Computerlove™

September 25th, 2007

Transform Again in Illustrator(tutorial)

You can achieve surprisingly cool results using the Transform Again feature in Illustrator starting from a simple shape. As you all know simplicity is my motto. Today I try turn this into practice again. So sit tight for another step-by-step tutorial using this simple but oh so powerful feature.
STEP 1 - START WITH A SIMPLE SHAPE
Start with a simple shape like a circle. Select the Direct Selection tool (white arrow) and delete 1 segment of the circle.


Now, select the object using the Selection Tool (black arrow) and select the Transform Tool. Option/Alt click in the center of the 3/4 circle. Check the Uniform option and enter a value of 110% in the Scale field. You could uncheck the Scale Strokes and Effects options, but it doesn't really matter what you choose here. I've chosen to check it off. Click Copy.

STEP 2 - TRANSFORM AGAIN
After clicking Copy, the 3/4 circle is duplicated at a scale of 110%, nicely scaled from the center out.


Now hit command/control + D for another 8 times so you have 10 circles in total. Cool :)

STEP 3 - ROTATING
Now select the smallest circle again using the Selection Tool and select the Rotate Tool from the Toolbox.


Alt/option click again in the center. In the Rotate window enter a value of 15 degrees and click the OK button. Now click the 2nd smallest circle and hit command/control + D twice.

STEP 4 - TRANSFORM AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
Select the next circle and hit command/control + D 3 times. Select the 4th one hit command/control + D 4 times.


And so on and on... Till you get the special effect as shown here above on the right.

STEP 5 - CHANGING STROKE WIDTH
Change the width of each 3/4 circles, going from 1 pt to 10 pt for the biggest circle using the Selection Tool


You should get the nice effect as shown here above on the right.

STEP 6 - CONVERT TO OUTLINES AND ADD A GRADIENT FILL
Now select all 10 3/4 circles and convert the Strokes into Fills. Go to the Object menu and choose Path and then Outline Stroke from the submenu. All 3/4 circles are now converted into Fills.


Now we can apply a nice subtle radial gradient which gives this nice final result.

CONCLUSION
Now, I'm not sure about you, but if you think about this simple Transform Again feature, it opens a lot of possibilities to create some cool effects starting from one simple shape. Another way to achieve cool simple effects is by using the Action palette and record some simple scaling and rotation. Then you can click the play button a few times just like we hit command/control + D. It's pretty easy to do and you can achieve really amazing effects.

Here is my final result :


I've used a lot of techniques here that are perfect food for other tutorials. So stay tuned for the next one ;) As for now, I hope you enjoyed the ride :)

The tutorial that I collected from Internet, i hope everyone like it!