Adobe Illustrator is a powerful design software that offers endless possibilities for creating captivating visuals, including the customization of text. You can outline text within their projects by following a few simple steps.
My name is Kerry and I’m here to share some tricks as to best use Adobe Illustrator! Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to expand your skill set or a beginner eager to explore the world of design, this tutorial will equip you with a range of essential skills that will elevate your creative abilities.
In this article, I will review the steps to outline text in Adobe Illustrator.
Let’s get going!
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Outlining text allows for the shape of the font to not be altered when sharing or printing a file. It maintains the integrity of the design.
- You can highlight text and then choose the Type button from the top menu and then Create Outline to simply outline text.
- Designers can also utilize keyboard shortcuts that will outline text super quickly.
Why Should I Outline Text?
If you are curious as to why you should outline text in a project, you aren’t alone! An outlined piece of text is essentially a vector shape that is created by tracing it. You may need to do this if you are using a font that is not widely utilized and wants to ensure that it remains consistent when sharing your file.
Another benefit to creating outlined text is that it can be scaled without jeopardizing image quality, which is great when you want to print your projects. However, it is important to note that when text is converted to an outline, editing/changing font size is not possible.
How to Outline Text in Adobe Illustrator
As stated above, once you outline your font, it won’t change its shape or appearance.
Here are the steps to outline text in Adobe Illustrator:
Step 1: Open up a new workspace or an existing file that you want to use for your project.
Step 2: On the left side of the screen, in the main toolbar you can navigate to the Type button.
Click on it and then where you want to set your text on the project. Type in the words or phrases that you want to include!
If you would like to change the color or other properties of your text, while you are in the Type tool, another toolbox will appear on the side of your screen. Here you can change the color of the font, size, opacity, and overall style of your text.
Step 3: Once you have text in your project, use the select tool (arrow) from the main toolbox and select the font you want to outline.
Step 4: Navigate to the top toolbar and select Type. There will be a dropdown menu where you will see the option to Create Outlines.
Click on it and you will see that your text now has a blue outline around the letters.
Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your outlined text design, you can save and share your file. Navigate to the File button from the menu, then choose Save As to save the project in a format of your choice, such as JPEG, PNG, or PDF.
Pretty simple, huh?
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Command + Shift + O (Mac) for quicker access.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the art of outlining text in Adobe Illustrator unlocks a world of creative possibilities. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can transform plain text into captivating designs that grab attention and make a lasting impression.
We would love to hear from you! Do you have any tips or tricks for outlining text in Adobe Illustrator? Please share your resources, thoughts, and advice in the comments down below!