Ovals round a circle?

**Artyboots** · 10 March 2012, 09:24 PM

Dear Geniuses (pardon my bad Latin),

Senility has set in, and I can no longer remember how to stick ovals around a circle. Need to do this for a client's site, for a gallery (patterns in the little ovals will show large in the middle), but think this is more a graphics question at the moment than a web question. This mock up was done in Illustrator by the client. I know Xara can do this easily, if I could only remember how. Have a feeling i have seen a tut illustrating this, but haven't been able to unearth it. All pointers greatfully appreciated. Thinking it might be a blend, but not sure. Can't persuade things to go round the circle, nor work out how to keep them equidistant. I am such a newb.

Thanks in advance.
Ali

**handrawn** · 10 March 2012, 09:55 PM

that should be Genii or maybe geniae ... maybe

ok got a tutorial somewhere I'll dig it out, if no-one beats me to it first

**gwpriester** · 10 March 2012, 09:55 PM

Create a blend and then attach the blend to the circle.

Note: The blend steps will be centered on the diameter of the circle. But you can increase or decrease the diameter of the circle. The circle around which the ellipses are aligned needs to be a separate circle.

Once you've sorted the steps and size, select the blend path circle and set the outline and fill to none.

**handrawn** · 10 March 2012, 10:21 PM

I knew I could rely on gary... and in case you get stuck - heres how I did it back in the day...

**Artyboots** · 11 March 2012, 12:12 AM

Hello All,

Just wanted to say thank you so much. That was so easy. Knew it was some kind of blend, but couldn't remember why! Really appreciate your taking the time to help me, including with illustrations.

All the best.

Ali

**gwpriester** · 11 March 2012, 01:36 AM

It could also be done as a custom brush stroke. Just make a single oval the brush, then adjust the spacing as needed.

If you use a brush, then you can use the Offset setting to move the ellipses off the circle.