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1. Open Adobe Illustrator

2. Go to File, New

3. The New Document Window open and here is were you can select/change your document size, color mode and raster effects, then press OK

4. Go to File, Save As and save to your specified location/folder, then press OK.

5. Now that your document is at the appropriate size and that you have saved it, select and hold the rectangle tool on the left hand tool bar. From the “Rectangle Tool” will be a drop down menu. Go down and select the “Ellipse Tool.”

6. To draw a circle, hold down the shift key and drag your mouse to the size of the circle desired.

7. To change the color of a circle, select the “selection tool” (top black arrow) on the tool bar

8. Select the circle and the circle will now have a blue outline

9. At the very bottom of the tool bar, there is a “Stroke” and a “Fill” option. To start with, select the “Stroke” option and double click.

10. The “Color Picker Menu Box” will appear. The “Color Picker Menu Box” allows you to select any color.  Once you have selected a color of your choice, press “OK.”

11.To change the stroke of the circle, use the “Selection Tool” and highlight the circle. Go to Window, Stroke. A Stroke box will open and here is were you can change the weight of the stroke, the end point of the stroke (squared or rounded edge), or if you want a dash line and the size of the space.

12. To copy this circle, highlight it with your “Selection Tool” and hold down “Option” and drag the circle.

13. To fill a circle, by using the “Selection Tool,” highlight the circle, and double click the “Fill” palette at the bottom of the tool bar. The “Color Picker Menu Box” will open and select a color of your choice, press “OK.”

14. If at any time you would like to change the size of your circle, select the “Free “Transform Tool,” and a blue box will appear around the circle. Using your arrow, hold down the shift key and grab any corner of the blue box.  This will allow you to shrink or enlarge the circle.

15. To arrange your circles, you have two options, one: is to create a small pattern and bring it into Photoshop and create a seamless background pattern. Second: to create your own pattern by placing the circles in any position you feel looks or works best.

16. If you want to use option one, create a pattern like the one shown. Copy your pattern and then open Photoshop. Once the New document window opens, press Ok.

17. Paste your pattern into Photoshop. A paste menu box will open and “Smart Object” is selected and press Ok.

18. Go to Edit, Define Pattern.

19. Name your pattern. Then press Ok.

20. Go to File, New. The New document window will open. Name your file, change your document size, resolution and color mode.

21 Go to Edit, Fill.

22. Under Contents-Use, select “Pattern.” Pull the “Custom Patter” drop down menu.

23. Select your pattern. And press Ok.

24. Now, you have a seamless background layout in Photoshop. Now, go to File, Save As. And Save to your specified location.

25. For option two: Go back into Illustrator and select the circle you wish to copy. (Hold down option and drag). You can now rearrange the circles as you wish as seen below.

26. Once you are satisfied with you design, go to File, Save As.

27. Now with either your Seamless Background Pattern or your Pattern constructed in Illustrator, you can now use them within your designs as needed.

Hope you have enjoyed the tutorial! Good luck! And have fun!

My thesis topic dealt with “The Relationship Between Typography and Music.” As graphic designers, it is important to find different outlets for inspiration. For me, music is my inspiration. So for my thesis, I wanted to demonstrate and design a typeface, informational charts representing the “Property of Sound” and “Tones of Music” and how they can be translated into glyphs or typographical treatments which could inspire other designers when designing type.

The question I asked throughout my thesis was “is there a cross culture relationship between typography and music?” I demonstrated my answer of the relationship between music and typography through designing a typeface called Requiem that was inspired from a song by the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

*Requiem, the typeface is available for purchase