In this Illustrator tutorial you'll create a geometric shape
using the Pen Tool and a Command called Divide Objects Below.
You'll create a pattern from that shape
that can then be applied to the fills and strokes of your artwork.
You can see some examples here.
To start in the Properties panel on the right,
make sure the Smart Guides option is on
so, it's easier to snap lines together as you draw.
You'll take this polygon shape that's already here
and divide it into three even parts
using the Pen Tool and a Command called Divide Objects Below.
That way you can apply color to 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 times so you can zoom in a little bit.
Then to de-select this shape
click in a blank area.
Now you'll draw a straight line with 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 line will snap to the point on this shape.
Move the pointer over this point.
Click and release when you see the word Anchor again.
Now you'll add a new point to the line that way you can bend it in the middle
and you can make the part of the shape you see here.
Move the pointer somewhere over the path.
And when you see a + next to the pointer
click to add a point.
Now to drag the point down
select the Direct Selection Tool in the Toolbar
and drag it down until it snaps in the center.
And you see the word Intersect, like this.
Now you need to be able to 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 shapes that 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 are selected you want to de-select them.
So, choose Select,
Deselect.
Now, click down here to add a point when you see the word Anchor.
Then come up to the center
and click when you see the word Anchor to make a path.
This line will be used to 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 color in the Properties panel
and select one of these swatches.
And to remove the border or stroke
click the down arrow here for Stroke weight until you see 0.
Do the same for the remaining two shapes.
With the artwork now made you'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 see a preview of the pattern,
you can still edit the artwork
and you can change Pattern Options in the panel that shows over here.
We'll keep this simple
first click OK in this dialog box.
Now the blue box you see here is called the pattern tile.
Everything inside of the box is 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 width of the pattern tile.
Click Height
and change the value to 3
press Return or Enter to accept that value.
Now to change how the cubes overlap each other as they repeat
try clicking the Bottom in Front button here.
There are lots of Pattern Options to explore,
but we're finished with this pattern, so click Done
in the bar at the top.
The pattern is now saved as 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 pattern to 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 changing the color of these shapes
and maybe creating a new pattern from them?
So, you can build a library of custom patterns of your own.