Strokes and Paths and Objects (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this tutorial you started with:

and ended with something approaching this:

In Part 2 you will use some compositional techniques to reach something like this:

Part 2

* In the first instance you may find it easier to start with the .design file that accompanies this part of the tutorial (Part2.design). After developing skills and proficiency in these techniques you may, at some later time, wish to work through your own .design file completed in Part 1.

14 – Using the select tool select the group object in Layer 1 then CTRL+C > CTRL+F > Arrange > Transform > Reflect Horizontal to obtain something like this:

At this stage you may wish to rename objects in the Layers panel and lock the lower group in anticipation of the next step as shown below.

Upper group renamed as Copied group Lower group renames as Original group

15 – Using Select Tool select Copied group in the Layers panel then type 135 in the X box to translate (move) the object 135 points to the right.

To obtain something looking like this:

16 – With the Direct Select tool select the green object indicated below then use a combination of free rotate and free move in the Transform panel to reposition it.

Before

After

17 – Switch to Direct Select tool and select the uppermost, right flower head. Change the fill to a radial gradient fill with following properties:

Radial gradient Left colour stop: Right colour stop:	F4FF99 FF6002
(save the gradient to your swatch)
Stroke: Width: Colour:	Basic 1 pt FF7D00

to otain this:

18 – With Direct Select tool select the lower flower head on the right and adjust its size to 80% (type 80 in the H or W boxes in Transform panel. Provided the H and W properties are linked it does not matter too much which of the two boxes is used.)

19 – Slide over X and Y boxes in the Transform panel to reposition the flower head something like this:

20 – With the same object selected, change its fill and stroke as detailed here:

Radial gradient Left colour stop: Right colour stop:	FFFFFF FF02BC
(save the fill to your swatch)
Stroke: Width: Colour:	Basic Stroke 1 pt C80FA0

The full image should now look something like this:

21 – Use Select Tool to select Original group in the Layers panel (unlock the group first if it is still locked). Switch to Direct Select tool then Shift+click on both flower heads to deselect them. Apply the following fill.

Radial gradient Left colour stop: Right colour stop:	FFE319 FF0C00
(save the fill to your swatch)

The image should be similar to this:

Lock Original group in the layers panel by clicking on the padlock symbol next to it.

22 – Use Direct Select tool and select a bunch of objects onscreen using click and drag. Objects may be removed from or added to the selection using Shift+Click. Here is an example of the selection that I used:

Once the selection has been made use CTRL+G to form a group, here is how it looks in the Layers panel after naming the new group to My subgroup.

23 – Select My subgroup and apply the following changes:

Fill: Stroke: Stroke Width: Colour	No Fill Basic 1 pt 5A0FC8
(save the fill to your swatch)

to obtain:

24 – Lock Copied group and unlock Original Group. Use Direct Select tool to select some objects. In the example .design files you will find that I created two subgroups and named them My subgroup 1 and My subgroup 2 as shown here:

Apply the following changes to both of these subgroups:

Fill: Stroke: Stroke Width: Colour	No Fill Basic 1 pt FF7D00
(save the fill to your swatch)

to obtain:

Thank you, deebs, for another wonderful tutorial!