Insight
Illustrator Fundamentals: Add Rays of Light to an Image
Dateline: September 20, 2007
Version: Adobe Illustrator CS2
More Insight tips
|
Here’s a classic effect that’s a real bright spot when it comes to changing the look of an image. Adding rays of light to a piece of art in Adobe Illustrator is fairly simple, yet very effective. The technique uses four tools: the Polygon, Selection, Ellipse and Scale. Also, there are ways in Illustrator to combine objects to produce new shapes or effects. One of the most creative ways is the Opacity Mask, which you will use in this tutorial. It allows you to create more sophisticated effects than you’d get by simply applying opacity settings.
|
|
Download rays.eps, launch Illustrator and open the file. Press F7 to show the Layers palette. Select Layer 2. Click the Create New Layer button. Click the Edit Columns next to Layers 1 and 2 to lock them. Select Layer 3.
|
|
Select the Polygon tool and click anywhere on the document. Use the options in the resulting Polygon dialog box and click OK.
Choose Window > Color (F6). Set the Fill to White and the Stroke to None.
|
|
Choose Object > Transform > Transform Each (Command + Option + Shift + D). Use the options in the resulting Transform Each dialog box and click OK.
Using the Selection tool (V), position the triangle in the middle of the sun so that the bottom point is on the horizon line as shown.
|
|
Choose Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. In the resulting Transform Effect dialog box, click the bottom middle square of the Reference Point Locator, use the other options shown and click OK.
|
|
Using the Ellipse tool (L), draw a circle that is slightly larger than the rays. Choose Window > Swatches and click the Show Gradient Swatches button. Select the White, Black Radial gradient.
|
|
Choose Select > All (Command + A). Choose Window > Transparency (Command + Shift + F10). Click the Options arrow and select Make Opacity Mask from the drop-down menu. Uncheck the Invert Mask button and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
|
|
Select the Scale tool (S) and option-click the bottom point of the triangle. Use the options in the resulting Scale dialog box and click OK. Choose Select > Deselect (Command + Shift + A). In the Layers palette, drag Layer 3 below Layer 2
|
|
Our final effect is shown at left.
|
