A simple 2-point-path can be transformed into a powerful Pattern Brush. The virtual Climbing Rope may not save your life, but the technique behind this tutorial may help save a lot of time. Let's get started!
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Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Illustrator CS3 (MAC OS, German Version)
- Difficulty Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 30-60 minutes

Step 1
Use the Pen Tool (P) to create a 2-point-path. The handle of the lower anchor point has to be horizontal and the handle of the upper anchor point 45°. Activating the Magnetic Guidelines (Command + U) will help you during this tutorial. The length of the handles affects the look of the rope and can be varied.

Step 2
Duplicate the path, rotate it 180°, and move it until the two paths connect. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the two overlapping anchor points, and join them (Command + J).

Step 3
Duplicate the complete path again, but this time it has to be mirrored (either horizontally or vertically). Connect the two paths and join the overlapping anchor points as you did in Step 2.

Step 4
Duplicate the complete path again to extend your rope even more. Connect and join the anchor points. This curve will be the basic element for the climbing rope.

Step 5
Duplicate the complete path again, but this time the two paths have to overlap 50%. These two paths will be essential for the correct distribution and alignment in Step 6.

Step 6
Paste the basic path several times in-between the two existing ones. Don't worry about the horizontal alignment. The number of curves will affect the look of the climbing rope and more curves will make it look thicker. I used a total of 13 curves in this tutorial.

Step 7
Select All and distribute horizontally centered. It almost looks like a rope now!

Step 8
Convert all the outlines to filled objects (Object > Path > Outline Stroke), create one shape from it (Pathfinder – Add to Shape Area), and release the compound path (Object > Compound Path > Release or press Alt + Shift + Command + 8). You might use the Outline View (Command + Y) to check the result.

Step 9
Remove the outline and everything but 2 rows. Now it's time to connect certain squares to get the typical look of a climbing rope.

Step 10
Use the Outline View (Command + Y) to remove certain parts of the squares.

Step 11
Reconnect the squares as seen below by selecting and joining the equivalent anchor points (Command + J).

Step 12
Duplicate all and move it to the right. Use the Magnetic Guidelines (Command + U) for the perfect distance. To do so the movement has to be performed in two smaller steps. Now it's time to choose the colors of the rope.

Step 13
Extend the rope even more and group everything (Command + G).

Step 14
Duplicate the group and paste it in the background (Command + B) for the new outline. Choose a black outline with rounded corners and convert the outline to a filled object (Object > Path > Outline Stroke).

Step 15
Select all and group it (Command + G). Draw a rectangle and make sure that the left and right side lock at equivalent anchor points of the climbing rope.

Step 16
Select all and create a Clipping Mask (Object > Clipping Mask > Make or press Command + 7). Then use the Pathfinder to remove the hidden parts (Pathfinder > Trim).

Step 17
Select all and create a Pattern Brush (Brushes > New Brush > New Pattern Brush). Use the settings shown below.

Conclusion
Now you can use the Brush Tool (B) or Pen Tool (P) with your created Pattern Brush. Add a drop shadow (Effects > Stylize > Drop Shadow) for a more realistic look. Repeat the tutorial and experiment with the parameters (shape of the 2-point-path, number of paths, colors, outline thickness, etc.) for additional climbing ropes. Have fun creating your own versions!

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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )devDsine November 10th
Thanks Mac!!
I had seen “how to make a rope pattern” tut in another site before, but only premium members can access the entire tutorial. From then I was thinking how to make a rope pattern. You made it simple. And the outcome looks pretty nice.
One request, for tutorials you could have use English versions of Ai.
And sorry for my bad English!
( )margaret November 10th
yeah the German is slightly confusing, but at least all the options are in the same position as their English counterparts and you give us the menu instructions.
( )BUT I love the Übergang in step 2, everything is better when it’s über!
Waasys November 10th
Thank ypu for this great tutorial! really like it!
( )g3niuz November 10th
really useful …
thanks for this ;D
( )Alex Mitchell November 10th
This is fantastic and I really love the amount of detail captured in the end result. I wish I could Ai one of these into RL though, it’s on my shopping list at the moment. Thanks for sharing!
( )designfollow November 10th
great tutorial
thanks
( )margaret November 10th
Great tut, and I can see how some of this will be extremely helpful to me for a new technique for creating celtic knotwork (at the moment I draw it all by hand and use live trace).
I am still waiting on a tut that explains the best way to create all the parts of a pattern brush though. (the four empty windows in the pattern brush window in step 17)
( )Georg Scheibe November 11th
Oh yes, this is a great tutorial!
( )Hegyeli Hunor November 11th
Thanks! Really great tut.
( )I will try it right now!
BetoMX November 11th
Este Tutorial está 5*****
Obrigado.
This tutorial is five star. Tkx!
( )Phelan Riessen November 11th
This gives me some great ideas on how to build a few new font sets using the pattern brush tool. Awesome!
( )dru November 11th
thanks for a great tutorial AND especially for including all the steps!
( )(I have to say that the “see complete tutorial by joining up” strategy of some other tutorials here is somewhat off-putting. )
I would also like to point out that this technique is just as easily performed in Inkscape, the Open source alternative to Illustrator.
dru
Carolyn G November 11th
Amazing tutorial! This has tons of potential for many other uses as well. Thanks so much!
( )