Create a Rotatable Globe in Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator has some nifty built in features when it comes to working in three dimensions. This example gives a quick walkthrough on using such features to create a 3D rotatable globe, allowing the earth to be revolved in order to show the desired countries and continents.
One of the first steps is to source a continental layout of the globe in 2D format, follow the recent post; Free Vector Maps and Country Outlines and download the vector world map from MacDaddy.
Open up the map in Illustrator and select the main vector shapes, click the ‘New’ icon in the Symbols palette. With this symbol saved into the palette delete out the shapes.
Draw a circle on the artboard with a blue fill.
With the Direct Selection Tool (White Arrow) select just the right hand point.
Hit delete to remove this point and leave a semi-circle.
With the semi-circle still selected go to Effect > 3D > Revolve.
In the 3D Revolve options change the source to the Right Edge and Surface to Diffuse Shading.
Click the Map Art button and select the previously created symbol of the world map, scale the artwork to fit and also check the Shade Artwork checkbox.
This will leave you with a three dimensional sphere mapped with the continents of the world.
Should you want to adjust the angle of the globe, open up the Appearances palette and double click on the 3D Revolve effect to open back up the options window.
As you can imagine this feature is not limited to maps of the world, imagine the advantage of drawing up a drinks can and being able to place a label design for review.
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April 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Create a Rotatable Globe in Adobe Illustrator…
Adobe Illustrator has some nifty built in features when it comes to working in three dimensions. This example gives a quick walkthrough on using such features to create a 3D rotatable globe, allowing the earth to be revolved in order to show the desire…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Fantastically simple but great effect!! Thanks Chris!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hi, I tried it but when I click on scale to fit I don’t have your result it seems like the top left corner of the symbol is locked in the centre of the map art window and can move only rotate or maximise
Mik
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
nice tutorial! This is a cool effect. Its posible to make an animation like this with two of these globes in different rotations using the blend tool and then exporting the images into a video format.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
On your example part of Alaska is duplicated as island.
Map art should be adjusted to remove duplication.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Thats pretty nifty, I could have done it for my label bottle design instead of using Cinema 4D.
You can see my bottle design outcome here:
Nice tutorial yet again.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
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April 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
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April 24th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Wow…thats pretty cool…never would have thought of that. Illustrator rocks…especially the live trace feature, helps make some really quick and cool art for clients.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:55 am
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April 24th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
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April 25th, 2008 at 8:22 am
gracias………
April 25th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
As always wonderful
Thank you so much I need it for a project I have in mind ;D
April 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
where is the ‘map art’ button?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I like this article very much!
I didn’t know that things you tell in this post!
Thank you for all information, Spoon Graphics!!!
I live your unburdened and useful articles!
<a href=”http://www.noutweb.com/blog” title=”Blog “>Nout van Deijck, Blog (about (web)design, typography, scince and news)
April 30th, 2008 at 4:12 am
[...] Create a Rotatable Globe in Adobe Illustrator - from Spoon Graphics Chris goes through how to make a globe, also useful for creating packaging mockups. [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Wow sir! its really fantastic but i try in flash mx. i don’t know abut Adobe Illustrator…
i want to learn this. plz! help me.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Nice work! I love how well Illustrator makes 3D objects look so smooth.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
This tutorial looks great but I have just spent 4 frustrating hours trying to get the map to “scale to fit”. As soon as I click the button the map scales down so small I can hardly see it and if you try to enlarge it the handles disappear along time before it is anywhere near large enough. I am using Illo CS3, anyone got any ideas?
May 8th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Red: I am having the same problem. I do not get the scaling handles without clicking the “Scale to fit” button, but when I do the artwork becomes too small. I’m also using Adobe Illustrator CS3
May 8th, 2008 at 2:52 am
detailed tutorial.. thanks
May 8th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I’m afraid I can’t help out on the CS3 issues, I suppose it’s about time I got some money together and upgraded!
Chris
May 10th, 2008 at 11:31 am
YAA Gr8!
do suggest the CS3 methoD