- [Instructor] Here is how you can make dot matrix-inspired
letter forms based upon a grid.
Now I'm using an eight by eight grid of circles,
but the number of grid fields and the shape
of those grid fields is entirely up to you.
So I want to start with a square.
And then from the object menu,
I'll come to path, split into grid.
Eight rows, eight columns.
Make sure the gutter space in both cases is set to zero.
Now it's going to be useful if I know the dimensions
of one of those grid fields.
So I'll just select one, come to the transform panel,
and highlight and copy its width.
I'll now select them all,
come to the effect menu,
and choose convert to shape.
Ellipse.
The size will be absolute.
I will paste in that value that I just copied.
I will now need to expand the result because even
though they look like circles, technically,
they are still squares that have been converted to circles.
So I'll expand the appearance.
Then this next step is optional.
I'll copy with what remains on my art board.
I'll come to the view menu and choose guides, make guides.
Then I'll paste the copy in front,
and I'll make sure that it has no fill
and no stroke.
Now I'll come and get my live paint bucket.
I can click to make a live paint group.
And making sure that black is my color,
I can just come and fill in whichever of those dots
I need to.
And if by mistake you fill in the interior shapes,
you can just move to none and correct that.
But of course, you can fill in the interior shapes
as well, if you want.
So there is my letter C.
I could then just copy that grid
and use it as a template for my other letters.