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This tutorial will show you how to make a perfect circle in Illustrator. You will need to use the Ellipse Tool and the Transform Palette.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
Circles are simple shapes, but they can be difficult to create perfectly in Adobe Illustrator. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use the Ellipse Tool (L) to create circles of any size, and how to adjust the strokes and fills for them. We’ll also cover how to make perfect ‘pie slices’ and understand when you might want to use the circumscribe option. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Create a New Document
creates a document that is 8.5x11 inches in size with a resolution of 300 pixels/inch.
Step 2: Draw a Circle
Next, use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw a circle. Make sure that the circle is selected and then click on the “Align to Artboard” icon in the options bar. This will ensure that your circle is perfectly centered in the document.
Step 3: Divide the Circle into Slices
With the circle still selected, go to the “ Window ” menu and choose “ Pathfinder .” This will open up the Pathfinder panel. In the Pathfinder panel, click on the “ Divide ” icon. This will divide your circle into equal slices.
Step 4: Expand the Slices
Now that your circle is divided into slices, you need to expand them so that they are separate objects. To do this, go to the “ Object ” menu and choose “ Expand .”
Step 5: Rotate the Slices
Finally, you need to rotate each slice so that it forms a perfect circle. To do this, select each slice individually and then go to the “ Transform ” menu and choose “ Rotate .” Enter a value of 360 degrees and click on the “ OK ” button.
Step 2: Select the Ellipse Tool
There are three ways to make a perfect circle in Illustrator. The first is to use the Ellipse Tool, which can be found in the Tools panel. To use this method, simply click and drag on your artboard to create a perfect circle.
The second way to make a perfect circle is to use the Circle Tool, which can be found in the Tools panel. To use this method, click and drag on your artboard to create a perfect circle.
The third way to make a perfect circle is to use the Shape Builder Tool, which can be found in the Tools panel. To use this method, select the Shape Builder Tool and then click and drag over the anchor points of the circle you want to create.
Step 3: Draw Your Circle
Now that you have your ellipse selected, it’s time to draw your circle. Using the same tool you used to create your ellipse, click on the artboard and drag outwards until you have a perfect circle. Holding down the ‘Shift’ key as you draw will constrain your circle to a perfect circle.
Step 4: Convert the Circle to Outlines
With your circle still selected, go to Object > Convert To Outlines. This will turn your circle into a series of points and lines that you can manipulate however you want.
Step 5: Adjust the Circle’s Anchor Points
The final step in creating a perfect circle is to adjust the circle’s anchor points. By default, Illustrator creates a circle with four anchor points, but you can add or remove anchor points to create a more customized shape.
To adjust the circle’s anchor points:
1. Select the Pen tool from the Toolbox.
2. Hover your cursor over one of the circle’s anchor points.
3. Click and drag the anchor point to adjust its position.
4. Repeat this process for each of the circle’s anchor points until you’re happy with the shape.
Step 6: Finish Up
The final step is to take the two anchor points at the top of the circle and drag them down until they’re level with the anchor point at the bottom of the circle. Then, do the same thing with the two anchor points at the bottom of the circle, dragging them up until they’re level with the anchor point at the top of the circle.
Conclusion
There is no one “right” way to make a perfect circle in Illustrator. However, there are a few methods that can produce great results. Experiment with different approaches and find the one that works best for you.
Further Reading
If you want to explore this topic in more depth, we recommend the following resources:
-The Complete Guide to Perfect Circles in Illustrator by Vectortuts+
-How to Draw a Perfect Circle in Adobe Illustrator by Spoon Graphics
-Creating Circles That Are Always In Focus by Martha Rudolph
10.Credits
We would like to thank the following people for their help in making this tutorial possible: Adobe, for donating a copy of Illustrator; Erin Rindels, for her assistance with the photos; Brian Coleman and Michael Huot, for their patience while we subjected them to our constant questions; and the staff at Ask an Adobe Expert Online, who were always willing to offer helpful hints and advice.
