In Photoshop;
1.Create a new layer above the background layer.
2.Draw out your shape on the new layer.
3.Ctrl+click the layer in the Layer palette.(This will select all non-transparent pixels on that layer, ie. the shape you created.)
4.Edit menu/Free Transform(Ctrl+T)
5.Shift+click on the center point, and drag the point down below the shape.(This sets the center point for the rotation)
6.On the option bar at the top, go to the Set Rotation box (little triangle) and enter: 45. Press Enter twice.
7.Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T seven times and press Enter twice.
8.Ctrl+D to de-select.

Note: After step 6, if you deselect (Ctrl+D) the shape, a new layer will be created for each iteration of step 7(Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T), which can later merge, ..or not!

This is just a basic. You can mess around with different transforms (scale,skew,move, etc), with different shapes, and different rotaion settings. You can come up with some pretty interesting creations. This method can also easily be set up to be Action.

In Illustrator: One of many methods
1.Draw out your shape.
2.Select the shape with the Select tool.
3.Select the Rotation tool from the tool palette.
4.Click below the shape to set the center of the rotation.
5.Click anywhere and move around the center point(origin). (This is a two step process, where the first click sets the center and the next click is to drag the rotation)
6.If you hold down the Alt key while rotating, a copy of the shape will be made when you release the mouse button. To continue release Alt and press the mouse button again.
7.If you hold down the Alt+Shift keys while rotating, the shape will snap at 45 degree increments. A copy of the shape will be made when you release the mouse button. To continue release Alt+Shift and press the mouse button again

Message edited on: 05/04/2005 13:16