In this chapter, we describe how to get the most out of type and how to turn Illustrator from a glorified word-processor into an astounding typemodifying tool that can do just about anything to type, such as put it on irregularly shaped paths, wrap it around objects, give it an irregular shape, and put objects in it — and that’s just for openers.
Typing on a Path
Many people think that Illustrator is paths. A path is a series of anchor points and straight and curved line segments that define shapes. And putting type on a path has long been one of the greatest capabilities of Illustrator. That said, you’re up against a bizarre learning curve when using type in Illustrator. Initially, getting the type onto the path is pretty straightforward — but manipulating the type after that is a bit harder, and the effort required, such as for putting type on both sides of a circle, is downright silly.
Getting type to stick to a slippery slope
To place type on a path, follow these steps:
1. Select the Pen or Pencil tool from the Toolbox. Using the Pen or Pencil tool, create the path on which you want to place your type.Don’t be concerned with the fill and stroke of the path; they become invisible as soon as you type on the path.
2. Select the Path Type tool from the Toolbox. The Path Type tool is hidden in the Type toolslot.
3.Click the path at the place where you want the text to begin. A blinking insertion point appears at that juncture.
4. Start typing. The text runs along the path while you type. When you’re done typing, select the regular Selection tool. After the type appears, you can edit it just as you would edit regular type — with the exception that the type is stuck to your path.
However, with the type attached to the path, you can move the type along the path in either direction. Just follow these steps:
1. Using an arrow Selection tool, click the path that contains the path type.
An I-beam cursor appears at the left edge of the type.
2. Click the I-beam and drag it along the path.
The type moves while you drag.
3. Release the mouse button when the type is where you want it.
Be careful when you drag the I-beam cursor along the path. If you accidentally move the tip of your cursor below the path, the type flips upside down on the path. (As industry wags say of weird stuff that consistently happens onscreen, “That’s a feature, not a bug!” In this case, it is a feature, believe it or not.) Don’t panic; just move the cursor back above the path and watch while the type rights itself.
Press the Alt key (Option on a Mac) to duplicate text while you drag it along a path. Doing so duplicates both the type and the path. (Even though you don’t actually see the duplicated path, it’s there.) In the next section, you find out how to use this technique to create type on both the top and bottom of a circle.
Illustrator for Dummies
Ted Alspach
Group Product Manager, Illustration
Products,Adobe Systems, Inc.
Barbara Obermeier
Coauthor of Photoshop 6 For Dummies
Typing on a Path
Many people think that Illustrator is paths. A path is a series of anchor points and straight and curved line segments that define shapes. And putting type on a path has long been one of the greatest capabilities of Illustrator. That said, you’re up against a bizarre learning curve when using type in Illustrator. Initially, getting the type onto the path is pretty straightforward — but manipulating the type after that is a bit harder, and the effort required, such as for putting type on both sides of a circle, is downright silly.
Getting type to stick to a slippery slope
To place type on a path, follow these steps:
1. Select the Pen or Pencil tool from the Toolbox. Using the Pen or Pencil tool, create the path on which you want to place your type.Don’t be concerned with the fill and stroke of the path; they become invisible as soon as you type on the path.
2. Select the Path Type tool from the Toolbox. The Path Type tool is hidden in the Type toolslot.
3.Click the path at the place where you want the text to begin. A blinking insertion point appears at that juncture.
4. Start typing. The text runs along the path while you type. When you’re done typing, select the regular Selection tool. After the type appears, you can edit it just as you would edit regular type — with the exception that the type is stuck to your path.
However, with the type attached to the path, you can move the type along the path in either direction. Just follow these steps:
1. Using an arrow Selection tool, click the path that contains the path type.
An I-beam cursor appears at the left edge of the type.
2. Click the I-beam and drag it along the path.
The type moves while you drag.
3. Release the mouse button when the type is where you want it.
Be careful when you drag the I-beam cursor along the path. If you accidentally move the tip of your cursor below the path, the type flips upside down on the path. (As industry wags say of weird stuff that consistently happens onscreen, “That’s a feature, not a bug!” In this case, it is a feature, believe it or not.) Don’t panic; just move the cursor back above the path and watch while the type rights itself.
Press the Alt key (Option on a Mac) to duplicate text while you drag it along a path. Doing so duplicates both the type and the path. (Even though you don’t actually see the duplicated path, it’s there.) In the next section, you find out how to use this technique to create type on both the top and bottom of a circle.
Illustrator for Dummies
Ted Alspach
Group Product Manager, Illustration
Products,Adobe Systems, Inc.
Barbara Obermeier
Coauthor of Photoshop 6 For Dummies
Studying Advanced Typography
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