Mastering Illustrator TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Tools & Techniques

for Creating Geometric
Grid-Based Designs

Introduction & Class Overview

Your Class Project & Contest

U N I T 1: G R I D S A S A C R E AT I V E I N S T R U M E N T

Part 1.1: Understanding Geometric Grids

U N I T 2 : S E T T I N G U P I L L U S T R AT O R F O R E F F I C I E N T W O R K F L O W

Part 2.1: Illustrator Document Setup

00:46 — Setting up a New Document

Part 2.2: Illustrator Preferences, Workspace & View Settings

00:37 — Illustrator Preferences

03:07 — View Options

04:54 — Workspace Setup

S K I L L S H A R E C L AS S BY E VG E N I YA & D O M I N I C R I G H I N I - B R A N D 07:26 — Saving Your Workspace as a Preset

U N I T 3 : C R E AT I N G S TA N DA R D G R I D S

Part 3.1: Creating Standard Grids: Introduction Part 3.6: Combining Standard Grids

01:01 — Types of Standard Grids 00:50 — Copying Artboards with Your Grids

02:12 — Approaches to Combining Standard Grids

Part 3.2: Creating Regular Rectangular & Square Grids 03:32 — Tip #1: Use a Separate Layer for Each Grid

00:29 — Creating a Rectangle Which Will Contain Your Grid 03:55 — Tip #2: Create a Second Grid on Top of an Existing Grid

02:33 — Splitting Your Rectangle into a Grid 04:14 — Tip #3: Experiment with Drawing Polar & Rectangular Grids from Their Centres & Corners

04:52 — Tip #4: Trim Grid Elements Which Fall Outside Your Artboards

Part 3.3: Creating Irregular Rectangular Grids 05:19 — Tip #5: Explore Different Compositions Using the Same Grids or Their Multiple Copies

00:47 — Drawing Irregular Rectangular Grids with the Rectangular Grid Tool 05:47 — Tip #6: Use Consistent Round Numbers for Numeric Grid Setup

02:35 — Numeric Setup of Irregular Rectangular Grids 06:36 — Tip #7: Create Oversized Grids for Easy Calculation

07:16 — Tip #8: Creating a Square Grid Rotated on a 45º Angle Which Matches Other Grids

Part 3.4: Creating Regular & Irregular Polar Grids 08:50 — Tip #9: Don’t Overcomplicate Your Grids

00:47 — Drawing Polar Grids with the Polar Grid Tool 09:47 — Sorting out Your Grid Layers

02:38 — Numeric Setup of Polar Grids

05:38 — Adjusting Radial Dividers

07:07 — Trimming Radial Dividers

Part 3.5: Creating Isometric & Hexagonal Grids

01:05 — Constructing an Isometric Grid

03:58 — Adjusting the Height of Your Isometric Grid

05:45 — Trimming Redundant Paths

06:52 — Adjusting Your Artboard to Match the Size of the Grid

08:05 — Creating a Hexagonal Grid from an Isometric Grid

U N I T 4 : C R E AT I N G C U S T O M G R I D S

Part 4.1: Creating Custom Grids: Design Considerations Part 4.4: Modifying Shapes Using the Live Shape Properties

01:38 — Format Use 00:34 — Shape Properties of Ellipses

02:05 — Repeatability & Edges 01:07 — Shape Properties of Rectangles

02:37 — Spacing & Arrangement of Elements 01:42 — Shape Properties of Polygons

03:12 — Symmetry & Balance 02:25 — Converting Paths into Shapes

03:33 — Emphasis

03:54 — Movement & Direction Part 4.5: Creating Custom Shapes Using Pathfinder

04:30 — Scale & Proportions 01:01 — Shape Modes

01:50 — Pathfinder Divide

Part 4.2: Adding Custom Linear Elements to Your Grids

01:14 — Adding Linear Elements with the Line Segment Tool Part 4.6: Composing Grid Elements with the Transform Tools

03:18 — Adding Linear Elements with the Pen Tool 00:53 — Creating Grids with Linear Repetition of Elements

04:34 — Adding Linear Elements with the Arc Tool 01:43 — Creating Grids with Rotational Repetition of Elements

03:31 — Creating Grids with Elements Gradually Changing in Size

Part 4.3: Tips & Tricks for Creating Geometric Shapes for Your Grids 05:00 — Creating Experimental Compositions by Shearing Grid Elements

00:37 — Numeric Setup vs Drawing Shapes on Top of a Standard Grid

02:51 — Changing the Number of Sides & Points in Polygons & Stars Part 4.7: Repeating & Transforming Grid Elements with the Blend Tool

03:13 — Constraining Proportions & Straightening Shapes Along X & Y Axes 00:34 — Creating & Adjusting Blends Using the Blend Options

03:30 — Drawing Rectangles & Ellipses from Their Centres 02:45 — Creating New Compositions by Modifying Objects Forming the Blend

04:02 — Creating Regular Stars 03:51 — Changing Settings of an Existing Blend

04:37 — Locking the Inner Radius & Manually Changing the Outer Radius of Stars 04:17 — Creating Blends Between Open Paths

05:18 — Accurately Position Shapes Using Smart Guides 06:29 — Changing the Blend’s Trajectory

05:56 — Deleting Points or Segments Using the Direct Selection Tool 07:28 — Expanding Your Blends

06:27 — Repositioning Anchor Points for Snapping Shapes

U N I T 5 : U S I N G G R I D S T O C R E AT E D E S I G N S

Part 5.1: Design Considerations & Approaches to Creating Grid-Based Designs Part 5.5: Creating Shape-Based Designs Using the Shape Builder Tool

01:50 — Shape-Based vs Linear Designs 00:36 — Setting up the Shape Builder Tool

03:52 — Design Considerations 02:12 — Using the Shape Builder Tool to Merge & Colour Shapes

04:22 — Symmetry vs Asymmetry 04:05 — Using the Shape Builder Tool in Outline Mode

04:37 — Format Use

04:56 — Repetition Part 5.6: Tips & Tricks for Creating Linear Designs

05:28 — Movement 00:36 — Converting Your Grid into Guides

05:42 — Rhythm 03:02 — Creating Linear Designs Using the Pen Tool

05:58 — Focal Point 03:46 — Sourcing Curved Elements from the Original Grid

04:08 — Joining Open Paths

Part 5.2: Preparing Your Grids for Creating Shape-Based Designs 04:43 — Using Elements from Your Custom Grid

00:57 — Saving a Master File with All Grids & Preparing a Document for Your Design 05:09 — Creating Linear Designs Using the Pathfinder Outline & Shape Builder Tool

01:43 — Dividing Your Grid into Modules 06:14 — Cutting Paths at Anchor Points

07:05 — Colouring Strokes Using the Live Paint Bucket Tool

Part 5.3: Developing Shape-Based Designs Using the Live Paint Bucket Tool 08:19 — Trimming Paths

00:22 — Setting up the Live Paint Bucket Tool 08:51 — Using Caps & Corners Options to Neaten up Stroke-Based Designs

01:13 — Using the Live Paint Bucket Tool to Develop Shape-Based Designs 09:47 — Developing Linear Designs Using the Stroke Settings

11:07 — Arranging Paths in Your Designs

Part 5.4: Combining Grid Modules into Larger Shapes

00:51 — Tips for Manually Selecting Modules Which You Want to Unite

03:15 — Uniting Selected Modules into Larger Shapes

03:57 — Selecting & Uniting All Modules Coloured in the Same Colour

05:08 — Combining Manual & Automatic Selection Techniques for Better Workflow
U N I T 6 : F I N A L I S I N G C O L O U R S U N I T 7: S T Y L I N G G E O M E T R I C D E S I G N S

Part 6.1: Tips & Techniques for Colouring Your Designs Part 7.1: Styling Geometric Designs: Introduction

01:30 — Loading Colour Swatches & Arranging Them into Groups

03:02 — Converting Swatches into Global Colours Part 7.2: Styling Your Designs Using Strokes

03:47 — Getting Started with the Recolour Artwork Tool 00:30 — Tips & Tricks for Adding Stroke to All Shapes in Your Design

04:54 — Recolour Artwork Tool: Colour Reduction Options 03:50 — Ideas for Layering Strokes Over Shape-Based Designs

06:16 — Using the Recolour Artwork Tool in the Assign Mode

07:11 — Editing Colours Using the Colour Wheel Part 7.3: Creating Gaps Between Shapes by Offsetting Paths

08:35 — Adjusting Global Colours 00:40 — Applying the Offset Path Effect

02:35 — Expanding the Offset Path Effect

03:27 — Adding a Background Behind Offset Paths

04:00 — Using Your Design as a Mask

Part 7.4: Customising Your Designs Using Live Corners

00:44 — Modifying Shapes Using Live Corners

01:41 — Changing Corner Style

02:29 — Corner Radius Restrictions

03:19 — Adding an Overall Background to Fill the Gaps

Part 7.5: Texturing Your Designs Using Patterns

01:21 — Creating a Dot Pattern

03:09 — Copying Shapes & Applying Pattern Swatches

04:27 — Transforming Patterns Within the Shapes

06:25 — Reusing Transformation Attributes

 U N I T 8 : F I N A L I S I N G YO U R G E O M E T R I C D E S I G N S

Part 7.6: Styling Your Designs Using Repeating Linear Elements Part 8.1: Troubleshooting & Preparing Your Work for Output

01:12 — Preparing Straight or Angular Sides for Direct Blending 00:15 — Adjusting the Size of Your Design & Artboard to Make Them Pixel Perfect

02:07 — Preparing Curved or Complex Sides for Direct Blending 01:48 — Fixing Issues & Removing Defects

03:05 — Adjusting Stroke Settings & Creating Direct Blends 02:33 — Joining Open Paths to Create Perfect Corners

04:26 — Preparing a Custom Spine & Creating a Blend Along It 02:53 — Uniting Adjacent Shapes Sharing the Same Fill Colour

06:23 — Troubleshooting & Adjusting Blends Along Custom Spines 03:34 — Removing Unnecessary Anchor Points

08:25 — Putting Your Blends into Clipping Masks

09:36 — Customising Blends Using Stroke Settings U N I T 9 : U S I N G G E O M E T R I C D E S I G N S T O C R E AT E S U R FAC E PAT T E R N S

10:32 — Expanding Blends & Further Development

12:44 — Outlining Strokes & Cropping Paths Part 9.1: Tips & Ideas for Tiling Geometric Designs

00:17 — Creating Basic Pattern Swatches

Part 7.7: Developing Your Designs Using Gradients 00:52 — Creating Different Tile Arrangements with the Pattern Options Tool

01:04 — Using Fill Gradients 02:14 — Manual Pattern Arrangement: Moving, Rotating & Reflecting Tiles

04:00 — Using Stroke Gradients 03:05 — Manual Pattern Arrangement: Offsetting Tiles

06:12 — Shading with Gradients

U N I T 10 : E X P O R T I N G YO U R D E S I G N S

Part 10.1: Saving Your Work for Web & Print

00:23 — Exporting Your Work in JPG & PNG Formats in RGB Colour Mode

02:45 — Converting Your Work into CMYK & Exporting It in TIFF Format for Printing

Final Thoughts & Conclusion