Zigzag fill path in Illustrator
The zigzag plug-in can be used with a fill - this is set via the toolbox or the option bar (the path can also have a fill and a stroke, they are not opposites)
Zigzag stroke path in Illustrator
In many ways, the stroke path option is more effective than a fill zigzag. Set the stroke color to brown etc and set the fill to no fill via the Illustrator toolbox. You can also then combine the stroke with the new width profile / width tool in CS5
Zigzag of separate paths in Illustrator
The zigzag can be a complete path but it can also be made up of separate elements, the zigzag elements can be randomly colored, colored with swatches (such as gradients) and more. The second example shows the zigzag colors change from the yellow to inverted blue color. The color can be set to approach a swatch color or black or white or fade color.
The zigzag colors can be made to alternate from basic color to black to basic color as well as other alternate settings such as swatches and white and fade.
Zigzag path types - 60 different types for Illustrator
The zigzags can be triangles but the plug-in comes with approx 60 different zigzag types including block types, step types, sharp edges and more.
The zigzag plug-in can also be set to alternate different zigzag elements, the first element being a small triangle, the second zigzag element the step zigzag and so on. The plug-in can be set to approx 3600 zigzag designs (combining with the scaling and jittering and more, 1000s and 1000s more designs can be created).
Zigzag elements in Illustrator / jitter and stroke weights
The plug-in default is 10 zigzag elements but 30, 50, 100 etc zigzag elements can be generated in a single zigzag drag, the range is defined by the start point and the release point of the mouse.
The zigzag can a single path or it can be separated paths, the separate paths can be randomly stroked with different stroke weights creating thick and thin lines. The zigzag elements can also be jittered (slight variant of the original color, width etc) creating a subtle color shifts for the zigzag
Drop shadows and Illustrator zigzags
The zigzag can be applied as is but if you want to add some depth to the zigzag, a drop shadow offset zigzag can be created within the plug-in, the zigzag shadow is beneath the original path. The plug-in also comes with a number of pattern and tiling features, the tiling 'attempts' to create a tile of zigzag paths, working best with the mirror options to create stunning colorful tile designs.
Jitter elements can be applied to the path stroke and the position of the zigzag paths, creating abstract designs in seconds, colorful or as above, a black 'letter' set. The zigzag plug-in also comes with many other style settings such as applying random styles (say random 3D designs or sketch effects) as well as randomization of blending modes and randomization of the opacity of the zigzag creating faded mountain ranges as above.
Repeat zigzags
The zigzag plug-in also comes with a repeat / mirror feature to create an identical path a certain distance away from the original (or in the above case, no distance). The second example shows the mirror paths but this time with different stroke round cap and round join attributes applied (perhaps better for some zigzags) as well as setting the repeat color to be black, the original color being orange.
 
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Zigzag Toolbox
The plugin appears in the toolbox, it is not a filter. To use, simply click the document at the start position and drag to an end point, the outline of the zigzag will be shown, release to create.
Mirror feature in zigzag tool
The mirror feature can be further extended by separating the zigzag elements and applying a weave setting where the path is positioned above and below the other elements of the mirrored zigzag to create many different weave zigzag designs + celtic-like designs and much more. Works best with an alternating color scheme to highlight the weave (though the paths can be the same color and any additional elements can be applied later). The weave options include alternating each third element, randomized weave and others. The second example shows the basic curve feature where the direction points are modified to curve the zigzag lines, this can be applied to all 3600 or so zigzag designs
Zigzag types \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Use the plug-in to create the following (and there are many more designs than the ones below):
Randomized zigzags,
Indian themed zigzags,
Alternating zigzags.
Abstract zigzag designs,
Alien zigzag designs,
Pattern zigzag designs,
Extreme zigzags,
Square zigzags,
Triangular zigzags, Curved zigzags,
Overlapped zigzags,
Pulsed zigzags,
Thin line zigzags,
Multi-repeat zigzags,
Hi-frequency zigzags,
Pattern zigzags, Colorful zigzags,
Unusual zigzags,
Sketchy zigzags,
Subtle zigzags and more possible creative zigzag designs.
Color settings for zigzags in Illustrator
Many different color settings can be applied such as alternate reduced color and alternate invert The mirror option can be applied multiple times creating complex zigzag designs. The paths can be offset a certain distance up and down as well as other transformations applied. Different zigzag mirror designs can be created by increasing or decreasing the size of the bounding box for the drag of the zigzag, as above, the red lines are overlapping the black lines of the zigzag
Interactive Zigzag
Toolbox plugin, very interactive, very powerful
Many options included in zigzag plugin
All the options for the plugin can be found simply by double clicking or pressing return while the plugin toolbox icon is active
Colorful zigzags
The plugin comes with many features such as random fill applied to the zigzag or the individual elements, random coloring of the stroke, opacity settings, jitter of fill so if the initial is red, subsequent zigzags will be variants of red. Many additional color settings
Brushes applied to zigzag path
You can apply a brush stroke to the zigzag path or you can drag the zigzag to the brushes palette and save the zigzag path as a brush
Multiple zigzag types for Illustrator
The plugin comes with 60 or so types of zigzag from sharp zigzags to square to intense zigzags. You can use the same zigzag type for the zigzag or you can vary the alternate 'zag' creating 1000s of different types of zigzag designs
Randomization and zigzag plugin
The plugin can be used with or without randomization of elements. You can randomize the colors etc but you can also randomize each component of the zigzag, add jitter to the position and much more. Use randomization to create truly unique and totally impossible to imagine zigzag designs
Basic paths created by zigzag plugin
The generated zigzag is a basic path and can be converted into 3D designs, scribble applied, graphic styles applied and much more. The path can also be tweaked, modified, punk and bloated and much more
Zigzags use
Use for backgrounds, border elements, mirrored designs, frames, packaging and much more
Presets and zigzag Illustrator plug-in
The zigzag plug-in comes with a selection of presets / zigzag settings. The latest version includes additional layer / weave presets. The initial setting is the 'reset', select this and all the plug-in settings will be returned to the factory default values.
Curve zigzags
Apply curvature to the zigzags. The curvature of the zigzag can also be randomized creating different wavy sections of the zigzag depending on the curvature settings.
Layer/weave - zigzag tool
Plug-in comes with a selection of options to place zigzag elements above and below each other, creating colorful celtic-life / weave designs. Options include varying alternate colors such as alternate color / black or alternate color / faded color + layer options to place the alternate paths beneath or above mirrored generated paths. Use to create complex zigzag designs. The designs are great for use as brushes or symbols as well. The symbols set includes a few examples + a number of weave presets have been added. The layer / weave feature works best with paths with only a path stroke and not the fill.
Demo
The demo displays only in outline. Releasing the mouse will remove the generated zigzag. However, if you keep the 'factory default' initial setting, the zigzag is created and remains after releasing the mouse. To use the demo, please pre-select the fill and stroke for the path.
Additional zizgag examples for Illustrator
Designs created using the zigzag plugin in Illustrator
The plugin can be used to create a near infinite set of different designs. The plugin comes with a basic 3600 combo set of zigzag designs but combining that with all the other settings - millions and millions of zigzag shapes can be created for use as dividers, frames, background, fabric designs, fashions and more
Zigzag plugin tool designs
Zigzag artwork - created using the plugin tool
Zigzag lines for Illustrator examples
Zigzag line tool for Illustrator - dividers / edges etc
Zigzag shapes examples created using the zigzag tool |
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