Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating a Pattern brush
You can create a Pattern brush in several ways. For a simple pattern applied to a straight
line, for instance, you can select the content that you're using for the pattern and click the
New Brush button ( ) at the bottom of the Brushes panel.
To create a more complex pattern to apply to objects with curves and corners, you can se-
lect artwork in the Document window to be used in a pattern brush, create swatches in the
Swatches panel from the artwork that you are using in the Pattern brush, and even have
Illustrator auto-generate the Pattern brush corners. In Illustrator, only the side tile needs to
be defined. Illustrator automatically generates four different types of corners based on the
art used for the side tile. These four auto-generated options fit the corners perfectly.
Next, you'll create a Pattern brush for the border around the poster.
1.
Choose View > Pattern objects. This should show you a zoomed-in view of the life
preserver and the rope off the right edge of the artboard.
2.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, click to select the rope group.
3.
Click the Brushes panel icon (
) to expand the panel, if necessary, click the panel
menu icon (
), and choose Thumbnail View. In the Brushes panel, click the New
Brush button (
) to create a pattern out of the rope.
4.
In the New Brush dialog box, select Pattern Brush. Click OK.
Notice that Pattern brushes in Thumbnail view are segmented in the Brushes panel.
Each segment corresponds to a pattern tile. The side tile is repeated in the Brushes
panel thumbnail preview.
A new Pattern brush can be made regardless of whether artwork is selected. If you
create a Pattern brush without artwork selected, it is assumed that you will add art-
work by dragging it into the Brushes panel later or by selecting the artwork from a
pattern swatch you create as you edit the brush. You will see the latter method later
in this section.
