How to Create the Antique Style Frame in Illustrator

In this section we will introduce you how to create an antique style frame in Illustrator.

Frame designs are more complicated than they look. Each part of the designs is detailed and you need to know how to use the Pen Tool effectively.

This time we will create such complicated frame easily using the Brush Tool and the Swatch Library.

First, we create the decorative side parts of the frame.

Draw two lines using the Pen Tool.

Select the top line with the Selection Tool. Click [Brush Panel (Window -> Brush) -> Open Brush Library -> Decoration -> Luxurious Curly Brushes and Floral Brushes].

Click [Floral Brush 12] from [Luxurious Curly Brushes and Floral Brushes] and apply the brush on the top line.

Select the line below, apply [Fleur-de-Lis] brush from the [Luxurious Curly Brushes and Floral Brushes].

Divide the appearance.

Select the two lines which we have applied the brushes. Click [Object -> Divide Appearance]

(If you have difficulties with dividing the appearance, see What’s the “appearance” and what does it mean to divide it?)

Now the appearances of the two objects are divided.

Select all again and ungroup [Right Click -> Ungroup]. Remove the unwanted lines.

Combine the floral brush 12 and the fleur-de-lis together and place them as shown above.

Copy and paste the floral brush, reverse and place them at both sides of the fleur-de-lis. If the size does not match, adjust it using the example above.

Now you have one decoration for the side of the frame.

Copy and twirl the decorations, place them using the example above.

The frame comes inside of the corners.

We start creating the frame.

Draw a rectangle as shown above. Fill it with white and use gray (#B3B3B3) for the lines. This rectangle will be the outer frame.

Apply a pattern on the rectangle.

Click [Swatch Panel (Window -> Swatch) -> Open Swatch Library -> Pattern -> Nature -> Nature_Plant].

[Nature_Plant] panel opens. Click the wildflower.

The wildflower is applied on the rectangle.

You could keep the pattern but this time we will make it a little smaller.

Select the rectangle and click [Object -> Transform -> Scale].

[Scale] dialog appears. Set the preference using the example above. (Note that only the pattern checkbox is checked!)

When you check the preview checkbox, you can see minifying on real-time basis. You can adjust the size of the pattern according to your preference.

(Retaled Articles:How to transform just the middle of the pattern without changing the object shape on Illustrator)

The pattern only is minified!

Now you have the outer frame.

Lastly, we create the interior frame.

Create two rectangles inside the decorated frame (see above).

(When making a rectangle inside, input a reduction ratio in [Object -> Transform -> Scale] and click copy so that you can have a beautifully reduced rectangle.)

Now we have the antique-style like frame.

This design might remind you of a photo frame or a notepad you find in a hotel room. We have created a complicated frame using the Brush Tool and the Swatch Panel. You can make a complicated design easily with some tricks.

この投稿文は次の言語で読めます: Chinese (Simplified), Japanese

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