Arrows on an elipse

[Michael5ED9]

In trying to draw a circle of arrows like the attached jpg, can't work out how to add, accurately, the start and end arrowheads (as the style shown) to create the first one? I've experimented with arrowheads on the Stroke palette and tried outlining the stroke then adding new anchor points but it's all by eye and, therefore, very hit and miss. I do understand how, once the first one is created, how to duplicate them round the elipse.

Grateful for ideas, anyone.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @Michael5ED9,

Thanks for reaching out! Have you had a chance to try our newly launched Object on Path feature? If not, we’d love for you to give it a try. Here is the link: https://adobe.ly/3VIF17r

Hope it helps!

Regards,

Srishti

[Michael5ED9]

Thanks Srishti, Yes I've just seen this new feature so will try that one out as well.

[Michael5ED9]

Unfortunately Objects on a Path didn't work for this but thanks for the tip – it's a feature worth exploring.

[Monika Gause]

Draw this in a straight fashion and then create an art brush from it and then apply that to a circle.

[Michael5ED9]

Thanks so much Monika and what an interesting solution – will definitely try that one.

[Michael5ED9]

Again, this didn't work for my particular requirement but must start using brushes – a feature i've ignored for all these years. Thanks anyway.

[Monika Gause]

Can you describe why it didn't work?

[Michael5ED9]

It distorted the arrow brush when applied to the circle but must admit maybe I wasn't doing it properly. The client's job had some urgency attached to it so it was easier just doing it in my laborious fashion.

[Michael5ED9]

So the eventual solution was to draw a circle to the same size as the png template and then increase the stroke thickness to match. Using the Scissors Tool, cut the first arrow segment to match and then, outlining the stroke, add anchors points to create the Start and End arrowheads before using the rotate tool to duplicate all 5 arrows. It's a bit fiddly and works well enough but, undoubtedly, there's a better method out there.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Thank you. You didn't do anything wrong. The artbrush always gets distorted (in this situation). 

How I would do it without artbrush: https://youtu.be/FGQP0MZgUIk

[Michael5ED9]

Thanks so much Monika – that's a super way of doing it!

[Bobby Henderson]

If you're going to create a graphical element to turn into an art brush you'll get the best results (least amount of distortion) by getting the path length of the target path first and then creating that graphics element to match that path length.

Certain shapes, such as arrow heads that are incorporated into the graphic, may still end up being distorted in relation to how much the target path bends. Other methods, such as attached object blends to paths, can work. In some cases multiple methods may need to be used to build up the final result.