Acorn Acorn 7

Vector Clouds


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This tutorial will go over how you can easily create layered vector clouds using shape operations.  To start, create a new image in Acorn, File ▸ New.  The dimensions used here are 1200 x 1200 pixels with a white background.  


Click on the elliptical shape tool.  Create 4 overlapping circles towards the left hands side of your image with a very light grey fill and a light blue stroke (a stroke of 10 is used below).  Hold down the shift key to create perfect circles.   Use the move tool to re-position your circles where you want them.


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Go to Select ▸ Select All (⌘A) to select all your circles, then choose Shape ▸ Union Paths to join them into one shape.   

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Select the rectangle shape tool and draw out a rectangle to just barely cover up the bottom part of the clouds.  This rectangle will cover up the gaps between the circles to extend the bottom part of the cloud.

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Select all your shapes again and choose Shape ▸ Union Paths to join them into one shape. 

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Draw out another rectangle so it just barely covers up the bottom of the clouds.  Select all your shapes again and choose Shape ▸ Difference Paths to subtract the rectangle from the clouds.  This will create a flat bottom side to the cloud. 

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Now choose Shape ▸ Duplicate Shape and then Shape ▸ Flip Horizontally.  Use the move tool to move the duplicate cloud shape into position.

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Using the move tool, select your first cloud shape and duplicate it again.  Hold down the shift key and drag on a corner of the selected shape to make it larger.  By holding down the shift key you are keeping the aspect ratio intact.  Choose Shape ▸ Arrange ▸ Send to Back.

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With the duplicate enlarged shape still selected, change the fill color to a slightly darker gray and increase the stroke to 20.  Duplicate this shape, choose Shape ▸ Arrange ▸ Send to Back, and use the move tool to move the duplicate into position.  

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Enjoy your pretty vector clouds!


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You can also easily duplicate and rearrange your cloud shapes to create a more layered look:


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