclicktheIntersectbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.

Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,focusontheAppearancepanel,lowertheOpacityto20%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step6DisabletheSnaptoGrid(ShiftControl')andthengotoEdit>Preferences>GeneralandmakesurethattheKeyboardIncrementissetat1px.

Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmaketwocopiesinfront(ControlC>ControlF>ControlF).Selectthetopcopyandmoveit1pxupand1pxtotherightusingtheupandrightarrowbuttonsfromyourkeyboard.ReselectbothcopiesmadeinthisstepandclicktheMinusFrontbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.

Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,bringittofrontusingtheShiftControl]keyboardshortcutandthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.Replacethe



existingfillcolorwithblack,loweritsOpacityto25%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step7Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmaketwocopiesinfront(ControlC>ControlF>ControlF).Selectthetopcopyandmoveit2pxupand2pxtotheright.ReselectbothcopiesmadeinthisstepandclicktheMinusFrontbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.

Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,bringittofront(ShiftControl])andthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.Replacetheexistingfillcolorwithblack,loweritsOpacityto25%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step8Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmaketwocopiesinfront(ControlC>ControlF>ControlF).Selectthetopcopyandmoveit1pxupand1pxtotheright.ReselectbothcopiesmadeinthisstepandclicktheMinusFrontbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.



Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,bringittofront(ShiftControl])andthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.Replacetheexistingfillcolorwithwhite(R=255G=255B=255),loweritsOpacityto50%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



3.AddHighlights

Step1EnabletheSnaptoGrid(Control').

UsingtheEllipseTool(L),createa10pxwhitecircleandplaceitasshowninthefollowingimage.LoweritsOpacityto15%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step2UsingtheEllipseTool(L),createa6pxwhitecircleandplaceitasshowninthefollowingimage.LoweritsOpacityto30%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step3UsingtheEllipseTool(L),createa3pxwhitecircleandplaceitasshowninthefollowingimage.LoweritsOpacityto50%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step4DisabletheSnaptoGrid(Control').

Makesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandmaketwocopiesinfront(ControlC>ControlF>ControlF).Selectthetopcopyandmoveit1pxdownand1pxtotheleft.ReselectbothcopiesmadeinthisstepandclicktheMinusFrontbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.

Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,bringittofront(ShiftControl])andthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.Replacetheexistingfillcolorwithwhite,loweritsOpacityto50%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step5MakesurethatyourbluecircleisselectedandgotoObject>Path>OffsetPath.Entera1pxOffsetandclicktheOKbutton.Selecttheresultingshape,makeacopyinfront(ControlC>ControlF)andmoveit1pxdownand1pxtotheleft.ReselectbothshapesmadeinthisstepandclicktheMinusFrontbuttonfromthePathfinderpanel.

Makesurethattheresultingshapestaysselected,bringittofront(ShiftControl])andthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.Replacetheexistingfillcolorwithwhite,loweritsOpacityto40%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step6EnabletheSnaptoGrid(Control').

UsingtheEllipseTool(L),createa6pxcircleandplaceitasshowninthefirstimage.Adda1pxwhitestrokeforthisnewshapeandremoveanyfillcolor.MakesurethatthiscirclestaysselectedandgotoObject>Path>AddAnchorPoints.

SwitchtotheDirectSelectionTool(A),selectthethreeanchorpointshighlightedinthesecondimageandsimplyremovethemusingtheDeletebuttonfromyourkeyboard.Intheendyourwhitepathshouldlooklikeinthethirdimage.



Step7Makesurethatyourwhitepathstaysselected,focusontheAppearancepanelandopentheStrokeflyoutpanel.ChecktheRoundCapbuttonandtheDashedLinebox.Enter0pxinthefirstdashboxand2pxinthefirstgapbox,checktheAligndashestocornersandpathends...buttonandthenselectWidthProfile1fromthatProfiledropdownmenu.Intheendyourwhitepathshouldlooklikeinthefollowingimage.



Step8MakesurethatyourwhitepathisstillselectedandgotoObject>Path>OutlineStroke.TurntheresultinggroupofshapesintoasimplecompoundpathusingtheControl8keyboardshortcutandthenfocusontheAppearancepanel.LowertheOpacityto70%andchangetheBlendingModetoOverlay.

Step9UsingtheRectangleTool(M),createa4x2pxshape,setthefillcolortowhiteandplaceitasshowninthefirstimage.Makesurethatthisnewrectanglestaysselected



andgotoEffect>Stylize>RoundedCorners.Entera1pxRadius,clicktheOKbuttonandthengotoEffect>Warp>Arc.Entertheattributesshowninthefollowingimage,clickOKandthengotoObject>ExpandAppearance.



Step10MakesurethatyourwhiteshapeisstillselectedandswitchtotheRotateTool(R).HoldtheAltbuttonfromyourkeyboardanddragthatreferencepointinthecenterofyourbluecircle.Entera135degreeAngleandthenclicktheCopybutton.Selectthenewshape,loweritsOpacityto40%andchangetheBlendingModetoSoftLight.



Step11ReselectthatwhiteshapeandagainpicktheRotateTool(R).Dragthatreferencepointinthecenterofyourbluecircle,entera45degreeAngleandthistimeclicktheOKbutton.Makesurethatthisshapestaysselected,loweritsOpacityto30%andchangetheBlendingModetoOverlay.



4.CreateaSimpleBlendandAddMoreShading

Step1Reselectyourbluecircleandbringittofront(ShiftControl]).UsingtheEllipseTool(L),createa5pxcircle,placeitasshowninthesecondimageandsetthefillcolortoR=37G=192B=255.



Step2FocusonyourToolbarandsimplydoubleclickontheBlendTooltoopentheBlendOptionswindow.SelectSpecifiedStepsfromtheSpacingdropdownmenuandsimplyenter50inthatwhitebox.ReselectthetwobluecirclesandsimplyhitAltControlBtocreateanewblend.Intheendthingsshouldlooklikeinthesecondimage.



Step3Reselectyourblend,sendittobackusingtheShiftControl[keyboardshortcutandthengotoEffect>Stylize>DropShadow.EntertheattributesshowninthefollowingimageandthenclicktheOKbutton.Now,selectalltheshapesmadesofarandsimplyGroupthemusingtheControlGkeyboardshortcut.



Step4Makesurethatyourgroupstaysselected,focusontheAppearancepanelandsimplyaddastrokeusingtheAddNewStrokebutton.Selectthisstroke,setthecolortoR=0G=141B=237,loweritsOpacityto10%,changetheBlendingModetoMultiplyandthengotoEffect>Path>OffsetPath.

Entera0.5pxOffset,clicktheOKbuttonandthengotoEffect>Pathfinder>Add.KeepfocusingontheAppearancepanel,makesurethattheentiregroupisselected(simplyclickthat"Group"pieceoftextfromthetopoftheAppearancepanel)andgotoEffect>Stylize>OuterGlow.EntertheattributesshowninthefollowingimageandthenclicktheOKbutton.



5.MultiplyandRecolortheNewPlasticBalls

Step1Makeacopyofyourgroupanddragittotherightasshowninthefirstimage.SelectthisgroupcopyandgotoEdit>EditColors>RecolorArtwork.Focusonthetwobluetintsandsimplyreplacetheexistingcolorcodeswiththeonesindicatedinthefollowingimage.



Step2Makeacopyofyouryellowgroupanddragittotheright.SelectthisgroupcopyandgoagaintoEdit>EditColors>RecolorArtwork.Focusonthetwoyellowtintsandsimplyreplacetheexistingcolorcodeswiththeonesindicatedinthefollowingimage.



Step3Makeacopyofyourredgroupanddragittotheright.SelectthisgroupcopyandgoagaintoEdit>EditColors>RecolorArtwork.Focusonthetworedtintsandsimplyreplacetheexistingcolorcodeswiththeonesindicatedinthefollowing



image.

Step4Makeacopyofyourgreengroupanddragittotheright.Selectthisgroupcopyand



goagaintoEdit>EditColors>RecolorArtwork.Focusonthetwogreentintsandsimplyreplacetheexistingcolorcodeswiththeonesindicatedinthefollowingimage.



6.SaveYourSymbolsandSettheBackgroundColor

Step1Selectthegroupofshapesthatmakesupyourblueplasticball,opentheSymbolspanel(Window>Symbols)andsimplyclickthatNewSymbolbutton.PickanameforyoursymbolandclickOK.Selecttherestofthegroupsonebyoneandusethesametechniquetoturnthemintosymbols.



Step2UsingtheRectangleTool(M),createa710x410pxshape,makesurethatitcoversyourentireartboard,andsetthefillcolortoR=197G=237B=255.MovetotheLayerspanelandlockthisrectangletomakesurethatyoudon'taccidentallyselect/moveit.



7.CreatetheTextEffect

Step1PicktheTypeTool(T),simplyclickonyourartboardandaddthe"PLAY"pieceoftext.UsetheVanillafontwiththesizesetto150px,makeitblackandloweritsOpacitytoabout10%.Again,movetotheLayerspanelandlockthispieceoftexttomakesurethatyoudon'taccidentallyselect/moveit.



Step2FocusonthefirstletteranddragyourfivesymbolsfromtheSymbolspanel.Trytospreadthemroughlyasshowninthefollowingimage.



Step3Keepaddingyourfivesymbolsuntilyoucovermostofthat"P".Trytohaveanequalnumberofplasticballsforeachcolor.



Step4Focusontherestofyourtextandrepeatthetechniqueusedforthefirstletter.Onceyou'redone,movetotheLayerspanelandgetridofthatpieceoftext.Also,spreadsomeplasticballsaroundyourtextasshowninthesecondimage.



Step5Selectsomeoftheaddedsymbolsandrandomlyresizethemasshowninthefollowingimages.



8.AddaSubtleTexture

Step1MovetotheLayerspanel,unlockthatbluerectangle,makeacopyinfront(ControlC>ControlF)andbringittofront(ShiftControl]).MakesurethatthiscopystaysselectedandfocusontheAppearancepanel.

Selectthefill,loweritsOpacityto30%,changetheBlendingModetoColorBurnandsimplyreplacetheexistingcolorwiththeradialgradientshowninthefollowingimage.KeepinmindthattheyellowzerofromtheGradientimagestandsforOpacitypercentage.



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Step2MakesurethattherectanglemadeinthepreviousstepisstillselectedandaddasecondfillusingtheAddNewFillbutton.Selectthisnewfill,setthecolortoblack,loweritsOpacityto10%,changetheBlendingModetoSoftLightandthengotoEffect>Artistic>FilmGrain.EntertheattributesshowninthefollowingimageandthenclicktheOKbutton.



Congratulations!You'reDone!

Hereishowitshouldlook.Ihopeyou'veenjoyedthistutorialandcanapplythesetechniquesinyourfutureprojects.



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Difficulty:Intermediate

Length:Medium

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TextEffects AdobeIllustrator Vector Vibrant

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AboutAndreiMarius

I'maselftaughtvectorartisttryingtomakealivingdoingsomethingthatIlike.IspendmostofmytimeworkinginAdobeIllustrator,avoidingthePenToolandstrugglingtofindtheperfectcolors.YoucanfindallmyvectorexperimentsatthislittlewebsitededicatetoIllustrator,VforVectors.com.

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