Creating a Mandala in Illustrator Step by Step

[@ALMBusinessInstitute]

Thank you for a REAL guided tutorial. It's hard to learn without instructions and crazy music playing while you're trying to follow along.

[@ploppens1]

Fantastic tutorial. Really clear. Before watching this I was struggling with my 'slice', never thought about the stroke being a contributing factor (slaps forehead) . Thanks for sharing

[@unacceptableknottyprofesso7782]

For creating the pie slice, I found it was easier to open the polar grid group, expand the intersecting lines by selecting all of them and then grabbing one of the corner points and enlarge while pressing the alt (option for mac? - I am a windows guy) and shift to expand beyond the circle. Then I used the shape builder tool on just the one upper left pie slice and then I selected all of the other ones while pressing the alt (option for mac - see note above) to remove all of the other slices. Then you just have to delete any extraneous line pieces that may remain. More accurate than trying to guess where to put the anchor point on the arc and then you are left with all those funky little bits and pieces that you have to delete anyway. Mic volume definitely needed to be boosted for this video.

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@sleepyslothqueen]

I made my first successful mandala in day 2 playing with Illustrator, thank you for this tutorial!

[@SupaPoopaScoopa]

Great tutorial, though from a design point of view I think the power to preview and assess your decisions while working is far more valuable than being able to clip it.

[@geraldineleleannec8351]

Great tutorial, works hand in hand when illustrator open. Many thanks

[@semperidem2577]

I'm not sure if this was an option back in 2017 but now you can align a stroke to the inside, outside or the centre of a path, so the stroke problem that you start mentioning at 7:08 can be avoided by having the stroke set to align to the inside of the path.

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@ShaunDVine]

Thank you this is a very helpful tutorial. Really simple way to make mandalas.

[@MultiDONTSTOPME]

BEST TUTORIAL FOR MANDALA! THANX A LOT!

[@josabogal]

Hi! After I create the mandala, how do I prep the file for laser cutting? Everything is masked off and not outlined..any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[@chillibibi]

enjoyed this tut, well explained. Def not for beginners. Thanks

[@paintslingerX]

THANK YOU!!!! Soooo much!

[@farfadet2222]

best tutorial for mandala. Thanks

[@michaelklepacz]

What are you doing exactly when you erase part of an object to layer it over something? Example 22:24 thank you.

[@GlenGramling]

I'm using the Blob Brush to make a white shape, then putting it under the object to block visibility to the layers below.

[@user-kb1pj7iu6j]

Amazing. Can't thank you enough.

[@Pankaj-Verma-]

Great Technique.

[@craigbruce1973]

Thanks for the Tutorial Glen. Any reason why my Mandala Slice Symbol keeps changing whenever I exit the Mandala drawing mode? Whenever I check the drawing and go back into Mandala Drawing symbol the image has moved several inches off the top of my page. Many thanks

[@GlenGramling]

Craig Bruce I think it’s a glitch in the matrix. That seems to happen to everyone so, I’m guessing it’s an AI bug. Just don’t move it manually or you’ll mess up the alignment.

[@craigbruce1973]

Thanks Glen, appreciate the reply. I managed to work around it by using cmd z to come out of the preview. Image then stayed in place ;-)

[@zrbx]

thanks. I was having the same issue.

[@jeffersonsilva6865]

Thank you bro, that really helped me

[@GRIIIDLOCK]

Hi, thanks for this although I seem to keep getting a blank space on the right hand side of the slice, I am following all that you say. do notice though that when creating the spiral that my central point is skewed and the 3 points do not align correctly. i presume this is where the issue comes in. any tips?

[@blondieandgoldie2438]

Great video! how do you colour the mandala in? I am trying to fill in the colours but having a few problems....

[@lotosland]

Lucks very good. Is it possible to subtract all parts of the pictures from the cliping mask?

[@sourcekey3294]

For some reason, I see thin white lines between each segment when I use reflect to fill in the missing spaces. I'm sure I'm not moving any of the shapes, because, I'm only selecting from the layers palette. Any suggestions? Happens every time I get to that step.

[@GlenGramling]

Source Key I’ve found that this happens sometimes as a display issue. Does the line go away when you zoom in? Also try exporting for screens, with it set to art optimized.

[@sourcekey3294]

It was just a display issue. This helped a lot thanks so much!

[@corbecktechnologies3091]

i really want to get this to work.. but I cant get it without spacing ;/

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@theboytheycalljonny1]

Fantastic. Thank you!

[@sourcekey3294]

At 19:40 how did you hide only part of the circle behind the leaf pattern to create the image at 19:44?

[@GlenGramling]

I used the blob brush to paint in a white shape between them. You could also Expand it from a stroke to a fill and use the eraser.

[@sourcekey3294]

Wow! Thanks, I must have watched that part 20 times!

[@take1andpassiton]

Thanks for a great tutorial, would love a tutorial on the illustrator tools use to make this, i guess something a little higher level overview

[@sobiamalik3100]

how to save it as transparent background png ?

[@katelouise2103]

Great tutorial thank you. I'm just wondering if you can show how to save file for printing? I also have grey circle behind my design unsure if I need to get rid of. You were great at explaining! :D

[@GlenGramling]

File>Export>Export For Screens, If you see lines in your mandala after you export go to the little export settings cog and set it to Art Optimized. You can turn off the visibility of the grey circle.

[@katelouise2103]

Thank you so much :D Looking forward to future illustrator tutorials. Peace x

[@versatale]

Brother I have tried time after time to make it, 5 hours straight and I still get some tiny tiny white lines between them, I get 6 of them. Help plz. I did everything as you did

[@Nibbarese7]

I was doing the same, the part where you create an anchor point manually messes up the design so instead of doing it manually you can select the diagonal line and extend it with the scale tool, set the same value for horizontal and vertical and you just delete the excessive part, this lets you have a perfectly set anchor point

[@jenniferanderson9695]

@@Nibbarese7 Hi, I tried it the way you suggested and it is way easier, but I'm still getting 6 tiny white lines. Do you have any suggestions?

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@brahmpreet2105]

hello! i can't seem to get my lines to join? they keep saying that i have to click the ends of the line?

[@tobylischko4571]

I enjoyed the tutorial. But my "slice" does not show up on top of the drawing. It appears higher up partially on and partially off the page. What did I do wrong? Also I have ai CS5.1 I can't find the brush that you used.

[@GlenGramling]

I think this is an illustrator bug, happens to me too.

[@lozzieelizadesigns05]

Such a great video. When i finished making the symbols and started to draw i noticed there was a pixel gap missing of the green background colour. How would i make it that it doesn't happen again 😊

[@jovineespiridion2476]

How can i remove the fill of my final mandala.. thank you 😊

[@favouritesdump]

No matter what I do there's tiny 1 pixel gap between all slices. I can't even.

[@lilypedvin7016]

hi, I've done the tutorial 10000 times and still end up with tiny tiny white lines, I'm sure i haven't moved anything please help

[@GlenGramling]

If you want to post a link to your file I'd be happy to take a look at it.

[@NoelleOfNiDeepDesigns]

@@GlenGramling I am having the same issue, I found it is the clipping mask even though I haven't moved it. Any solution?

[@EricBernal]

Sad, I’m having the same exact problem. Haven’t moved anything. Seems it’s the clipping mask. It leaves white lines in the solid circle. Restarted several times and same issue. Your project looks amazing but for some it’s just not possible.

[@ckb6651]

Thank you for this tutorial, it's been fantastic! I do have couple questions. I like to look at my work between strokes so I use the back arrow in the MandalaDrawing Symbol to view the full circle. Assuming I like what I see, I double click the drawing symbol again and when back to viewing the drawing 'slice' it has moved. Any thoughts on what I may be doing wrong? Undo can certainly fix that, but then I have lost the last stroke created. I'd like to have a template so I don't need to start from scratch on a blank layer 1 every time. Is the best way to do that by saving the symbols and doing something special with layers? Also as others have said, the audio volume is pretty low, it might be something to look into resolving for future recordings. Again, thank you. Your tutorial helped tremendously!

[@GlenGramling]

The symbol moving around I believe is an a bug in AI. Similar to the way text continuously moves up when you apply different envelopes. For a template, I would just save the file with everything set up, you can import and place that into other projects.

[@Nowekian]

ok... we've found the problem, how do i fix it?

[@korsmeenge1695]

Hi Glen, Might I say you have put out one very thorough tutorial. Thanks a heap for this great effort. I ran into an issue that I cant get rid of no matter what: after completing all the steps and going into the "slice" symbol for the first time the silly thing has moved out of position where one would expect it to be. It appears somewhat moved upwards on the artboard, actually partly off the artboard. Now when I draw into the "slice" symbol, hit escape all is well, the mandala grew, no displacement etc, everything matches.. now when I go back into my symbol editing modus, the drawing slice is offsetted again.. I mean it works but it bugs me this effect is present. Any thoughts on what might be the cause? / (My mistake?) Again: very helpful tut and am grateful for your time and expertise

[@GlenGramling]

It does the same thing for me I think it's an illustrator bug. It only seems to happen when you have symbols within symbols.

[@korsmeenge1695]

O Thanks for clearing that up Glen. I guess i'll have to live with that then.. On the other hand, Im concidering using your older approach aswel where theres no symbol in symbol clipping mask and I am able to see live what I'm doing. Think that will be more intuitive for me :) Tho this second version of your approach is neat to :) Thanx A milllion for the share, You're the BOSS

[@korsmeenge1695]

O Darn.. ran into another issue with the Symbol approach.. I'm a tattoo artist, so I'd need ny graphic mandalas to be able to be transformed into outlines when I'm done drawing (I dont do brush strokes but geometric surfaces/mozaic) Im unable to select all the shapes in the final design when I exit symbol editing mode. Is there a workaround for this? Thanx in advance Glen

[@korsmeenge1695]

Hi Glen, i can confirm its not a symbol within symbol issue. using just a symbol displays the same annoying result. Also I must have misunderstood the possibilities of Symbol use: no live updates, so I have to keep going in and out of symbol editing modus?

[@GlenGramling]

You just gave me an Idea! I'll make a video for how to do this this in Photoshop using smart objects. As far as transforming to outlines my easy solution would be to save it out as a jpeg. Then bring that jpeg back into AI and do a live trace on it. I'll look into a different solution for that as well.

[@Iphonevahine]

I've redone the process 10 times... And I still have gaps... When mirroring... 😭

[@GlenGramling]

Try the newer video I have up on the subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@kylebrady3582]

How can i post an image of what I did this week based on your instructions? You are truly thanked!

[@squintywonton79]

I keep getting white lines between the slices, any chance you could help?

[@GlenGramling]

Are they showing up after you save/ export? When you save make sure you have the "Art Optimized" option selected. I've noticed that sometimes the lines show up as a graphic issue but go away once you export your file.

[@emiliemi4841]

Actually I built my mandala in spite of the spaces, and at the moment of recording I have selected this and the lines do not appear at the end, in jpg and png thanks !

[@emiliemi4841]

great tutorial !! however I have a problem... I do everything, i restart many time but .. i always have thin gaps on my "final" grey circle I don't no why ! .. please somebody help me? It's a big deal for the final mandala

[@emiliemi4841]

thanks ! :)

[@emiliemi4841]

Sorry ! i do have my response in Leah Bui Thui comment thanks Glen this method works

[@mamamaple4175]

I have done this tutorial over about 7 times now and I STILL have gaps! What in the heck am I doing wrong?? 😩

[@GlenGramling]

Are the gaps after the save? You may want check put my newest version. I think I’ll delete this one eventually kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@stephanieschwartzel4949]

Your videos have been great but this one the volume is really low and I have everything all the way up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@heatherfidlerartist]

Not good for beginners!!!! I restarted the video 15 times. At that point I was about to cry so.... yeah...

[@GlenGramling]

Is there a specific area you're having issues with? Maybe I can Help?

[@unacceptableknottyprofesso7782]

fav.me/dbil3jw Used this process for the most part to create this one. First drew it up using Illustrator at four different tiers (so I used the concentric rings to define each section) and then copied groups of each ring over to photoshop and applied some styles I have acquired.

[@GlenGramling]

Looks awesome! I haven't tried it but you can pretty much do this same thing in photoshop using Smart Objects instead of symbols.

[@lindsaydrew667]

keep getting gaps, went back and re-did steps and made sure nothing moved.... not sure what i am messing up

[@GlenGramling]

Hi Lindsay, do the gaps go away when you zoom in? sometimes they show up as a display issue. Otherwise I'd keep trying, believe it or not sometimes it take me a few tries to get it right, it's very easy to accidentally move something. If you send me a link to your file I'd be happy to take a look at it.

[@lindsaydrew667]

Thanks so much for the reply. It may be a display issue or maybe I moved it without realizing. I actually started over with a whole new file and it seemed to be fine until I started drawing and the gaps appeared again. here's a google doc you can view if you need to edit to fig it out i can add you privately. Thanks again!! drive.google.com/file/d/0B1GXKO_P7VaxZHBBdDVoUTY0Mms/view?usp=sharing

[@FloraVonB]

Hey Lindsay, I have the same problem. Did you manage to fix it? Hope you or Glen can help!

[@VinylSkillz]

Yoooooo this looks complex as helll lollolol. Ima give it a shot tho. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+Dope Your voice is low maybe a little higher next time?

[@GlenGramling]

Try the newer video I have up on the subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@LesterShipMirOleg1992]

On my side 'Symbols'Options does not include Dynamic nor Static.

[@GlenGramling]

In the long run it doesn't matter. It's really only important when you're importing your symbols into Flash/Animate.

[@andresmarcial6506]

You should explain why you do the things you do, otherwise it's a senseless repetition of steps towards reaching a goal.

[@GlenGramling]

Try the newer video I have up on the subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@andresmarcial6506]

@@GlenGramling Thank you very much

[@asmitadindorkar4568]

How do i zoom by 51000%?

[@FloraVonB]

Hey Glen, amazing tutorial, thank you!! However no matter how often I do this in CC2017, I keep getting this tiny gap between the slices. This translates into the image, as you can see here: drive.google.com/a/spectral.energy/file/d/0ByzSVXSZTFG7bTVWcjNkRDBFdUE/view?usp=sharing Do you have any idea how to fix this? Thank you!!

[@FloraVonB]

Here is also the lllustrator if you like: drive.google.com/a/spectral.energy/file/d/0ByzSVXSZTFG7TUJpUlVmZm05M1U/view?usp=sharing

[@GlenGramling]

Hey Flora, can I see your AI file to trouble shoot?

[@FloraVonB]

I think our answers just crossed each other :) You should have access!

[@GlenGramling]

Okay try this! Change your anti-aliasing to "Art Optimized (Super Sampeling)" you should find it in Format Options when you export for screens. If that doesn't work I have some other ideas.

[@FloraVonB]

That worked! Whoop! Thank you so much! :)

[@lunarpeople]

I think this method of creating mandala has an unfortunate flaw. Not seeing created shapes and backing out of your art, to look at your mandala art is too much of a hassle. There are better ways to draw mandalas clearly seeing what mandala starts to look like. It's a creative approach and certainly teaches how to use the Illustrator, but not how to properly draw a mandala, using one slice technique.

[@GlenGramling]

lunarpeople I know there are apps out there that makes it much easier to make a mandala, unfortunately this is the only way I’ve been able to figure it out in illustrator. If you have another method using adobe illustrator I’d be eager to learn and make a video of it.

[@GlenGramling]

Also I think this is the reason I like using the Photoshop method better, you don't have to keep backing in and out.

[@lunarpeople]

Glen, I am not talking about creating mandalas in the different apps. Illustrator is alright. And it's vector, so a big plus if your mandala goes to print. I don't have time to make tut, but here's a link which I sourced out (for you) and which reflects the way I draw mandala in the Illustrator. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eavPfmyGd7WSqbs see if you like this method, or find it not your style.

[@GlenGramling]

lunarpeople this is great! Thanks. I’ll try to put something together that explains that method a little better. I hate when people say “just click on that, then click on this, then click on that.” Without telling what or why I’m clicking on it.

[@lunarpeople]

Glen Gramling, great! If you can make a better tut with "lyrics" sorta say :), by all means. As far as any tutorial on Mandala style effect in Illustrator , I'd add the line that for those who are not experienced in Illustrator, or simply want to play around, there are certainly easier ways to have fun. I hope Adobe adds this feature to Illustrator some day. Any way you approach this effect, it's complicated enough...

[@christinejohnson6243]

why is there no sound????

[@GlenGramling]

Try the newer video I have up on the subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@mdfarookhossain7980]

sound is low

[@54justfreddie]

Just could not follow this this guy, he totally lost me, he’s made it far more complicated than it needs to be, so off looking for simply easy to follow method, and will give up on this guy, as he makes it a clear as mud to follow what he's doing

[@GlenGramling]

Thanks for the constructive criticism... I have discovered a much easier way to do this though using effects rather than symbols. I'm going to try and make a video this weekend. Perhaps I can redeem myself.

[@Emre-Kaya]

17.00 after very bad, waste of time

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@oddlancertips2002]

you just showed a clumsy process that no one is able to understand fairly.

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@copyboyselim802]

Very annoying videos are a lot of pain videos for beginners

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@noobdude2865]

dagubi has better, easier and precise tutorial for mandala.

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@JKR963]

best tutorial for mandala. Thanks

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM

[@GlenGramling]

Please watch my newer Mandala Video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbYnpaieKasjrM