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Basically, I want to draw a “fluttering” banner/ribbon in Illustrator, such that the text follows the curve of the ribbon. There is to be a pseudo-3D effect, where the ribbon doubles back over itself, so that the reverse is visible to viewer as it moves in the opposite direction in front of or behind the previous piece.

Here are some reasonable examples of the effect I want:

Pair of ribbon/banners similar to what I want

My ribbon’s path will be much more complicated than this, but I would be fine with all the edges that double back being vertical (as in the second example).

Unlike these examples, my ribbon switches back and forth many times, and sometimes switches back in front of the preceding section rather than always folding behind.

On the flip side, I don’t need any shading: flat black-and-white would work fine. Maybe with a gray for the reverse sections, but I’m not sure I’d want even that.

My current method has been to draw the top edge of the banner, copy it, and manually offset the copy vertically, to form the bottom edge of the banner. Then a third copy, offset slightly above the bottom edge, to form the path that the text will actually run on. And I have to do this separately for each obverse and reverse section, because of course the reverse sections are frequently going behind other objects that the obverse sections pass in front of.

This process is fine enough, except that any change has to be propagated to all three paths. I also have to manually draw vertical lines connecting the top and bottom paths, and I have to be careful to keep all of the sections aligned.

The offset path option seems like it ought to be able to do something like this (or, at least, do a single section as one path), but none of the options are a simple offset – they are all, ironically, fancier than I need. Even a simple option to have a path automatically get a parallel path offset by some fixed number of pixels would be fine.

As a kind of stretch goal, a good way to handle switch-backs that have the edge angled (as in the first example) would be nice. Even nicer would be a good way to have the ribbon appear “closer” or “farther” from the viewer, with the offset between top and bottom edge, as well as the text font size, growing or shrinking accordingly.

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  • Kind of need to see a rough sample of the type of ribbon you are dealing with. Off-hand.. type on a path set to stair step should work. Worse case an Envelope Distortion.
    – Scott
    Jul 9, 2015 at 20:54
  • @Scott that handles text, not the actual ribbon itself. But what do you mean by "type"? I had thought the examples were fairly clear, short of providing the finished product itself.
    – KRyan
    Jul 9, 2015 at 20:57
  • Oh! I must have misunderstood. You want to create ribbons like these? There's no automated method for that. Some art takes an artist, not merely an application.
    – Scott
    Jul 9, 2015 at 21:04
  • @Scott The mathematical transforms involved are very simple, so it most certainly could be automated. It's just a question of whether or not Illustrator (or a plugin) exposed that functionality.
    – KRyan
    Jul 9, 2015 at 21:09
  • As far as I'm aware, there's nothing on the market that does what you're asking in an automated fashion. Could possibly exist, but I've never seen it in 25+ years.
    – Scott
    Jul 9, 2015 at 21:10

2 Answers 2

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Best way I can think of is using 3D software and then instead of trying to offset the design you can just make a flat pattern to apply as a texture.

I'm not familiar with the OpenSource Blender but in Rhino you would do it with a nurb surface.

Like Scott I know of no way to automate this in Illustrator.

However, I will say if you are attempting it in Illustrator neither one of your ribbons are presented in any form of reality. The parts in the background shouldn't appear to be the same size as the parts in the foreground. The gold backing also appears illuminated when in fact it should have a shadow cast on it -- at least on the three sections that are on the bottom.

One thing you might try doing is getting an actual ribbon from an art supply store / craft store. Sketching a line down each edge. Curve it roughly how you want it to look then photograph or scan it into the computer. That would at least give you a good foundation to then reference and trace.

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  • Re: reality, yes, definitely going for a stylized view. In particular, the text is going to remain only on the sections where it is visible (and not mirrored), and the sizing issue is not one that concerns me.
    – KRyan
    Jul 9, 2015 at 21:55
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While at a glance what you are asking may seem like a simple math-based solution, the reality is you are seeking three-dimensional automation to which will generate spacial settings so they appear correct on a two dimensional plane.

While you can certainly use 3D or 2D software to create ribbons, I've never seen anything which will automatically configure spacial definitions.

In the end, some art takes an artists eye and software is just a tool. It won't create things for you. After all there's not a hammer made that can build a house for you.

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  • What I am looking for really is quite simple, so I suspect I have explained myself poorly. However, it may be that there really isn't an automated solution, whether because of hidden technical problems or just because no one has bothered. That being the case, improvements to my process, if you have any, would also be appreciated. If they're about as good as can be done, though, this is a fine answer. I just wanted to make sure the question was clear.
    – KRyan
    Jul 9, 2015 at 21:34

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