Tips for Guilloche Pattern Vectors in Under an Hour!

martini glass vector

Today we will talk about the technique of creating guilloche pattern vectors using the Envelope Distort, Blend Tool and Pattern Brush. Guilloche pattern vectors are commonly used to protect the securities and banknotes from counterfeiting. Usually, to generate a guilloche pattern vector, designers use special expensive software. You might not have known that Adobe Illustrator helps to create guilloche pattern vectors, using only native features. Let’s see how it’s done!

Tutorial Details: Guilloche Pattern Vector

  • Program: Adobe Illustrator CS2 – CC2014
  • Difficulty: Beginner
  • Topics Covered: Envelope Distort, Blend Tool and Pattern Brush
  • Estimated Completion Time: 20 minutes

Final Image: Guilloche Pattern Vector

guilloche pattern vector

Step 1

To begin this guilloche pattern vector tutorial, open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document (Cmd / Ctrl + N). Your artboard can be any size. The guilloche pattern vector we’ll create will work equally well in the RGB and in the CMYK color modes.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 2

Take the Pen Tool (P) and draw a wavy line with no fill like shown in the picture below. You do not need to repeat the exact shape of the curve – just place the handles of the start point and end point of the path horizontally. To do this, hold down the Shift key while manipulating it.

guilloche pattern vector

Create another curve below the first one. The start and end point of the curve also has handles placed horizontally.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 3

Select the start points of the two paths using the Direct Selection Tool (A), then align them horizontally by clicking on the Horizontal Align Left in the Align panel.

guilloche pattern vector

The same way align end points of paths.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 4

Connect the start points of the paths using the Pen Tool (P).

guilloche pattern vector

Select the achieved path, take the Reflect Tool (O) and click at the point A, holding Option / Alt. In the dialog box, choose Vertical axis and hit Copy button.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 5

For the next step of this guilloche pattern vector tutorial, select the upper points at which both paths intersect using the Direct Selection Tool (A), then go to Object > Path > Join (Cmd / Ctrl + J).

guilloche pattern vector

In the same way we’ll connect the lower points of the path.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 6

Create a horizontal path with no fill using the Pen Tool (P) or the Line Tool (\).

guilloche pattern vector

The path length is not significant. Move the path at some distance down, holding Shift and Option / Alt, which should result in its duplication.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 7

Select both straight-line segments, then use Cmd / Ctrl + Option / Alt + B shortcut to create a blend of the object. Now double click on the Blend Tool (W) icon in the Tools panel. In the opened dialog box, choose the Specified Distance and set 4px in a numeric field.

guilloche pattern vector

If you want to create a colored guilloche pattern, you can recolor strokes of the paths in different colors, such as red and green.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 8

Place blends object below the object of wavy paths, to do this move it down in the Layers panel.

guilloche pattern vector

Select all the created objects, then go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object.

guilloche pattern vector

As you can see, we got a few defects in the beginning of this guilloche pattern vector, which are indicated by arrows in the picture above. To correct them go to Object > Envelope Distort > Envelope Options … and increase the Fidelity up to the value of 90-100.

guilloche pattern vector

Now all the defects are eliminated.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 9

Drag the resulting object in the Brushes panel, and in the dialog box, choose the Pattern Brush option.

guilloche pattern vector

Without changing the settings in the next dialog box, click on OK. If you are using Adobe Illustrator CC-CC2014, then you have the ability to automatically generate a corner tile. To do this, you have four options to choose from. This will give us an opportunity to apply the brush to the shapes that have angles.

guilloche pattern vector

Step 10

Create a circle with stroke and no fill using the Ellipse Tool (L), then apply the created brush to it.

guilloche pattern vector

As you can see, we got a fairly complex shape, which is our new guilloche pattern vector! This object is dynamic. Double click on a thumbnail of the brush in the Brushes panel to open the dialog box. Now let’s play with the parameters observing the occurring changes.

guilloche pattern vector

Now let’s see how our guilloche pattern vector will look like, if you apply the brush to a rectangular shape.

guilloche pattern vector

Conclusion: Your Own Guilloche Pattern Vector!

We have reviewed the basic technique of creating our guilloche pattern vector in Adobe Illustrator. Now I would like to point you the direction for your own experiments.
a. As you know, the object created in steps 2-5, can be of a completely random shape. The more objects you create, the more kinds of the guilloche pattern vector you’ll get.
b. You can change the color of the blend object and the value of its step.
c. Blend object may consist of paths of different shapes (not only of straight line segments). For example, we can use the path in the shape of a zigzag. The pictures below show the intermediate steps and the final result of the created guilloche pattern.

guilloche pattern vector

24

guilloche pattern vector

d. Instead of a blend object, you can use the path to which the pattern brush is applied. I created a brush element of several squares (angles of the lower square and upper one are rounded).

guilloche pattern vector

Let’s keep this place as a pattern brush in the Brushes panel, then apply the brush to the straight-line segment.

guilloche pattern vector

Now, following the instructions that you are familiar with, you can make a new guilloche pattern vector!

guilloche pattern vector

guilloche pattern vector

e. After creating the Envelope Distort object, you can continue manipulating with the points and handles of its outline that will lead to the creation of an infinite number of patterns types.

guilloche pattern vector

guilloche pattern vector

I hope you’ll find lots of other uses for this guilloche pattern vector technique. Enjoy your experiments!

Iaroslav Lazunov

Author: Iaroslav Lazunov

My name is Iaroslav Lazunov, I am a graphic designer from Ukraine. I am glad that I finally found a job in my life that I can share my knowledge and experiments with you in my tutorials. Follow me on Twitter or visit my blog Vectorboom.com

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22 thoughts on “Tips for Guilloche Pattern Vectors in Under an Hour!

  1. Thank you very much for this easy-to-understand guilloche tutorial. I’m trying to make all the open areas of a guilloche transparent (the guilloche was made from a pattern brush of diamonds, as in your “d” example, following the tutorial), so I can overlap two guilloches. Is this possible? Thank you very much.

  2. On Step nine—I am getting “the selected artwork contains an element that cannot be used in a pattern bush”

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