Participating Frequently

Answered

Phyllotaxis spiral challenge 2018

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
September 18, 2018
5 replies
5334 views

Hi! I want to distribute anchor points around a spiral like this.
I tried to do it with a dashed line but the results were not OK.
What I'm trying to duplicate is the graphic below, so the
angle has to be super-precise at 137,5077640 degrees.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer tromboniator

I can't begin to figure out an answer to the anchor point distribution question, but I would say that Ray Yorkshire is correct, that this relates directly to the Sunflower problem, which I haven't thought about since that discussion five years ago. I have had an insight today which I missed then, which is that the array only requires the one shape (in this case a rotated square) and three transform effects. This description is for transformation from the outside in.

1. Draw the shape to be replicated in the array.

2. In the Appearance panel apply the transform effect Move to the Fill (or stroke) of the shape, not to the path, either vertical or horizontal, which value will define the diameter of the array.

3. In the Appearance panel apply to the Path a transform effect including scale values less than 100%, horizontal and vertical values equal; rotation angle, which determines which direction the array sweeps (my term); and the number of instances of the shape there will be along one inward sweep.

4. In the Appearance panel apply to the Path a transform effect of the number of sweeps (from 3) and their incremental rotation, presumably a factor of 360°.

All the variants below, and many more, are formed by changing the angle entered in step 3. Of course, changing any value in any transformation will alter appearance. Requirements of the task, math, and experimentation will determine values. I hope this is of some use to you; it's certainly fun to play with.

Peter

I

iainc48820975

Participant

Hey

Thanks so much for posting this response a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately I'm having trouble following your instructions. The terminology you've used for the effects, etc. seem to be different to what I have in my own version of Illustrator CC.

Is there any way you could post screenshots of your effects panel? It would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

I

iainc48820975

Participant

I'm mainly having trouble making sense of your first three steps. Partly because the terminology seems different from my Illustrator panels, and partly because I can't quite make sense of the screenshots.

Any input would be very much appreciated at this point.

Thanks

Monika Gause

Community Expert

The first 3 steps of what? The answers here are different approaches and unfortunately nobody can figure out who you are replying to.

Please show what you have already accomplished and what you want this to look like.

kphotopage

Legend

Joakimbl,

For patterns of this nature, the best method, I have found over the many years, is the method Peter tromboniator has suggested .

Effect>Distort and Transform>Transform can give you that appearance of a spiral and motion.

The possibilities are endless.

I see your first attempt was to create an ARCHIMEDES' SPIRAL vector path with a Dash stroke.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedean_spiral.

Won’t get you there as you found out and then you wanted to recreate the desire spiral effects below.

Did you use Inkscape for that ARCHIMEDES' SPIRAL???

EZ- Freebie Inkscape- Spiral Tool with 10 Turns and Divergence of 1.

Only work-a-rounds using Illustrator to create ARCHIMEDES' SPIRALS.

K

J

joakimblAuthor

Participating Frequently

I used this script to make the Archimedean spiral:https://github.com/Shanfan/Illustrator-Scripts-Archive/blob/master/jsx/Archimedean%20Spiral.jsx

I must confess that I have studied the sunflower seed pattern extensively, and the only way to create it correctly is to distribute either objects or anchor points around an Archimedean spiral at 137 degrees.

Ray Yorkshire

Participating Frequently

Did you try any of scrips in the Sunflower thread.

Sunflower dot pattern

I liked this one by fruityth1ng post 47

I experimented with size so no overlap, and used a symbol- easy to resize or switch in isolation mode.

tromboniator

Correct answer

Community Expert

I can't begin to figure out an answer to the anchor point distribution question, but I would say that Ray Yorkshire is correct, that this relates directly to the Sunflower problem, which I haven't thought about since that discussion five years ago. I have had an insight today which I missed then, which is that the array only requires the one shape (in this case a rotated square) and three transform effects. This description is for transformation from the outside in.

1. Draw the shape to be replicated in the array.

2. In the Appearance panel apply the transform effect Move to the Fill (or stroke) of the shape, not to the path, either vertical or horizontal, which value will define the diameter of the array.

3. In the Appearance panel apply to the Path a transform effect including scale values less than 100%, horizontal and vertical values equal; rotation angle, which determines which direction the array sweeps (my term); and the number of instances of the shape there will be along one inward sweep.

4. In the Appearance panel apply to the Path a transform effect of the number of sweeps (from 3) and their incremental rotation, presumably a factor of 360°.

All the variants below, and many more, are formed by changing the angle entered in step 3. Of course, changing any value in any transformation will alter appearance. Requirements of the task, math, and experimentation will determine values. I hope this is of some use to you; it's certainly fun to play with.

Peter