Cannot recreate hand draw scrolls on banner

[Ryan27535559comu]

Good Day,

I’ve been trying for months to finish a project and I’m down to my last two issues. In this post I want to focus on the scrolls. So one ribbon the scroll curls inwards and the other I’d describe as a wave on the end of the ribbon. I will post an image of what I’m starting with and what it should look like in the end. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[pixxxelschubser]

Sorry, but there are no images in your post ...

[Monika Gause]

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpE3dgr_95M

[Ryan27535559comu]

Here are the images as promised. Sorry it took so long.

[Ares Hovhannesyan]

You can use 3D. 

[Monika Gause]

Please check out the video I posted.

[Ryan27535559comu]

I had checked out the video and it would work, the problem I'm having it recreating the exact shape of the scroll and wave.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

You can use the ones you posted as a template and then draw over them using the pen tool. This is a basic tool in Illustrator and everyone had to learn it. It's one of the things where practice makes perfect. To study this I would recommend watching tutorials by Von Glitschka Maybe try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIXFYuV2DyI  

[michelew83603738]

I would think the best thing to do is to find an image of a scroll you like and then bring it in and use the pen tool to re-create it. If the images that are showing are what you like, not sure if they are vector or just sketches, but if vector, you could cut them in half then use one of each and join the 2 pieces.

[Ryan27535559comu]

I am having difficulty with the pen tool recreating the exact shape. The image isn't vectored, they are all hand drawn and I am trying to create vectored images of the original hand drawn and painted images. If I do a image trace or something similar the amount of points it creates is rediculuce. Cutting them in half or selecting just the portion I need would work if the old and new ribbon were exactly the same, I also have the ribbon in different sizes which means different angles at the ends.

[michelew83603738]

Have you tried using the pencil tool? Maybe that will be easier for you to use. But ultimately, learning how to use the pen tool will give you the greatest flexibility in using AI overall. If you need different angles, perhaps what @Ares Hovhannesyan suggested would be a good idea as you can rotate the view.

[Myra Ferguson]

You could also try using the the Curvature Tool (Shift + ~). It's like the Pen tool but was designed be simpler to use:

• Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool - Draw with the Curvature tool

[Myra Ferguson]

If you're particularly stuck, you could use banners from Adobe Stock. Here are some from the free collection:

• Ribbon Banner - Illustrations Vectors

[Ryan27535559comu]

I have to use the exact style I posted. Thanks

[pixxxelschubser]

Fancy a little game of Bezier?

https://bezier.method.ac/

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Another option for recreating the banners would be to use shapes and combine them using the Shape Builder tool (Shift + M). Then you wouldn't need to use the Pen tool at all. Here's more information on how to use the Shape Builder tool:

• Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool

[Ryan27535559comu]

I just finished them last week and it was what I had to do in the end. I wish I had seen your post earlier and I could have gotten this finished so much sooner. Unfortunantly I took a break from working on them and forgot I had even posted this.

[Myra Ferguson]

I'm glad you were able to create your banners. 🙂

Sometimes when you trudge through a creative problem, the approach and the strategic thinking involved in solving it makes it that much easier to solve the next one.