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mrfearn
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Circle of dotted circles help.

Apr 26, 2012 5:29 AM

I want to create a circle of circles like this , it's the first image, black and whie circles with numbers inside. - I don't want the numbers, just the dots.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=safari&gl=uk&biw=320&bih=3 56&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=circle+of+dots+illustrator&oq=circle+of+dots%2C+ill u&aq=0S&aqi=g-S1g-mS1&aql=&gs_nf=1&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.1.0.0i24j0i5i2 4.7760.10169.0.11599.6.5.0.0.0.0.718.1578.3-1j0j1j1.3.0.&mvs=0#i=0

 

Starting at 1 dot increasing by 6 every time and evenly spaced.  So would start at 1, then 6,12,18,24,30 etc to create a dotted circle if circles.  I'm new to illustrator and can't find any info how to do it, here is a link to an example - its the first image, black and white dots with numbers in, I don't want the numbers, just the dots.  Thanks

2553 Views   20 Replies   Latest reply: CarlosCanto, Apr 27, 2012 8:35 AM
 
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  • SRiegel
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    1. SRiegel,
    Apr 26, 2012 5:40 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    Your image link doesn't work - just goes to google-uk.  Is this what you are looking for?

    Picture 2.png

     
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  • mrfearn
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    2. mrfearn,
    Apr 26, 2012 6:47 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    Sorry about that, try this.

     

    http://mobi.creativecow.net/thread/245/862181

     
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  • SRiegel
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    3. SRiegel,
    Apr 26, 2012 7:36 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    I was able to make something similar using blends and a bit of trial and error.

    Picture 3.png

    For the innermost circle, I made a blend between two identical dots, with 5 steps, then replaced the spine with a circle that had one cut. (the cut makes the two end dots land on top of each other).

    Copy this, and paste it in front. Then select just the spine and enlarge it from the center, playing with the size until it looks right. (select the spine, and not the whole blend, or the dots will enlarge also).

    Then select this blend and change the steps to 11. Continue in this manner until you have the pattern the size you want it.

    There may be a way to script this, or a shortcut to do it faster, but maybe this will get you started.

     
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  • emil emil
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    4. emil emil,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:19 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    Here's another way.

    1. Make the cirlce in the center. With the Ellipse tool (L) create a perfect circle by holding Shift while dragging.
    2. Make copies of it on a straight horizontal line spaced with the desired distance between each circle of circles. Use the Selection tool (V) to drag the circle horizontally while holding Shift to constrain and Alt to copy. Press Ctrl + D to make additional copies as many times as the number of circles you want.
    3. Select all circles and in the transform panel enter 30° for Rotation. If you want the first circle to stay in place before rotation select the bottom left corner of the reference symbol in the Transform panel
    4. Select only the second circle from the center, pick the Rotate tool (R), enable the Smart Guides (Ctrl/Cmd + U), find the center of the center circle and click it while holding Alt. This will show the Rotate dialog. For angle type 360/6 and press the Copy button. Press Ctrl + D four more times to complete the first circle of circles.

    Repeat the same for each of the following circles by dividing in the Rotate dialog 360° by 6 times more for each circle of circles, for example 360/12, 360/18, 360/24, and etc.

     

    when repeating the last transformation Ctrl + D to create additional copies, you you can just hold the Ctrl + D buttons down (as a oppose to pressing it many times) until the copies appear to be approaching the desired number and then press Ctr + D or undo a few more times to get the desired number of copies.

     
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  • Jacob Bugge
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    5. Jacob Bugge,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:27 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    mrfearn,

     

    When you have decided the size W (= H) of the innermost circle (presuming 6 dots on it), another way is to:

     

    1) Create the central dot with the size w,

    2) With it selected, in the Brushes palette flyout tick New Brush, then tick New Scatter Brush, and set the Spacing to 52.36 * W/w,

    3) Create the innermost circle (with the size W), cut it at the top, and apply the Scatter Brush,

    4) Create copies of the innermost circle with increasing sizes (2*W, 3*W, 4*W, etc) until you have them all..

     

    You may also create all the circles first, select them all, and apply the brush.

     

    For the innermost circle shown in the link, W is about 4*w (four times the size of the dot).

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    6. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:48 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    I use the Polar Grid to make my coincentric circles evenly spaced

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-26 at 11.32.25 AM.png

     

    I stroked the ircle paths do it all with one click

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-26 at 11.32.40 AM.png

     

    I then gave it a dash line Round Caps a dash of and a gap 11.5 in this case with a stroke of 7

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-26 at 11.39.52 AM.png

     

    The center dot has to be put in you can make a straight path stroked and dashedas wihthe circles and flatten the trannsparency to get your center dot and easily align it to the center.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    7. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:48 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    You do have to fool witht he gap dimension till it all works.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    8. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:59 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    With it out selected and aligning you eed smart guides for some reason I haven figured out.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-26 at 11.54.03 AM.png

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-26 at 11.56.43 AM.png

     
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  • Jacob Bugge
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    9. Jacob Bugge,
    Apr 26, 2012 11:18 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    mrfearn,

     

    With the dash solution suggested by Wade (where the dash is set to 0), the gap should be set to 0.5236 * W, where W is the width of the innermost circle.

     

    As it appears, it is closely related to the Scatter Brush Spacing value in post #5.

     

     

    Edit: Edited.

     
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  • mrfearn
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    10. mrfearn,
    Apr 26, 2012 10:56 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    Listen i cant thank you guys enough, i have been looking at this for a couple of weeks now - but not having any prior knowledge i didnt really know what i was looking for.  My background is photoshop so i've had to move across to Illustator just to complete this task.

     

    I have a few different options now, but i think i will go with Wade_Zimmerman's advice.  I'm a complete newbie with Ilustrator so i dont actually understand what much of what you guys are sayin, its completely different toolsets to what im used to, but now i have something to work with i will look up all the things you have mentioned and learn some about Illustrator at the same time.  I might be back asking.........erm what does that mean, but ill have a go.

     

    Thanks again everyone!

     
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  • mrfearn
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    11. mrfearn,
    Apr 26, 2012 10:59 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Hi Wade, the first image (complete circle) is exactly what im trying to create, maybe with the dots slightly bigger and gaps ever so slighlty smaller - but thanks again for your advice and tips, im going to give this a go this evening.

     

    Thank you very much!

     
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  • Jacob Bugge
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    12. Jacob Bugge,
    Apr 26, 2012 11:26 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    mrfearn,

     

    With the dash way, the gaps are completely independent of the dot size (because the dash size is zero).

     

    To get 6 dots in the innermost circle, the gap should be set to 0.5236 * W, where W is the width of the innermost circle, as mentioned in (the edited) post #9, no need to adjust or try and fail.

     

    The 0.5236 (or more accurately 0.523598776) is simply PI/6.

     

    To get the right gap for another number of dots in the first circle, just divide PI by that number.

     

    PI = 3.14159 265 etc.

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    13. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 12:12 PM   in reply to mrfearn
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    Remeber the dot in the center is creaated manuall and posuition manully as well.

     

    I'll post a video.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    14. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 1:08 PM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Thge problem that jacob refers to is no longer an issue with CS 5 and later as there is an option to space the dashes to a even out along the path.

     

    here is a video:

     

    http://www.wadezimmerman.com/videos/DotCircles.mov

     
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  • mrfearn
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    15. mrfearn,
    Apr 26, 2012 1:10 PM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Ahh mr wade, a video tutorial would be very helpful, I do find it easier to watch and learn rather than read.  I'll still have a go though, unfortunately this evening has been taken over by a wide awake baby and photo editing.

     
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  • mrfearn
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    16. mrfearn,
    Apr 26, 2012 2:03 PM   in reply to mrfearn
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    Sorry, i was reading your last post on my phone and missed the link to the video.  I have just found a 10 minute window, followed your tutorial and hey presto i have exactly what i need!  I changed the segments to 13 and messed around with the spacing etc, and i have exactly what i want, the circles eventually fell in line perfectly.

     

    I cant thank you enough, this has seriouly been on my mind for a while and you have made it so easy to do - i dont know why i never thought to look on an Adobe forum?  But now i know!

     

    All i need to do now is convert this to a Vector so i can blow the image up to 30x30 inch.  Is that possible? I havent worked with Vectors before but im under the impression you can use a vector at any size and still have sharp edges?

     

    I also need to colour in some of the dots, would i import it into Photoshop or stick in Illustrator?

     

    Thank you

     
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  • Jacob Bugge
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    17. Jacob Bugge,
    Apr 26, 2012 2:38 PM   in reply to mrfearn
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    mrfearn,

     

    All i need to do now is convert this to a Vector

     

    It is vector artwork.

     

    I also need to colour in some of the dots,

     

    You may try to select the path(s) in question and Object>Expand. Depending on version, you may get what you need.

     

    If you go the Scatter Brush way, or one of the other ways suggested, it is pretty straightforward. With the Scatter Brush, you may select the path(s) in question and Object>Expand Appearance and get independent paths, one for each dot.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    18. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Apr 26, 2012 8:12 PM   in reply to mrfearn
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    What you want to do is expand the art and turn it into a live paintt group the you can jus use the live paint bucket to pour the color over as many dots as you wish. then change the color and pour the next color over as many that have to be that color.

     

    The live Paint group way is probably better than the scatter brush approach.

     

    Here is another video

     

    http://www.wadezimmerman.com/videos/LivePaintDots.mov

     

    also if you do not wish to live paint then simply take the lasso tool select a group of dots and the select a color and they will fill in.

     
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  • mrfearn
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    19. mrfearn,
    Apr 27, 2012 4:23 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Thanks kind people.

     

    By the time i had read this i had already exported as an eps file into photpshop and used the paint bucket to paint them individually (yes this took a long time) I wanted each circle to be a different colour.  But i have more of these to do and will look at using one of the above methods to speed up the process in Illustrator.

     

    And thanks Zimmerman for the videos!  I found them extremely helpful and made the learning process very easy.

     

    Thanks again to those that helped!

     
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  • CarlosCanto
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    20. CarlosCanto,
    Apr 27, 2012 8:35 AM   in reply to mrfearn
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    here's a script by James to recolor the dots

     

    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/450301

     
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