Tips needed

[Shane W]

I'm having all sorts of trouble making good looking tails for my baloons. I can only seem to create triangles instead of the curved look that I like so much. Any hints?

I'm using PC Adobe Illustrator CS

[Thomas Mauer]

Create a single line. The end points have these little help lines attached. Move them around a little and see how the line bends.

Create a second line, move one end point of this line to the end point of the first line. Right-click and create a corner. Then, fiddle around with these help lines till you have what you need.

[Rich Leazer]

I'm having all sorts of trouble making good looking tails for my baloons. I can only seem to create triangles instead of the curved look that I like so much. Any hints?

I'm using PC Adobe Illustrator CS

Hey Shane,

Here are a couple of sites that have step by step tutorials:

http://www.balloontales.com/tips/

http://www.figma.com/howto/psimmons/ps_lettering_01.htm

[Shane W]

Thank's guys, I'll give it a shot when I get home.

[John Schlim Jr]

That's also what I'm struggling with, Shane. I've figured out how to pull tails and then curve them, but I'm just not satisfied with the finished look. Obviously, this is going to take a lot of practice.

[Thomas Mauer]

A good way to create crisp corners is to have the tail overlap the balloon and then use the scissors tool to cut the path where they meet, delete the junk and then right-click on the end points to create a corner. I'm sure this is covered in tutorials, too.

[Shane W]

Damn, after seeing some of the lettering work, I should have bit the bullet and paid to have someone else letter.