Pattern Wallpaper
Project Brief
You will be making a mobile phone background with a pattern of objects. Your objects need to be created using layered shapes.
Copy Illustrator Template
Go to the Pattern Wallpaper Template
If you aren't already signed in to Adobe, click "Sign in" in the top right corner.
Click "Copy to Files"
Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
Right-click on the file and click "Rename"
"Last Name, Pattern Wallpaper"
Right-click and click "Open"
Adjust your workspace (go to "Window" > "Workspace" > "Essentials Classic")
Zoom in to the Small Artboard
Hold "Ctrl" and click "+" to zoom in.
Adjust your workspace so that you're zoomed into the small square artboard on the left.
Choose 2+ Objects
Think about what type of objects you want on your pattern wallpaper. They can be anything (school appropriate). You will need at least 2.
You can either draw the objects on your own with the pen tool or trace a reference.
To get references:
Type your object in the search bar and click the green search button.
Skip over the "Adobe Stock" icons - that is an advertisement.
In the gray bar, click "Color" and "Fill" to filter to the correct type of illustration.
Click on an icon you like.
Right-click and click "Copy image"
Go to Illustrator and in your "Layers" panel, click on the "References" layer.
Click "Edit" > "Paste"
Repeat until you have at least 2 different objects on your Illustrator "References" layer.
In your "Layers" panel, click the empty box next to "References" to lock it.
Trace/Draw Your Objects
In your "Layers" panel on the right side, click on your "Objects" layer.
Double click the "Fill" square on the bottom of the left toolbar to open the "Color Picker" and choose your first color.
Using your "Pen Tool" trace the shapes in your objects. A few ways you can trace over references:
Trace (w/ Fill) & Move
You can trace one shape on your object, then move it aside, then trace another shape and move it with the others.
Outline then Fill
You can start by just tracing with an outline instead of a fill and then once you've traced everything, give them fill colors.
Turn off "Reference" Layer
Once you're done tracing/drawing your objects:
In your "Layers" panel, click the eye icon to the left of your "Reference" layer to hide it.
Duplicate Objects
Select one of your objects by clicking and dragging.
Make duplicates of your objects so that you have at least 7 objects on your artboard: Click "Ctrl" + "C" to copy and "Ctrl" + "V" to paste. You can also hold down the "Alt" key while clicking and dragging, which will duplicate.
Arrange and size them as you wish.
Make a Pattern Swatch
Select all of your objects
Click "Object" > "Pattern" > "Make"
Click "OK" if you get a pop-up "The new pattern..."
Adjust Pattern
In the "Pattern Options" panel, try out different settings:
Tile Type
Brick Offset
Width and Height
Once you like how your pattern looks, click "Done" at the top.
Your pattern will go away and now will be stored as a swatch in your "Swatches" panel.
Zoom out
Hold "Ctrl" and click "-" to zoom out.
Adjust your workspace so that you can see the whole large rectangle artboard on the right.
Create a Background
In your "Layers" panel, go to the "Background" Layer
Click on the "Rectangle tool" in the left toolbar
Click and drag to create a rectangle that covers your artboard.
Double click the black square on the bottom of the left toolbar to open the "Color Picker"
Choose a color.
Lock your background layer.
Apply Pattern
In the "Layers" panel, click the "Pattern" layer.
Click on the "Rectangle tool" in the left toolbar
Click and drag to create a rectangle that covers your artboard.
Open the "Swatches" panel on the right.
Click the recently made pattern swatch.
On-Screen Grading
Once you are done, raise your hand and ask Mrs. Hodges to look at your Illustrator file for on-screen grading.
Save as .aic and .pdf
Go to "File" > "Save" to make sure to save your .aic file (if it is grayed out then it is already saved).
Go to "File" > "Save As..."
Choose "On your computer"
Click "Creative Cloud Files" folder on the left menu
Name: "Last Name, Pattern Wallpaper"
Click "Save"
Click "Save PDF"
Once you save as a .pdf, exit out of Illustrator. If you need to edit again and resave, make sure to edit your .aic file and re-save as a .pdf.
Turn in to Canvas
Turn in your .pdf file on Canvas in the "Pattern Wallpaper" assignment.
More time in class?
If you have more time in class, your options are:
Start a new Illustrator file and practice making layered shapes with the pen tool
Play the Bezier Game online and screenshot your best score (email to Mrs. Hodges to add the scoreboard)
Help a classmate with the assignment