How to use AG Array in Adobe Illustrator
3 minute readAG Array is an Astute Graphics live effect for creating arrays or grids of artwork. It includes multiple methods of specifying the horizontal and vertical sizes, and can stagger the items as well as switch their stacking order.
As with most live effects, AG Array appears in the main menu under Effect > AG Utilities. It can also be applied directly from the Appearance panel using the “Add New Effect” button at the bottom of the panel.
How to make a live grid array in Adobe Illustrator:
AG Array is part of the VectorScribe plugin from Astute Graphics. If you haven’t tried it before you can try it free for 7 days (no card details required).
In Adobe Illustrator, select the object you want to repeat in a grid.
Now you can either:
Go to the main menu, then to Effect > Additional Effects: AG Utilities > AG Array… to access the AG Array dialog. Or...
Open the Appearance panel and click the FX button > Additional Effects: AG Utilities > AG Array…
In the AG Array dialog you can adjust the Number of Columns and Rows spacing between them. You can choose the Offset spacing to be a relative distance to the next object (as a percentage), or as an absolute value (using your documents’ units), or the total dimensions you want your grid size to be. Enable the preview option to see the effects in real time.
By default the grid is laid out as a grid pattern, but you can enable the Stagger option to stagger your objects by row or column as you would with the native Pattern Maker (for example Brick by row or Brick by column).
The 9-block Orientation square allows you to choose from which point your array will transform.
AG Array also allows you to choose the Stacking Order of your repeats with its easy to use dropdown.
The Edge Only option will only display the repeats along the outermost edges leaving a gap in the center, this option would be useful for borders etc.
This live effect will show in your Appearance panel as AG Array. You can select it at any time to reopen the dialog window and continue making adjustments.
If necessary you can expand this live effect to vector by heading up to Object > Expand Appearance.
Our Astute Graphics AG Array Top Tip: Group your art (even if it's a single path) before applying AG Array, and it won't be broken up after Expand. By adding a protective group to your object, it will stop any fills and strokes separating in the expanding process.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the documentation on AG Array here.
