Tutorial - The Golden Ratio in Illustrator

Hmmm... I think it's time for a tutorial; I haven't done one of those yet.

*Googles for tutorials*

*FOUND ONE*

Okay, so this is actually a video, but I thought I'd try it out myself too as I'm writing this, so I will upload snapshots of my process.

Here's the tutorial. I actually was unable to post the video on the blog, so I apologize for the inconvenience.

Step one:
Macs: Illustrator Menu > Preferences > Guides & Grids
PC: Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grids

Make sure all of the settings look something like this (The bright green doesn't have to be there, just pay attention to the measurements):





Another thing is to make sure to go View > Snap to Grid and switch it so it's on. (This keeps the ratio of everything the same).


Step two:
Select the rectangle tool, and click one time where two of the main thicker grid lines meet. Here is where you can choose your preferred measurements. The measurements should be 5 x 5, and the lines will follow the main grids.









Step three:

  Once you have your perfect square, click on your ruler at the side, if it isn't showing, View > Show Rulers or ctrl + R. Drag the guide line to the middle of the square.










Step 4:
The next step is to select the ellipse tool, and point your mouse to where the guide and your square meet. Before making the circle, hold option or alt and shift; now drag the circle until the top corners of the square meet the circle. The point of this circle is to determine where and what size the next rectangle is going to be so it fits with the golden ratio.






Step 5:

 The new rectangle is going to be the same height as the previous one; click and drag the rectangle until it reaches the end of the circle. The new rectangle is in proportion with the square by a factor of five (which is, according to the video the golden proportion.)

Also, we don't need the circle anymore; feel free to delete it at this point. (Save your work though!)

Step 6:

 We now have the proper proportions done:) Now, inside of the rectangle you just made, hold down shift and draw a square from the top point of where the two rectangles intercept so that is touches the edges of the rectangle.







Step 7:

 We keep going with the squares...







Step 8:

 This is the last with the squares.








Step 9:

Select the arc tool  and drag your mouse to the bottom left corner of your square; press shift before drawing your arc towards the top right corner of your square. If you drew your ratios properly, it should snap right into place.

Keep going with the arc; you may have to start at different corners.


The end product should look something like this:

I saw this tutorial and was interested because we looked at the golden ratio in art class; I wanted to find out more about it, and I thought that this tutorial would help me to get a better understanding of it, and it did. I now better understand the proportions of the golden ratio, and will try to incorporate it into my pieces now.






Night all!