Katy Bellotte

✨ TUTORIAL: Fluffy 3D shapes in illustrator ✨

Added 2021-10-16 21:46:07 +0000 UTC

Wondering how to add some dimension and texture to shapes you create in Illustrator? We are back with another tutorial to help you spruce up your designs.

1. Open Illustrator and draw a circle. Make the fill a gradient of your choice. I find that making a gradient fill adds more dimension to the finished shape. Copy and paste another circle right next to the other one.

2. Select both of the circles and go to Object > Blend > Blend Options. Choose ‘Specified Steps’ from the Spacing dropdown and type in ‘1000’.

3. Select the Brush tool (‘B’) and draw a squiggly line or any other abstract shape of your choice. Make sure it is the same gradient fill as your two circles. Go to Object > Blend > Replace Spine and see your shape transform!

4. To create the fluffy texture, go to Effect > Distort and Transform > Roughen. Play with the sliders to change the intensity of the ‘Rough’ texture.

5. You’re done! Some fun ways to use these types of fluffy shapes would be in a poster, illustration, or pattern! Happy Creating :~)

Tutorial by Anna Korol. Anna is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She loves creating vibrant illustrations that she hopes can positively inspire others.