How to repeat an object in a circle

Repeating an object round a circle takes one menu command in Vectornation by Zaweba: select it and choose Object > Repeat > Radial. Copies are spaced evenly around a centre, and the repeat stays live, so changing the original changes every copy. The Repeater tool in circle mode does the same job by hand on the canvas.

Radial repeats are everywhere in design: clock faces, flower petals, sunbursts, gear teeth, decorative rosettes, mandalas and the ring of dots or stars around a badge. Building them by rotating copies one at a time is slow, and getting the spacing even takes arithmetic.

Using Object > Repeat > Radial

Draw the single element you want repeated, such as a petal, a tick mark or a star. Select it and choose Object > Repeat > Radial. Vectornation arranges copies in a ring around a centre point, spaced evenly.

Because it's a live repeat, the copies aren't separate objects you have to manage. Edit the original, reshape the petal or change its colour, and every copy around the ring follows. That makes it easy to experiment: try a fatter petal, a different colour, a slight rotation, and see the whole flower change at once.

Object > Repeat also has Grid and Mirror. Grid repeats in rows and columns; Mirror reflects artwork across an axis, which suits symmetrical designs. Radial is the one for circles.

Using the Repeater tool

The Repeater is one of Vectornation's maker tools, and it repeats artwork in a row, a grid or a circle. Choose the circle mode for a radial arrangement. Working on the canvas, it suits quick layouts where you want to place the ring by eye.

Designing good radial artwork

Start with the element pointing away from the centre. A petal or spoke drawn pointing upwards, sitting above where the centre will be, gives the most predictable result.

Think about the count. Fewer copies make a bold, graphic look; many copies make a fine, lace like ring. Twelve suits a clock face, and odd numbers can look more natural for flowers.

Leave space at the centre. Many radial designs look best with a circle, a logo or a word in the middle. Plan for it from the start, so the copies don't crowd it.

Layer repeats. Two or three radial repeats of different elements, one inside another, quickly build a rosette or mandala. Put each on its own layer to keep them easy to select.

Combining with other tools

Use the Multi-side or Starburst tools for the element and you'll have stars of stars. Use a blend between two shapes as the element for graded rings. A radial repeat of a thin line around a circle makes a scale or dial.

For text, path text set on a circle is the better choice. It places letters along the curve while keeping them readable, where a radial repeat would rotate copies of one piece.

Finishing

Remember that a live repeat changes every copy together. If you want individual petals in different colours, work on a copy of the finished design and keep the live version in case you want to change the count later.

For cutting, check that copies don't overlap in ways that would cut into each other. Merge the ring into a single shape with the Pathfinder panel or the Shape builder if needed.

A radial repeat turns one small drawing into a full circular design in a moment. Vectornation by Zaweba keeps it live, so the design can grow as your idea does.