Hello,
I am trying to figure out how to make the ticks/legends (whatever they are called) that typically go around synthesizer knobs to indicate the value. Like this (see array of thin white/black lines):
I would like to have them in vector so I guess making them in adobe illustrator is the only way to go… Can anyone give me some tips how to make such array, which tool to use? I am rather beginner with illustrator.
Thanks.
It’s not difficult but a little complicated to describe to someone new to Illustrator, so forgive me if I’m being too simplistic.
Draw a line with the Pen Tool (Click once, hold Shift and click again to get a straight up and down line). This will be your first “tick” at say, 12 o’clock.
Turn on Smart Guides (Ctrl+U).
Keep the line selected and then choose the Rotate Tool (looks like a circular dotted arrow). While holding down Alt, click where you want the centre of rotation to be, making sure you use the Smart Guide to keep everything straight. A dialog will open allowing you to enter the angle of rotation. Once entered, click Copy.
Finally, press Ctrl+D as many times as you need to repeat the copy.
It might be helpful to draw a circle as a guide. Obviously you have to work out how many ticks you want and divide that number into 360 degrees to get your angle of rotation. You can edit the size of the stroke, remove ticks or rotate them all afterwards if necessary. The Rotate Tool is normally used by simply selecting it, which automatically centres on the object selected, then you simply click and drag.
You could also use “blend” as well and have the blend occur along a path… But that may be too advanced? IDK
Create your initial object on one side of the knob, then copy it by mirroring it and place it on the other side.
Now create a path (half of a circle, so create a circle and delete a node: you can do this easily by using the Direct Selection Tool and selecting the little point and just pressing delete).
Now select the objects that you want to create the ticks from and select from the main menu at the top: “Object” “blend” “make” - you can adjust how many tick marks later.
Once you have the blend object done - select it and the arc - Now select “Object” “Blend” “Replace Spine”. Voila! Ticks along an arc.
If you need to edit how many ticks or how the follow the path - go to “Object” “Blend” and “Blend Options” - this will give you total control on how the objects orient themselves along the path and how many tick marks you need. This is especially great if you are trying to have this type of stuff along a squiggly line or need to adjust things later (like the ticks changing color from one side to another).
Not that the other method was wrong - it’s just editability is rather clunky if you do it that way. This way is much more user friendly - especially if you are unsure of how many tick marks you need.
There are always many ways to skin a cat in Illustrator, thankfully, but I’m not sure I agree about the " clunky editability" of it. A lot depends on what you want to edit and how many tools and steps you want to employ but, yes, a blend does the job too. 
Thanks for that. However I couldn’t quite get it right. The tick is not banking along the path. I included an image to show it.
Double click on the Blend Tool and in the dialog you will see two little icons; one has the ticks all parallel, the other perpendicular to the path, just click on the other one.
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