Adobe Illustrator is a robust software used by designers all around the world. It is packed with features that enable the creation of striking designs from the ground up. One crucial skill that every designer should possess is the ability to work with text in Adobe Illustrator. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of incorporating and adjusting text in Adobe Illustrator.
Step One: Set Up Your Document
Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document by clicking on File > New. You can choose the size of your document according to your requirements.
Step Two: Select the Text Tool
To add text, you’ll need to select the Text tool. You can do this by hitting the T key on your keyboard or manually selecting the Text tool icon from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
Step Three: Add Text
There are two ways to add text in Illustrator: Point Type and Area Type. Point Type is used for short chunks of text, while Area Type is used for larger paragraphs.
Point Type
To use Point Type, select the Text tool and click anywhere on your document. Start typing, and the text will begin from the point where you clicked. To finish typing, simply press the Esc key on your keyboard.
Area Type
To use Area Type, select the Text tool and click and drag to create a textbox. Then, start typing your text inside this box. If your text exceeds the size of the box, it will automatically overflow to the next ‘column’. To finish typing, press the Esc key.
Step Four: Adjust Text Settings
You can adjust the font, size, color, and other properties of your text using the top toolbar when the Text tool is selected.
Step Five: Manipulating Text
Adobe Illustrator offers a variety of ways to manipulate text. You can wrap text around objects, along paths, or even inside shapes. Here’s a quick guide on how to do each:
Wrapping Text Around Objects:
First, draw the object around which you want your text to wrap. Then, select your text box and the object, click on Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object.
Text Along a Path:
First, draw the path along which you want your text to follow. Then, select your text box and the path, click on Type > Type on a Path > Type on a Path Options and adjust as necessary.
Text Inside Shapes:
First, draw the shape in which you want to place your text. Then, select your text box and the shape, click on Type > Area Type Options and adjust as necessary.
Conclusion
Understanding how to manipulate text in Adobe Illustrator is a powerful skill that can drastically improve your graphic designs. It allows you to add context to your designs and create more engaging content. Now go ahead and start practicing!
