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In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a neat toothpaste text effect in Adobe Illustrator using a pattern brush. For starters you will learn how to setup a simple grid and how to build pixel perfect vector shapes using basic tools and the Pathfinder panel. Moving on you will learn how to use a simple script and how to ease your work using the Shape Builder Tool. Next, you’ll learn how to easily and rename two simple patterns and how to create your own pattern brush. Finally, using your pattern brush along with some subtle Drop Shadow effects you will create your text effect.Tutorial Details: Toothpaste Text Effect. Program:.
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate. Topics Covered: Basic Tools and Effects, Transform techniques, Patterns and Pattern Brushes. Estimated Completion Time: 45 minutesFinal Image: Toothpaste Text EffectAs always, this is the final toothpaste text effect image that we’ll be creating. Step 1: Toothpaste Text EffectTo start our toothpaste text effect tutorial, hit Control + N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 600 in the width box and 730 in the height box and then click the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.Enable the Grid ( View Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid ( View Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 1 px, so simply go to Edit Preferences Guides Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.
Try not to get discouraged by all that grid, it will ease your work and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control + “ keyboard shortcut.You should also open the Info panel ( Window Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit Preferences Units General.
All these options will significantly increase your work speed. Step 4Disable the Snap to Grid ( Shift + Control + “) and then go to Edit Preferences General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px.Make sure that your yellow shape is selected and make two copies in front ( Control + C Control + F Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 1 px down using the down arrow button from your keyboard. Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Select the resulting shape and replace the existing fill color with R=233 G=244 B=252.
Make sure that this thin, new shape stays selected and focus on its right side. Switch to the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) and simply click on the anchor points highlighted in the second image ro remove it. In the end your shape should look like in the third image. Step 5Make sure that your yellow shape is selected and make two copies in front ( Control + C Control + F Control + F). Select the top copy and move it 2 px down. Reselect both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.
Select the resulting shape and replace the existing fill color with R=243 G=254 B=252. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on its right side. Switch to the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) and remove the anchor point highlighted in the second image.
Step 15Reselect that main shape, make a new copy in front ( Control + C Control + F) and then bring it to front using the Shift + Control + keyboard shortcut. Fill this new shape with a random green and then pick the Direct Selection Tool (A).
Select the anchor point highlighted in the first image, move to the options bar and simply enter 2 px in that Corners box. In the end your green shape should look like in the second image. The Live Corners feature is only available for CC users. The best solution to replace this effect would be the Round Any Corner script that can found in this article:.
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Save it to your hard drive, return to Illustrator and grab the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select that same anchor point and go to File Scripts Other Script. Open the Round Any Corner Script, enter a 2 px radius and click OK. Step 22Make sure that your column of rectangles is selected, open the Brushes panel ( Window Brushes) and click the New Brush button.
Check the Pattern Brush button and click OK to open the Pattern Brush Options window. Name it “ Toothpaste“, make sure that all the attributes are set as shown below and then move to the Tile boxes.
Open the Start Tile drop-down window and add the “ leftEnd” pattern from that list and then open the End Tile drop-down window and add the “ rightEnd” pattern. Finally, click OK and you will find your new toothpaste text effect pattern brush inside the Brushes panel.