I’m always on the look out for simple eye-catching ways to communicate a message. I think this is a great example of a visually appealing background that could be used when there are no images, graphics or other ways to improve the typography. This is especially useful in direct marketing (email or mail shot).
How to create it in Illustrator
The first thing you need to do, and it may not be apparent why, is to draw a triangle. How do you draw an equilateral triangle in Illustrator? Easy, simply fetch your Polygon tool from the Toolbar (it may be hiding under the Rectangle or Ellipse tool) and click once on the artboard. Then choose 3 Sides, don’t worry about the Radius. You then need to turn the triangle on it’s side and elongate it so it an isosceles with two long sides and a short base pointing to the left or the right. Don’t worry, it’ll become clear why later!
Now, with the triangle selected, find your Brushes palette and select New Brush… in the drop down menu and choose Art Brush. Notice the direction the brush is pointing in (left), this will be important.
Now draw a curve from the centre of your artboard to the outside, make sure it has a stroke but no fill. Then apply the triangular brush that is now in your brush palette. Now go Object > Expand Appearance. This changes the stroke to a fill which we will need in order to apply a gradient to the curve.
Now the exciting bit (you thought this wasn’t so exciting so far?), option/alt click on the apex of your curve with the Rotate (R) tool selected (see inset left). In the resulting dialog box (left) enter a number that goes into 360 evenly and hit copy. Now, the really exciting bit. Go Cntl/Cmd-D and keep your finger on it. Cool, huh?
Now all you have to do is to apply radial gradients to taste. And serve with some attention grabbing copy lines helped along with some well-crafted typography!
Eye catching designs expresses the complete public image of a business in one graphic.
Cool tip. It’s so important to find ways to communicate a message in a simple way. KISS (keep it simple, stupid)!
thanks for this, will keep this in mind when designing in future. thanks
Haha, it’s great! Just great! Super eye catching, that’s for sure, and that is something that works!
It reminds me of a commercial from a Danish homepage, where you can borrow money, and EVERYONE (in Denmark of cause) has seen this commercial, because of the very eye catching background.
I think it’s a super great idea, with those kind of designs. Then you know for sure, that people will notice your message
And by the way, it’s some super good instructions you are giving. Nice job
I think I will try to make something like that, just for fun.
very cool tutorial:)im gonna try doing it.keep it up
Hello shephardfamilyvalues, RoWeb Design, Bebo Skins, Jessie and NaldzGraphics for your kind encouraging messages. It is a good technique for drawing your eye to a message. Better than if they were straight lines, I think. Thank you, Jessie, hope you had fun!
The tutorial is very cute, but I’m much more amazed at how well-written it is. It’s actually hard to find tutorials that give such clear instructions. Great work.
-Erika
An Eye catching design can deliver the message in pretty good way which a 500 words article can’t. That’s the reason that I have pictures in all my posts on all my blogs. The way you have written this tutorial, is amazing and easy. Thanks for sharing.
An eye catching design is the best way to advertise any good product. I love this tutorial anyway because it is easy to understand
@Erika from Web Design in Miami, I’m glad you thought the tutorial was cute and well-written.
@wii balance board, I always have at least one picture per post here. I think it’s boring to have text text text. (Co-incidentally, I’ve just bought a Wii Fit!)
@Lanre from Nigeria, thank you for your comment, I’m glad you found the post easy to understand, it requires some knowledge of Illustrator.
Thanks! delicous-ed for future ref.
Acuity Designss last blog post..Flash Animated Rollover Video Tutorial
Hey thanks.
i tried this, it’s really nice.
you have really informative blog.
keep it up.
i enjoyed being here.
@Acuity Designs. Thank you and thank for delicous-ing my post!
@MOin, how interesting you tried it. You’re welcome to show me the results of your efforts. I could post it up here if you want!
@Website templates, thanks for your comment.
I am trying to design stuff but am simply lousy!
Thanks for sharing with us, this is just an basic idea to lot of great works. This design is very simple but is a good eye catcher!
Keep On!
Some people tend to think that Corel Draw’s interface is more intuitive than Illustrator.
Very eye-catching. I’m going to give this a go. Thanks for sharing.
Cool tip. I tried it and it works really well.
along with that designs u need to have a solid tag lines which gives more strength to the designs
Andrew
@ Great Wall of China, keep trying!
@ Amart Design, thank you, all the best to you!
@ Headland, I’ve never used Corel Draw but thanks for the comment.
@ Logo Designer Nige, hope it went well.
@ Andrew Green, very true about tag lines!
this info. is really helpful for me it’s some good instructions you are giving.i keep that in mind. thanks.
Hello flash templates, I’m glad this info is helpful to you.
To do complicated stuff you just need to make more simple things and combine them
Wow the article is just amazing great step by step tutorial. You are right the catching pictures always give better conversion and I always use them on my blogs.
Yes, lots more stuff to come about how to create eye-catching imagery and text to entice your readers, etc.
Great tutorial. A lot of useful information is included here. I may use some of this information in an attempt to make my own wallpaper.
Is it possible to give the radial an emboss look to make it a little bit 2d or maybe 3d?
Thank you guys, good idea to give the radial an embossed look!
Eye-catching designs truly send the message clearly and loud. One can’t help but take a glance not once, twice but more. Glad you detailed the flow here.
great tutorial, thanx!
My friend who’s a graphic artist, wants to learn how to use illustrator. He just knows photoshop for websites but he also wants to take his skills to the next level. I will give him this link. Thanks!
I am also a graphic designer from Denver but I didn’t know I can use illustrator for such work as well. I use photoshop most of the time for my website designing works.
Good information. I have learnt a lot from this.
Its 2011 and its still very useful in my designs. I just want to say thanks Rob, i dont have to spend any money for designs now. What should get you Sir
) ?
That’s great Jerry, I’m glad you have found this useful.