Complex Circular Design Techniques

April 23, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator |

Creating intricate circular designs and patterns may look difficult because the shapes can be very complicated, but you will be surprised at just how easy making these shapes can be. I will go over some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

This tutorial is split into 2 sections: The Rotate Tool, and a Custom Pattern Brush. The Rotate tool is faster and easier, but less accurate. So lets try it first, then move on to the brush techniques. Note: These techniques are intended for use with circles. Results will vary with other shapes.

Download the shapes I used for this tutorial so you can follow along:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Includes: - AI (2) EPS (1) SVG (1)

Making Intricate Circular Designs with the Rotate Tool:

In my opinion, the Rotate tool is highly underused and there is probably a good reason. It’s kind of confusing to figure out the first time you use it.

This is what the Rotate tool looks like:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

First I want to show how to use the tool, then I will show you a few examples, so let’s keep it simple and just make a rectangle on your artboard like this:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Now (with your rectangle still selected) Click on the rotate tool. You will see a small light-blue crosshair. The crosshair is the “origin,” or the point that you will be rotating from. You can move the origin anywhere you want by clicking where you want it. (you can click as many times as needed until you get it in your desired spot) You can also click and hold on the origin and drag it anywhere on the artboard.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

I moved my origin just below my shape.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Read carefully, this is the tricky part if it’s your first time: Click on the path of your rectangle while holding down Option/Alt and rotate a little, then release the mouse before you release Option/Alt. By doing it this way, it not only rotates your shape, it copies it at the same time, and sets/saves a default setting in your Rotate tool.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Now all you have to do is keep hitting Command + D (Mac) or Control + D (PC) to repeat your Rotate and copy! Do this as many time as you like.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Here is the result, for just a simple rectangle:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Ok, now that you have the rotate tool down, lets get fancy, shall we. Remember, these examples are pretty simple. You can do this with any shape. Even try applying brush strokes/gradients/transparency and different options as you experiment.

Make a bunch of circles with a black stroke, like this:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Now select all of those circles and combine them using the Pathfinder palette. (Window > Pathfinder) Click on the “Add to Shape Area Button,” and then the “Expand” button, in that order. Read this post if you don’t know how to use the Pathfinder.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

After you have combined the circles, your shape should look like this:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Follow the steps in the first example with the Rotate tool, and see what you can get as a result

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

It’s crazy how simple you can start out and get amazing shapes with the Rotate tool. You could now take this shape into Photoshop and make a brush out if it if you wanted to, maybe even use it as an eraser.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

The Rotate tool is also a quick way to make a custom vector flower shape pretty easily:

Just start with an oval:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Follow the steps in the first example (above) to make your first initial rotate.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Repeat using Command + D (mac) or Control + D (PC).
Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Here’s a quick example of a sun shape made with the rotate tool. (It’s all about the shape you start with, and the distance of your first rotation). I added a gradient from Red to orange on my shape:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Here, I took the Transparency down to 50%

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Using a Custom Pattern Brush to make Intricate Circle Designs:

The second way I’m going to show you to make complex circle designs is by making a Custom Pattern Brush in Illustrator. This method requires a few extra steps, but is much more accurate, gives you more control, and has more value in the long run because you can reuse your brushes as needed. (if you save them)

Lets start with a simple example. Make a bunch of circles in a row like below. This is the shape we are going to use to make our brush. I’ve found that it’s best to keep this shape simple for starters, until you get the hang of how the brush works.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Now select all of the circles at once and, in your brushes palette, click on the options arrow, then “New Brush…”

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Select “New Pattern Brush.”

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

Now you should see the Pattern Brush Options. Important: Make sure you select “Tints” as the Colorization Method. This allows you to change the color of the brush stroke later. There are some other options you might also play with here to get the effects you like. Choose your settings and click OK.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

You should now see your new pattern brush at the bottom of your Brushes palette.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

To use the brush, draw a circle on the artboard with no fill, and a black stroke.

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

With your circle selected, click on your Custom Pattern Brush in the Brushes palette. (make sure that your stroke is selected in the Tools palette) And here is the result:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

From here you can adjust color, transparency, stroke size, size of the circle, etc. How easy was that? !!!! Just one simple brush, and you get perfectly spaced and controlled circular patterns! Using the brushes gives you much more control because of the options that are available, as well as the ability to change the stroke size after you are done.

Now I’ll show you a few more examples of different shapes/brushes and the results you can get. (download the example file at the top of the page to follow along) Again, these are simple examples, and the potential for this technique is unlimited. I invite you to experiment.

Pattern Brush Examples with Circular Patterns:

1. The Brush Shape Used:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

The result:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

2. The Brush Shape Used:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

The result:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

3. The Brush Shape Used:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

The result:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

4. The Brush Shape Used:
Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

The result:

Complex Circular Vector Pattern Techniques

This entry was posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2007 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Illustrator. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

144 Responses to “Complex Circular Design Techniques”

Rob Wolf Apr 23, 07 at 10:07 pm

Dude…thanks so much for writing this tutorial. I am working on a music video for a song with the lyric “Happiness runs in a circular motion.” I think some of this stuff will come in handy!

Keep ‘em coming!

Rob
BittBox Apr 23, 07 at 10:15 pm

Rob,

No problem. I’m just venting design that I don’t get to do at work.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the video when you finish!

~BittBox
Alex Apr 23, 07 at 10:28 pm

Never had much use for brushes until I started reading this a while back. I thought the default Illustrator brushes were rather limiting and instead of figuring out my own, just left them alone. Thanks to this blog, I’m making custom brushes left and right to use, and this pattern brush technique is awesome! Thanks for your continual insight into my favorite program!

What do you say to showing some creative uses for the gradient mesh tool? I use it for portraits, but I’m stuck as to how I could apply it to my other projects…..I know you’ve got a secret locked away that would prove most useful!
Mark Apr 24, 07 at 12:23 am

Cool! I’ll be using this one as well!
bobbb Apr 24, 07 at 3:31 am

im learning so much useful Illustrator stuff here! thanks loads
Doug Owens Apr 24, 07 at 6:43 am

Once again, another awesome tutorial! May I suggest that you start writing a book. The ideas you have put out to the design community would make for a great text. I would definitely but it.

Thanks again,
Doug Owens
Sean Flanagan Apr 24, 07 at 7:02 am

I’d like to add to the suggestions for the rotate tool. If you hold down option/alt before clicking to place your pivot point, it opens a dialog that lets you rotate by angle and click a button to copy. You can then Cmd-D to complete the circle. This can save a lot of unnecessary headaches when trying to complete a pattern with perfect repetition. And, for reference, a quick list of number of repetitions and their respective rotation angles:

3 rep ? 120 deg
4 rep ? 90 deg
5 rep ? 72 deg
6 rep ? 60 deg
7 rep ? 51.4 deg
8 rep ? 45 deg
9 rep ? 40 deg
10 rep ? 36 deg
11 rep ? 32.7 deg
12 rep ? 30 deg
13 rep ? 27.7 deg
14 rep ? 25.7 deg
15 rep ? 24 deg
20 rep ? 18 deg
30 rep ? 12 deg
36 rep ? 10 deg

For other amounts, just divide the number of repetitions you want into 360 to get the angle of rotation.
DBdesignCo Apr 24, 07 at 7:53 am

THANKS FOR THE TIP SEAN…………….Things I can add to my Illustrator knowledge……….yet another great bittbox blog………….
DBdesignCo Apr 24, 07 at 7:55 am

Id also buy the book……..
Beau Apr 24, 07 at 8:01 am

Hey! I was going to do some circular patterns on my last vector project for school, but techniques like these will make it look better. Heh heh heh, A+ here I come! Thanks for the tricks, BittBox!
bobdole Apr 24, 07 at 8:27 am

like it
bobdole Apr 24, 07 at 8:28 am

like it! Didnt know for the “Command + D (Mac) or Control + D (PC)” shortcut.
Nice!
Hugo Ferreira Apr 24, 07 at 9:42 am

Hi,

Great Tutorial! Thank you very much! One question i need to make though…

Where do Pattern Brush options come from?

The only pattern brush options i have available are “original”, “grid on sky” and “starry sky”!! While in your example, you seem to have a lot more than i…. are those customizable too?
Pixelated Apr 24, 07 at 10:28 am

This is so neat! I used stars instead of circles when making the shape for a new brush. I found that when I applied my brush to a circle shape & a star shape, it made the prettiest snowflakes. Will be handy when I do Holiday/Seasonal stuff.

Thanks so much Bittbox for all your great tutorials. I’m finding they work better than coffee to wake me up lately :)
Aaron Riddle Apr 24, 07 at 10:29 am

Long time reader, first time commenter. This is fantastic post Bittbox! Keep up the great work.
lawton chiles Apr 24, 07 at 11:27 am

Awesome! This post is what i’ve been looking for?

Bitt, thanks again. I cannot wait to use this. My clietns will like it. PS- Should I use gradients in logos?

Thanks

Lawton
Robert Apr 24, 07 at 1:44 pm

Very interesting post. Thank you for your sharing. good luck with the next newspaper feature :-)
Michael Apr 24, 07 at 2:27 pm

Wow, another insanely helpful and well-written tutorial. Thank you BittBox for showing off this easy way to get some insanely cool designs!
Eric Apr 24, 07 at 2:49 pm

Thanks for the post. Basic tool and designs, but helpful.
BittBox Apr 24, 07 at 4:38 pm

@Hugo

“Where do Pattern Brush options come from?”

I’m not quite sure, haven’t messed with those yet…

@Lawton,

“Should I use gradients in logos?”

That depends on how it looks in black and white and reversed out negative. If your client is ok with paying for full color prints, and the logo looks OK in black/white. I say go ahead.

~BittBox
BittBox Apr 24, 07 at 6:19 pm

@Sean

One word. . . . Awesome!

~BittBox
links for 2007-04-25 Apr 24, 07 at 6:26 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques | BittBox Creating intricate circular designs and patterns may look difficult because the shapes can be very complicated, but you will be surprised at just how easy making these shapes can be. (tags: illustrator tips guides brushes useful design) [...]
Ben H Apr 24, 07 at 11:53 pm

Great tutorial!
hfng Apr 25, 07 at 12:01 am

Excellent! Got some dizzying results.
scribbleed Apr 25, 07 at 12:35 am

Beautiful! As a user of Inkscape, these techniques do need some work-around. e.g. for pattern brushes, you have to first add extra nodes to the shape (Effects>Modify Path>Add Nodes), then draw the path (Effects>Generate from Path>Pattern along Path). A few trials and errors to get it to work, but some times, some wonderful mistakes, like getting concentric octagons with the bar codes instead of circles (if no nodes were added).

Then wondered how to make it work with the rotation. And what do you know, Inkscape has an interesting way - I should have checked the tips and there it was - http://www.inkscape.org/doc/tips/tutorial-tips.html. What’s more - you can do extra stuff in Inkscape like stepped spaces and, wow, random bursts. This is going to be fun! Thanks!
hax0rz Apr 25, 07 at 6:48 am

Amazing — I think I’m going to make a print for my big ugly blank wall! Thanks again bittbox.
Dan Apr 25, 07 at 10:40 am

Thanks to this blog I no longer see Illustrator as the unfortunate stepchild in the Adobe lineup. Thanks for spreading the knowledge!
lawton chiles Apr 25, 07 at 11:31 am

Bitt, i already made a TON of shapes which I am in the process of giving away for free.

Ok ,i ‘m copying you but you don’t care :)

Go to http://www.songsblog.com to get the shapes. ARe they good ones?
DBdesignCo Apr 26, 07 at 10:12 am

@ lawton

Thanks for the link…..and the other link from that link (http://www.gomedia.us/arsenal/index.php)…now that what im talkin bout…….{whish I was rich, Id own them all}
Greg Apr 26, 07 at 10:50 am

YOU SAVED MY BUTT!

I spent a good hour trying to create this effect for a short deadlined project before I was able to find your tutorial. Thank you so much!
Heath Apr 26, 07 at 12:37 pm

Bittbox,

Why don’t you give away more stuff? Are you just selfish?

BTW these tutorials seem great (a little too much time for me to actually read them but the pictures are cool) but wouldn’t it be easier for me if you just did it for me?

I have a few projects I need done I will email them to you; if you could have them back before the weekend that would be great…
Sean Flanagan Apr 26, 07 at 1:19 pm

@ Heath

Brilliant! You must have some of “those” clients…
lawton chiles Apr 26, 07 at 2:58 pm

all, my weird issues are now partially fixed. Come and get the FREE vector shapes. Note, they are not nearly as good as Bitt’s, but i would figure I would spread the love http://www.songsblog.com

I hope u don’t mind /
Nick Apr 26, 07 at 3:14 pm

Very nice effect! I like how you put everything together.

Actually, there is an easier way to achieve this similar effect by using Illustrator Transform Effect.

1. draw a shape
2. go to Effect > Transform Effect
3. fill in the number of copies to be transformed
4. enter rotation, transformation, move, etc

The best thing is this effect is editable. Also, when the original shape is changed, it will apply to overall.
Lars Viktor Eid Apr 26, 07 at 3:47 pm

Thanks, i just strated graphical design 1 year ago, and i know that makeing shuch shapes are the new “thing” so its really usefull site u have amde. thanks sooo much.

And btw i love your illustrations. i have one ass background, and i have favoorited ur site 4 times. (its 4 toturials i just love:) )
BittBox Apr 26, 07 at 4:21 pm

@Nick,

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

~Bittbox
BittBox Apr 26, 07 at 8:10 pm

@Heath

Uh? Are you serious? I hope that’s a joke, because it sure is funny.
Maybe you haven’t discovered my Freebie Button yet (in the upper right of every page)
“Selfish” and “BittBox” are like oil and water. They don’t mix.

~BittBox
Banu Apr 27, 07 at 12:28 am

magnificant!
JaxFX Apr 27, 07 at 5:36 am

Thanx alot again for sharing Bitt!

@Bitt @Heath - I think he meant it funny.. :)
phill Apr 28, 07 at 5:42 pm

you rock man.
Thanks for the continual cool tuts and tricks!
Complex Circular Design Techniques « Rif.3rd Apr 30, 07 at 12:25 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques | BittBox [...]
Matt D May 1, 07 at 1:31 pm

thank you for that

i’ve been trying months to do some of this

Will make my work alot more time effective

Thanks again
Mark May 7, 07 at 8:45 am

@Nick: That is so cool. A great addition!
Ruth May 9, 07 at 8:50 am

THANK YOU!!! This tutorial was very helpful.

-Ruth
fuLskER May 9, 07 at 9:16 am

thanks you for this tutorial, just awesome - beautiful thanks a lot.
dinx May 11, 07 at 5:43 am

Thanks a lot for this very helpful website.
I’m a noob at Ai and I’m beginning to love it.
Will come back here again!
Again, big thanks and more power!
Valentina Olini May 14, 07 at 3:08 am

Wonderful! compliments!
Geo May 16, 07 at 5:09 pm

I love this brushes tutorial. I do agree with a previous post that it would be fantastic to have a tutorial in which you divulge all your gradient secrets. I worked at a design agency where we mostly use gradients to add depth/realism to renderings. WOul love to see how you use it for more creative, out-of-the box functions.

Regarding brushes, I am having a hard time keeping track of all the different brushes your techniques have led me to create. Some seem to only load when I open the original AI file I worked in when I made the new brushes. Is the goal to save these brushes in groups thru the file they are in into a “brush library”?
BittBox May 16, 07 at 5:18 pm

@Geo,

Yeah, if you save your brushes (by clicking on the arrow in the upper right of the brushes palette) you can save them as a “brush Library” in Illustrator/Presets/Brushes. Then you can load them anytime you need to, without opening the file you created them in.

~Bitt
jon May 22, 07 at 9:33 am

so i tried this out and everything seems to be working great, but i can’t get the origin crosshair to show up. am i doing something wrong?
jon May 22, 07 at 9:40 am

nevermind… i got it… thanks!
Tommorow! Free Vector Shapes From Illustrator Jun 1, 07 at 2:10 pm

[...] I made these via the tutorial over at Bittbox. [...]
greg Jun 12, 07 at 4:47 pm

Thanks now I can make Bill like Pfund
but I have a question: how could I change the color of them?

thank you : )

Greg
ankita Jun 14, 07 at 5:29 am

Thanks for the tips. I have been using the circles, but I had a question…everytime I try to scale up or scale down they change shape. Is there a way to keep the shape while I scale them in size? Thanks.
BittBox Jun 14, 07 at 5:48 am

@ankita

select your shape, then go to Object > Expand (or expand appearance)
then try scaling. That should do the trick.

~Bitt
ankita Jun 14, 07 at 6:32 am

You’re brilliant…and of course so generous with your knowledge.

I tried to expand and it worked. Also, is there anyway to fill them with color? ight now all i can do is change the stroke colors.

If I want to make a really large format. how should I set up my file in Illustrator? Say, if I want to print my deisgn on a 3 feet by 5 feet canvas? Hope I am not asking too many questions. Your tutorial really gave me so much to design with. Thanks.
nccfzohxbm Jun 18, 07 at 1:58 pm

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! fooxydigjxscya
JNZ Jun 29, 07 at 6:40 am

Tnx a lot man!
Great job!

Cheers from Brasil!
creating circular shapes with inkscape « crossing the line one foot at a time Jun 29, 07 at 10:42 am

[...] Circular Designs With Inkscape based on Bittbox’s illustrator tutorial [...]
kimberly burger Jun 29, 07 at 11:21 am

I made a inkscape tutorial based on this technique at
Netty Jul 3, 07 at 7:42 am

This tutorial is possibly one of the most straight forward and useful ones I’ve come accross - thanks very much - Definately user-friendly!
Apple Jul 8, 07 at 9:13 pm

Thanks a lot, ur tutorial is so useful to me. These types are things that I want to do but dont know how to do yet ^^
indian Jul 10, 07 at 3:55 pm

Cool buddy :} today i learnt 1 more thing, keep updating with ur new techniques Thanks :}
mambi Jul 13, 07 at 12:22 pm

THANK YOU, this tutorial was so easy and so very useful.

you are a star!
Holly Jul 19, 07 at 5:35 am

First of all, Bittbox, i only just discovered your site and can’t believe how muchi’ve been missing out by not seeing it before! i loved this tutorial especially!

I’ve been having a play around myself, and Ankita i have discovered a really good, if slightly long winded way of colouring the circles exactly how you want them.

First get your object looking exactly how you want it shapewise (because i haven’t figured out how to keep it fully editable yet!), then make sure the stroke is black (i don’t know why it won’t work if its colour, perhaps bittbox can help with this one?!), then rasterize the object. Now you can use the Live Trace tool to convert it back to a vector, but now with all the paths editable. Select all of the object and make it into a live paint group. Hey presto, now you can fill any part of the shape with any colour you like woo!

Hope this helps!

Holly
Holly Jul 19, 07 at 6:03 am

ooh, also because its live paint and its clever, you can colour the space between your shape and the selection box with a transparent fill, getting rid of that nasty white square round the outsdie! enjoy.
Catherine Jul 22, 07 at 4:16 am

Have not been game enough to try using illustrator but your tutorials have given me lots of courage.
x-brain Jul 25, 07 at 9:59 am

great tutorial easy to undertand, thanks!
Jules Jul 27, 07 at 2:28 pm

“There is no triangle tool in Illustrator, which to this day, boggles my mind (wtf Adobe?).”

Are you not aware that there is a polygon tool? All you have to do is click once on your artboard and put that you want it with three sides.
ian Aug 14, 07 at 9:50 pm

Thanks so much for these tutorials! They’re amazing for an illustrator newb like myself :)
Charos Aug 29, 07 at 4:32 am

Thanks a lot for the very helpfull tips. Keep up the good work
Water Aug 29, 07 at 9:22 pm

This is the best tutorial ever.
Alex Sep 8, 07 at 12:39 pm

you are an illustrator god
Cómo hacer dibujos vectoriales circulares at Tutoblog: weblog de tutoriales Sep 21, 07 at 11:13 am

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c Nov 13, 07 at 8:08 am

ty for this orz
Viktor Navorsky Nov 28, 07 at 7:36 am

Man, thnx very much! I really like your tutorials, just amazing.. keep going..
sam_lk Jan 7, 08 at 8:49 pm

good work i like to no more thing like this very good
medieval Jan 23, 08 at 9:41 am

It is really a great tutorial. Thnaks a million for that!!!
Loopy Feb 3, 08 at 7:53 pm

Hey! Thanks for this tutorial, I’ve been trying to teach myself how to use photoshop and illustrator, and I’ve found your tutorials to be really comfortable to work with.

I wanted to ask…how do you change the colors to the petal patterns brushes that you’ve created to share? I’ve been playing around and I can’t find it…
Adobe Illustrator Tutorials - Best Of | Tutorials | Smashing Magazine Feb 5, 08 at 9:15 am

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[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques Creating intricate circular designs and patterns may look difficult because the shapes can be very complicated, but you will be surprised at just how easy making these shapes can be. I will go over some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]
KRishna Feb 9, 08 at 3:38 am

hey..thx so much for the tutorials…
loveeee it!!
Janak Chauhan Feb 28, 08 at 10:23 am

Thanks for the tutorials.
People like you are great from whom people like us can get to learn new things.
I am really thanful.
Mis choremas » Tutoriales de Illustrator Mar 3, 08 at 1:20 pm

[...] Figuras circulares irregulares. [...]
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[...] que nos muestra cómo crear una cortina. Otro de los tutoriales para crear gráficos es el de Bittox, que te ayuda a crear varios diseños en círculos son problemas. Spoongraphics va un poco a lo [...]
Philip Tobias Mar 4, 08 at 11:04 am

Very useful tutorial.
lazer epilasyon ankara Mar 7, 08 at 2:45 am

Thanks for the continual cool tuts and tricks!
Adobe Illustrator Tutorials - Best Of Mar 25, 08 at 7:18 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques Creating intricate circular designs and patterns may look difficult because the shapes can be very complicated, but you will be surprised at just how easy making these shapes can be. I will go over some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]
intermacamal Mar 26, 08 at 3:00 pm

Just insane…… I had an idea of how the type of graphic was created…did’nt know it was quite that simple….Nice of you to share the idea

I’ll definately buy your book….cheers!!!
Tutorial Illustrator, figuras circulares | ARTEgami Mar 26, 08 at 6:04 pm

[...] tutorial nos explica como crear estas figuras circulares que a primera vista parecen ser tan complicadas. En el mismo incluyen las formas utilizadas para [...]
baby Apr 1, 08 at 9:56 am

Wow, that is insanely simple. I was totally blown away by just how simple that is. It takes pretty much no effort to create just a line of something, and just repeating it in a circular fashion produces such a wonderful effect! This is one thing I’m noticing more and more about graphic design (and most art) : simplicity really works best. Think simple, and out of the box, and you’re bound to get exactly what you’re looking for. Thanks for an excellent resource!
Som Apr 4, 08 at 2:50 am

Ahhhaa……….waooo

wonderful Idea for the rotate tool capabilities

Its not only the tutorial about the circular shapes which can be drawn with help of the rotate tool, I belief, you are too wonderful and have contributed a complete inhouse production shop for everyone who has visited your site to enjoy any shaped circular designs and that too which can fit the best as per one’s need

There are very few people on the earth, I believe, who part with their doings/inventions/knowledge/experience with anyone and like to empower other too with the same,and this why they are so called TEACHERS

Great and thank you very much-its rather AND really part of edgucating others online and in future too I need your help for new tips and will keep on serching your site which I have bookmarked——thanks once again

Regards
Som
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RANIS POWER May 8, 08 at 12:39 pm

dude thanks alot, looking forward to more of your work, this inspired me alot thanks.
SV Creation May 19, 08 at 6:27 am

that is very amazing shapes
Best Photoshop Illustrator Effects and Tutorials - The Arts Lab TurkeY Jun 23, 08 at 10:02 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques- Some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]
bengigirl Jul 13, 08 at 8:30 am

amazingly simple but oooh soo much fun thankyou for sharing this. I am a very basic teach it meself learner of illustrator
Vector Illustration: 60+ Illustrator Tutorials, Tips and Best Practices Jul 14, 08 at 3:23 am

[...] 4-Complex Circular Design Techniques- This tutorial is split into 2 sections: The Rotate Tool, and a Custom Pattern Brush. [...]
Danh ba web 2.0 Jul 16, 08 at 11:23 am

Thanks for share . Great blog !
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Tutorials discovered this week. « Mindtracks Aug 13, 08 at 4:57 pm

[...] August 14, 2008 Tutorials discovered this week. Posted by sharonb under Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Tutorial | Tags: illustrator, Photoshop, Tutorial, tutorials | Bittbox has published a great tutorial on Complex Circular Design Techniques in Illustrator [...]
stvmo67 Aug 24, 08 at 11:15 pm

Outstanding! Thank you for this.
Lorraine Sep 13, 08 at 1:43 am

Thank you so much, you’ve really made my day. Your tutorials are so helpful and well written.
Lonny Oct 19, 08 at 4:32 pm

Are the keystrokes the same for a mac and pc? I make my shape select it choose rotate, change orientation hold alt/ option click and drag it, release the mouse b4 alt/option and all it does is rotate it…no copy…
Lonny Oct 19, 08 at 6:26 pm

nvm. through some deductive reasoning I figured out my option button is broke.new keyboard time
Eva Oct 30, 08 at 1:21 pm

Gracie mille!
53 Killer Photoshop Illustrator Effects and Tutorials | Noupe Nov 1, 08 at 7:00 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques- Some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]
Henryness Nov 19, 08 at 2:01 pm

Omg!!!so cool i learned how to draw lines and circles i liked it
????????????????????????????? | Nutspress Dec 16, 08 at 7:21 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
40 Tutorials for Working with Shapes in Illustrator | Vandelay Website Design Dec 24, 08 at 12:38 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
70 Increibles Tutoriales Illustrator « High-Definition Jan 17, 09 at 5:13 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques Creating intricate circular designs and patterns may look difficult because the shapes can be very complicated, but you will be surprised at just how easy making these shapes can be. I will go over some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]
Publicolombia Online :: Diseño Interes general Tutoriales illustrator :: 60 + Tutoriales Adobe Illustrator Jan 26, 09 at 10:10 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
dannyg Feb 6, 09 at 10:15 am

some people have that nack and others will never get it or just do not want to learn no matter how easy it is
60 + Tutoriales Adobe Illustrator | iBull Desings Feb 15, 09 at 10:38 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
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Jessika Mar 5, 09 at 11:14 am

Hey, I’m in over my head here but maybe you can help. I’ve just got my first mac and need to create a design for work using adobe illustrator CS4. I’ve downloaded the trial version. I have templates for a cycling kit. I can’t figure out how to select any tools when I open the program…there is no tool bar. I’m freaking out…
Jay Hilgert Mar 5, 09 at 11:26 am

@Jessika,

Have you tried Window > Tools ?

Jay Hilgert
The Creative Community - The Mac Lab Mar 7, 09 at 12:27 pm

[...] | 40 Free Pro Fonts | Typographic Heaven | Logos with Illustrator | Very Cool Pathfinder Tutorial | Complex Circular Designs | 10 Seamless Destroyed Vectors | 10 Illustrator Resolutions | 64 Arrows | Blend Tool Backgrounds | [...]
Mega list of Vector Brushes- Over 1000 Free brushes and still counting!! : Mar 12, 09 at 10:27 pm

[...] Illustrator brushes for CS3, CS1. EPS and SVG for older versions. See also the author’s post, Complex Circular Design Techniques for more free circular brushes and a tutorial on creating complex circular design patterns in Adobe [...]
Howie Chambers Mar 13, 09 at 4:09 pm

THANK YOU!!! I’m doing some photo-mandalas, and these will will great!!
Karen Mar 15, 09 at 9:03 am

Thanks so much for this tutorial, I never created brushes before and never thought it would be so easy to do! Thanks!!!
John Mar 18, 09 at 1:41 pm

This post is so awesome! Thank you so much. You’ve ignited an entire new playing field!!! Thanks!!!
florida Mar 19, 09 at 9:32 am

beau, you really surprised us with your talents!keep up, the entire clan so proud of you!and most important you share the talents.
Create Circular Designs | Pixxal Apr 9, 09 at 3:45 pm

[...] Tricks brought to you by BittBox Tuts [...]
dinesh yada Apr 12, 09 at 7:11 am

good art work
adrianssen Apr 13, 09 at 4:46 am

thanx a million:))
great, easy and haelpfull.
thank you
30 Amazing Vector Tutorials | Apr 23, 09 at 1:52 am

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
7 Koleksi Tutorial Vektor yang Hebat | Blog MindaSys Apr 24, 09 at 6:13 am

[...] http://www.bittbox.com/illustrator/complex-circular-design-techniques/ [...]
15 Tutorials For Illustrator Beginners | sethetter.com Apr 26, 09 at 12:06 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques [...]
LHC Apr 29, 09 at 12:47 am

Thanks a lot! :D Your blog is amazing….I love it, saludos desde Mexico.
Adobe Illustrator: Lo mejor de lo mejor. | Webizzima May 4, 09 at 3:43 pm

[...] Técnicas de diseño circular complex [...]
30 Illustrator Pattern Brushes for Making Flowers and Circular Designs | BittBox May 7, 09 at 9:55 pm

[...] a previous post I talked about using a pattern brush in Illustrator for a fast way to get perfectly spaced, [...]
Lisa May 12, 09 at 9:28 pm

Super Bad A*s!!!! Thanks so much. Exactly what I needed.
Freelancelot May 29, 09 at 4:38 pm

Great stuff :)
Fanyaling May 30, 09 at 4:07 am

???????????????????
?Translate?Thank you, thank you very much for the tutorial, I have learned.?
(My English is not very good, sorry)
Anita May 31, 09 at 4:00 pm

great! so easy and so great effects, too many option with the same command!
Doylah Jun 5, 09 at 3:59 am

Great tutorial,
I used to play around with Illustrator a lot more but Dreamweaver / Photoshop stole some of its shine.

Thanks for getting me back into this ;)
Zohaib Jun 6, 09 at 3:40 am

so beautiful design it is. i will try to do so.
is there any one who want to join me to talk about
i want some learning metarial.
Eric Jun 26, 09 at 4:50 pm

Thanks for the great tut!
ARHIN ANIBOK ADONIS Jun 29, 09 at 5:18 am

great designs,but would like to know if such designs can be created in coral draw
Vector Illustration: 60+ Illustrator Tutorials, Tips and Best Practices | www.my2tech.com Jul 1, 09 at 9:45 am

[...] 4-Complex Circular Design Techniques- This tutorial is split into 2 sections: The Rotate Tool, and a Custom Pattern Brush. [...]
53 Killer Photoshop Illustrator Effects and Tutorials | www.my2tech.com Jul 1, 09 at 6:58 pm

[...] Complex Circular Design Techniques- Some neat tricks, tools, techniques, and settings that will have you pumping out perfect circular designs in no time using Illustrator. [...]