Working with a checkerboard pattern

[drobie]

Is there a fill available that is a checkerboard pattern? I didn't see one a first glance. Or, in the absence of such, can someone give me some tips on the best way to create a checkerboard fill for an object.

Ideally, it would be nice if the checks bent or distorted proportionately when I resize the path around it.

In addition, I would need to be able to have the black and white patterns on separate layers or sublayers so they could be printed separately.

[Sherri Wyche]

Don't know if this would help but there is a font that will draw a checkerboard in a way. Webdings (PC) Use the . (Period) key it created a 4 square checkerboard. It is just the black part or whatever color you have for the font and then transparent for the other color. Maybe use that and then create the fill out of it? I am not sure how to create fills in Illustrator but someone else could possibly take it from here.

[B. Philippus]

drobie:

Draw a square. Click on the left top corner anchor with the selection tool, and start dragging it over to the right top corner. Press the alt key before releasing the mouse, and a copy will appear when you do. Give this square a white fill (or yellow so you can still see it while you're working on this). Now, activate the rotate tool, and Alt-click on the bottom right anchor of the first square, which should also be the bottom left anchor of the second square. In the dialog, put in 180 degrees, and click on Copy. You should now see a big square with 2 black and 2 white boxes like a checker board pattern.

Select the whole thing, then go to Edit>Define Pattern, and give it a name. It will then appear in the swatches palette, and by clicking on it you can fill shapes with continuous checker action.

Bert

[Wade Zimmerman]

You can also draw a square then go to Type Rows and Columns and speciify 2 rows and 2 columns with 0 for the gutters measurement. Then define it as a pattern. But it will not bend when you distort it. In order to make it bend and distort you have to expand the fill and use a warp efect or envelope distort or a warp tool.

[Ian A. Wright]

drobie:

Illustrator comes with a set of fills on the original Adobe CD-ROM. If you go to the US Geological Survey page: <http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/maps/software.html> there are hundreds of fills. Near the bottom are the URL's for downloading the complete set of Illustrator patterns and geologic symbols used as standards on all USGS thematic geologic maps -- be they 44 by 58 inch or page-size illustrations. That’s what I use. Also check into <http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/maps/software.html>

P.S. Would you click on the Preferences button above and change your login to reflect your real name please? Or add your name after your messages. This is a professional forum, and as you can see, we prefer to use full names here. Thank you.

[Doug Robie]

Thanks Ian and all. That should get me started.

As for my preferences...I'm not a "professional" and the Terms Of Service don't seem to require that status. Preference help says: "You will be asked to supply a User Name... The User Name is the name people will see next to your messages in the forum.

But if "we prefer" real names, and I wouldn't want to affend anyone in the community, so a change has been made.

[BobHill]

Doug,

Thanks from all of us for properly identifying yourself.

For clarification, you might wish to review both the Forum Registration requirements (opening with your Registration name and proper email address) and Adobe Terms of Use, Forums, under User Conduct: Not to create a false identity.

Bob

[Doug Robie]

Yes, I read that.

"You will be asked to supply a User Name, a password, and a valid email address. The User Name is the name people will see next to your messages in the forum."

One might argue that a short "Username" is not a false identify if you are providing a real email address.

The instructions for creating a username, the box for entering it and the "false identity" thing could be considered to be contradictory. I didn't see anything in any of the terms or instructions that says one HAS to use their real first and last name.

It's moot, I've changed my user name.

[B. Philippus]

d:

Ian likes to know whom he's helping!

:)

Bert

[Harron K. Appleman]

Doug,

That was more than we really needed to know, but thanks for sharing.

You left out whether you were a toilet seat up or down kinda guy.

=-= Harron =-=

[Doug Robie]

My name is Doug. I am 51 going on 17 and am happily married to the former Katherine Holmes and we live on 9 acres of oak woods in rural, central WI in a stone and cedar, hex-shaped home inspired by the designs of FLW. (We live 11 miles from Taliesin and volunteer out there, primarily in maintaining the vast gardens.)

We have two dogs, no kids. I build model boats and use Illustrator primarily to cut graphics for them with a Stika 12 vinyl cutter. I am new to both although I have some limited experience with Paint Shop Pro.

I just cut my first few graphics with your help and photos will be posted on my website as I finish the boats.

I also organize and host two radio-controlled boat modelling events each year, and use graphic and publication software to promote those. In addtion, I started building a website last year.

My wife's hobbies are gardening, stained glass work and prairie resoration (in our case, woodland prairie).

I started taking piano lessons on my 50th birthday, something I always wished I had done but never got around too. It's a struggle, but I've committed to it for life.

I just bought myself a mini-milling machine and lathe and enjoying woodworking too. The milling work will be primarily producing hardware for my boats.

I avoid labels, but if I was forced to label myself I'd say I am a fiscal conservative and social liberal (translated: "causemonger").

I am a financial advisor by trade, which might partially explain my struggles with graphic software. I am also a kinesthetic (hands on, by example) learner, which is why in a previous post, I expressed interest in finding an AI tutor. (The search continues BTW.)

How am I doing Ian? <G>

[Wade Zimmerman]

Once you have your fill in place as you had previously created you can then expand that element you will get a dialog asking if you want the object and the fill expanded. That will make everthing a paths. OBject>Expand

[Doug Robie]

But back to the topic....

I tried creating a pattern and did so successfully but it won't work for me. My plotter only recognizes fills and doesn't seems to disquinguish between the black and white.

I think what I need to do is create the checkerboard fill manually so that each square is a path. The plotter then recognizes one color of my choosing and I cut the first one, and then switch colors and cut the second.

With that in mind, can I create grouped objects(the squares), that will conform to the shape that they're placed inside of?

[Rob Hecker.]

Well Doug, I find all that interesting. Sounds like a great life.

Anyway, lots of people come here using a made up name and Ian always asks them to switch to a real name. You are not the only person to whom that point wasn't obvious. I've noticed that forums where lots of people use made up names often deteriorate into rude and otherwise offensive exchanges. I keep coming back to this forum because the posts are relevant and the visitors are generally very courteous. People seem to be on better behavior when they are not anonymous!

Your questions are always welcome here.

Rob

[Rob Hecker.]

Doug,

You can do that with a clipping mask (Object > Clipping mask > make, though I don't know how your plotter will interpret the mask. A better method might be to use the divide option from the pathfinder palette (then delete the cut off parts). Place the "cutting" shape in the back.

Now that I think of it, maybe the best method is to put your defining shape in the front and go Object > Path > Divide objects below.

Rob

[Ian A. Wright]

Doug:

Thanks for listening. I appreciate your biographical information. I'm also somewhat of an environmentalist and, as part of a school naturalization project, got students to study up and plant a number of north-eastern native grasses here in Toronto. And I'm a grandpa -- but I'm just 17 on the inside too!

I can't help further with what you want, but I know there are lots of very knowledgeable Users here who will jump in with suggestions.