Welcome back! Today, I’m going to show you how to create realistic elastic bands for your digital planners using Affinity Publisher. This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the process, from creating the gradient that gives the elastic its texture, to adding a pen for that extra touch of realism. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Lose the Clasp
Before we begin creating the elastic band, you need to remove any existing clasp mechanism from your planner. This will allow us to add the elastic band as the closing mechanism.
Step 2: Create a Gradient
To start, we need to create a gradient that mimics the ribbed texture of elastic.
- Create a Disposable Shape: Draw a simple shape that we’ll use temporarily to create our gradient.
- Apply the Gradient Tool: Select the gradient tool and drag from the top to the bottom of your shape. You’ll see two gradient points—one at the top and one at the bottom.
- Add Additional Gradient Points: Elastic has a ribbed texture, so we need to add more points to the gradient. Click on the midpoint to create additional points. Continue adding points until you have 17 in total.
Step 3: Define Global Colours
With the gradient points in place, we now need to add colour:
- Create Global Colours: Go to the Swatches panel and add a Global Colour. Name the first one “Dark” and choose a dark shade. Then, create another Global Colour, “Light,” and choose a lighter complementary shade.
- Apply Colours to Gradient Points: Alternate between the dark and light colours as you apply them to the gradient points. This creates the ribbed effect.
Step 4: Save the Gradient
Once you’re satisfied with the gradient:
- Add to Document Palette: Switch back to the move tool, select your shape, and add the gradient to your document palette as a fill. Rename it to something descriptive like “Elastic - Purple.”
Step 5: Create the Elastic Band
Now that we have our gradient saved:
- Draw a New Shape: Create a new shape to represent the elastic band.
- Apply the Gradient: Use the gradient tool to apply the gradient horizontally across the shape (left to right). This will give the appearance of an elastic band holding the planner together.
Step 6: Adjust and Duplicate
For more versatility:
- Edit Global Colours: If you want a different colour, simply edit the Global Colours you created earlier. For instance, change the dark colour to a dark green, and the light colour to a complementary light green.
- Save New Gradients: Add the new gradient to your document palette, allowing you to switch between different elastic colours quickly.
Step 7: Rotate and Position
To give your planner a different look:
- Rotate the Elastic: Hold the shift key and rotate the elastic band 90 degrees, positioning it like a traveller’s journal.
- Add a Pen for Realism: You can enhance the realism by adding a pen. Import a pen image and place it near the elastic band.
Step 8: Fine-Tune the Details
To blend the pen with the elastic band:
- Layer the Pen and Elastic: Ensure the pen’s clip appears over the elastic band by adjusting the layers.
- Add an Outer Shadow: Apply an outer shadow to the pen to add depth, making it look more realistic.
Recap
- Create a gradient with 17 points to mimic the ribbed texture of elastic
- Save the gradient to your document palette for easy reuse
- Draw a shape, apply the gradient, and position it as an elastic band
- Rotate the elastic for different looks and add a pen for realism
- Adjust layers and add shadows to blend elements together seamlessly
That’s it! You now have a realistic elastic band for your digital planner. If you enjoyed this tutorial and want more tips and tricks, be sure to check out my free training at elainegiles.com/vip. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell on my YouTube channel to stay updated with my latest tutorials.
If you have any requests for specific tutorials, feel free to reach out - I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading and watching, and see you next time!
