: How to create warped / distorted line effect in illustrator? I want to know how to create the warped lines like the one in this photo. I am aware of the evelope tool but do not know how

@Murray976

It's actually a bit easier than it may appear...

Although I've used just a flat series of paths here, you can use this same method with just about any artwork, except linked raster images (you must embed rasters for this to work). So if there's some size variation or color variation you'd like in the lines, add it.



All of it in action...

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@Sarah814

Draw a bunch of lines, maybe blend two with a selected number of steps
if you blended, then expand the blend, Ungroup
Select the bunch
go Object > Path > Outline the stroke ; that makes also line widths fluid
go Object > Envelope Distort > make with Mesh; choose dense enough mesh
select a node or several of them by the Direct Selection Tool. Move as you will
add the rest (text A without a stroke, circle as a clipping mask)


NOTE:


the zebra can contain also other patterns than lines. Everything will liquify that is selected to be under the mesh, even a photo (=raster image)
before you start, experiment a little how dense your zebra should be and what is the proper general orientation. If it's too sparse, the overlaid shapes (A in your example) will have too low resolution. The orientation angle affects the visibility of the overlays. See an example:

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