Middle School

Mya N.

The Essential Question
How can we create smooth blends using digital software?

Objective
Students will learn how to create different blends using the specified distance option in Adobe Illustrator.

Materials
computers or laptops, Adobe Illustrator software

Procedures
1. Direct students to open a new letter-size file in Adobe Illustrator.
2. Instruct them to go to the shapes tool located in the toolbar and draw several random shapes on the page using various sizes and colors. They can choose any color for the stroke and fill, although some students may prefer to just blend fill colors with no stroke.
3. Next, students will double-click on the blend tool found in the toolbar and select the option for specified distance. They should use the default distance of 0.0556" for best results.
4. Using the selection tool, ask students to click on the points (dots) of the different shapes and watch the smooth blends that the specified distance tool creates from one shape to another. The random act of using the specified distance tool creates beautiful pieces of abstract art.

Assessment
Students should be able to quickly identify the transitions that take place between the shapes. They may compare and contrast their work using blends with or without strokes and create different effects by clicking on different points on each shape.

Debra Cline is a digital art instructor at Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto, Florida.