February 11, 2001

Fun with Grids
Creating unique Grid layouts

This series of tips is to demonstrate how to create all kinds of fun Grid line layouts similar to what you see at right. These could add a nice touch to an otherwise boring design, especially if you want that hi-tech look to your projects.

If you know the names of some of these types of grids, please let me know. It would definitely help if someone was looking for a specific grid type by name. Thanks.

Version: 3 and above

 


Corner Grid

This first grid is what I show at the top right of this page. It's a pretty cool grid design that I used to create by hand with FreeHand's built in grid feature. But I did find a very fast way to recreate it that you will see below.

     

1) Start by drawing a rectangle with no fill. Then Ungroup it.

 

     

2) Select three points on the rectangle like shown above, and Split them from the Modify menu.

Select the longest part of what remains and delete it so all you are left with are two lines.

 

     

3) Select the two lines, then Blend them together. There you have a very cool looking curving corner grid!

How easy was that?

Ellipse Grids

These next grids are circular with lines that come from the center like spokes in a wheel. There are several ways to approach this type of grid, but I find that using Blends like I demonstrate below, is much more flexible to work with, because you can adjust the number of steps in the blends to easily change the look of the grid.

     

1) Start with a plain circle with no fill, then Clone this and scale it much smaller in the middle of the larger circle.

 

     

2) Select the two circles and Blend them together. Adjust the number of steps as necessary.

 

     

3) Turn on Snap to Point under the View menu. Then draw a line that snaps from the top of the smallest circle to the top of the largest circle like shown above.

Clone this line and move it over to the side.

 

     

4) Select both lines and Blend them together.

 

     

5) Now we are going to draw another circle to attach the line blend to.

Starting from the bottom of the smallest circle, hold the shift key to constrain, then Click-drag a new circle and snap the cursor to the top of the largest circle. Watch the animation above to see it done.

 

     

6) Select this new circle and the line blend, then under the Modify menu -> Combine -> Join Blend to Path.

Then select this new object and the blend of the circles, and Align them to each other's center with the Align palette. Now you should see the new circular grid like shown above.

You can adjust the Blends' steps to fit your needs.

Spherical Grids

Spherical Grids are a different type of round grid. These grids show not only shape, but dimension.

     

1) Start with a plain circle with no fill then Ungroup the circle.

 

     

2) Select two points opposite each other on the Circle, then under the Modify menu, Split them. Now deselect all of the points.

 

     

3) Now click-drag around one of the split areas, like shown above.

 

     

4) Then just Blend them together. You should see a blend like shown above. While it's still selected, Clone this blend.

 

     

5) While this clone is selected, Rotate it 90°. Then you should have a very cool Sphere grid like shown above.

Wavy Grids

Using a similar approach as the Circular grids above, I'll show you how quick and easy it is to create grids that are a bit more curvy.

1) Create a simple curvy line like shown above. Then Clone this and move it down.

 

     

2) Select both curve lines and Blend them together. Above I used about 20 steps in this blend.

 

3) Draw two parallel lines at each end of the curved blend like shown above. It's a good idea to turn on Snap to Point to make sure that they are exact.

While both lines are selected, Blend them together.

 

4) Hold the Option (Alt) Key and click on the top line from the curve blend, then Clone it.

 

5) Now while this clone is selected, shift+click on the "straight" line blend and then under the Modify menu -> Combine -> Join Blend to Path.

Then make the Object Inspector visible and turn off the option labeled "Rotate on Path."

 

6) Select both blends then align them to centers with the Align palette.

Now you have a wavy kind of grid image. Pretty neat eh?

Those are just a few very cool grid patterns you can create with a combination of blends and blends attached to paths. If you have any other cool ideas, please send them in.