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I'd like the fins to follow the back, start small, get bigger in the middle, then get smaller again at the tail. Basically think stegosaurus, but globbier. I've made the shape I'd like them to be, and tried making it a pattern brush as well as a scatter brush, but nothing seems to be achieving what I want
the pattern brush just makes them one size, and spaced exactly the same. The scatter brush kinda does the same thing. I've tried changing the spacing size and rotation on it to "bearing"thinking it would then follow the path and I hoped do what I want, but it seems to do nothibg
any advice would be greatly appreciated
 
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pen tool, trace a stegosaurus, and draw the lines. use layers.
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The stegosaurus was more of a rough example of how I want the fins to follow a path and get wider, then smaller
The actual creature I'm working on is far more snakelike and has a lot more curves
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the width tool will allow you to make lines wider and achieve more custom look to your lines.
want to show some screenshots as you go, we can advice you more.
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The width tool! That may be exactly the solution I need. I should have thought of that
I'm at work at the moment and away from my computer, but I'm looking forward to trying that as soon as I get gone, and I'll def send some screenshots later tonight
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Can you show your original monster and perhaps a sketch that may explain the desired result?
Also, which version of Illustrator are you using?
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I can def do that when I get home. A few others have suggested the width tool, which may be the easiest way
not sure the exact version, but I can check that too
i did have some success by using a pattern brush, changing the spacing and size and then extracting and resizing everything by hand, but the width tool may be much more efficient
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how about pattern brush with width tool?
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That may be exactly the thing I need to do. I totally forgot about the width tool
will try that as soon as I get home
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problem i personally have with a patter brush is that its a pattern... so your eye quickly will figure out the repetition. versus i like making it look hand made with no pattern... more freehand.
is that what you are after, to make it look like its hand drawn?
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You could perhaps make them into a symbol, then place them (not spray them) one by one, and size and rotate as needed.
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for main stroke you can try two ways:
stroke panel
round cap and navigate the profile options.
or brushes panel try the round brush or oval with small width.
for inside lines try to draw some lines
draf them to the brushes panel, choose art brush
then with brush tool choose the brush you have created and make the inside lines.