Creating a rounded square in Adobe Illustrator is a simple and effective way to add an interesting design element to your artwork. Whether you’re working on a logo, a brochure, or any other graphic design project, rounded squares can add a modern and professional touch. In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process of creating a rounded square in AI.
Step 1: Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document
First, open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document by going to File > New. Choose the size and settings for your document based on your specific project requirements.
Step 2: Draw a square
Select the Rectangle Tool from the toolbar or press M on your keyboard. Click on your artboard and a dialog box will appear where you can enter the dimensions for your square. To create a perfect square, hold down the Shift key while dragging your shape.
Step 3: Round the corners
With the square selected, navigate to the top menu and find the “Effect” tab. From there, choose “Stylize” and then select “Round Corners.” A dialog box will appear where you can input the radius for the corners of your square. Experiment with different radius values until you achieve the desired level of roundness.
Step 4: Expand the appearance
After applying the rounded corners effect, go to Object > Expand Appearance. This will convert the live effect into a permanent change to the shape. Now your square has rounded corners and is ready for further use in your design.
Step 5: Edit and customize
With the rounded square selected, you can further customize it by adjusting the fill color, stroke, and other properties using the tools in the Illustrator toolbar. You can also duplicate, resize, and rotate the shape to create more dynamic compositions.
Step 6: Save your work
Once you’ve created the rounded square to your satisfaction, make sure to save your work by going to File > Save As and choosing the appropriate file format for your project.
By following these simple steps, you can easily create rounded squares in Adobe Illustrator to enhance your designs. Rounded squares can be a versatile design element that adds a touch of modernity and sophistication to your artwork, making it a valuable skill to have in your graphic design toolkit. Experiment with different sizes, colors, and compositions to incorporate rounded squares into your designs and bring an extra level of visual interest to your work.
