User Guide Cancel

Add advanced formatting to text

Search
Illustrator

Illustrator

Open on web
  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Common questions
      3. Illustrator system requirements
      4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      3. Create documents
      4. Toolbar
      5. Default keyboard shortcuts
      6. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      7. Introduction to artboards
      8. Manage artboards
      9. Customize the workspace
      10. Properties panel
      11. Set preferences
      12. Touch Workspace
      13. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      14. Undo edits and manage design history
      15. Rotate view
      16. Rulers, grids, and guides
      17. Accessibility in Illustrator
      18. Safe Mode
      19. View artwork
      20. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      21. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      2. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      3. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      4. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
    1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
    2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
    3. Troubleshooting issues FAQ
    4. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
    6. Add and edit text on the web
    7. Apply colors and gradients on the web
    8. Draw and edit paths on the web
    9. Work with cloud documents on the web
    10. Invite collaborators to edit on the web
  4. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  5. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  6. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing and dimensioning
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Image Trace
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
      17. Measure and plot dimensions
    2. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    3. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    4. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    5. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Snap objects to glyph
      6. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      7. Stack objects    
      8. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      9. Copy and duplicate objects
      10. Rotate and reflect objects
      11. Intertwine objects
      12. Create realistic art mockups
    6. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    7. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      3. Manage text area
      4. Fonts and typography
      5. Convert text within images into editable text
      6. Add basic formatting to text
      7. Add advanced formatting to text
      8. Import and export text
      9. Format paragraphs
      10. Special characters
      11. Create type on a path
      12. Character and paragraph styles
      13. Tabs
      14. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      15. Arabic and Hebrew type
      16. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      17. Create 3D text effect
      18. Creative typography designs
      19. Scale and rotate type
      20. Line and character spacing
      21. Hyphenation and line breaks
      22. Spelling and language dictionaries
      23. Format Asian characters
      24. Composers for Asian scripts
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    8. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    9. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  7. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  8. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  9. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  10. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. File issues
    6. Supported file formats
    7. GPU device driver issues
    8. Wacom device issues
    9. DLL file issues
    10. Memory issues
    11. Preferences file issues
    12. Font issues
    13. Printer issues
    14. Share crash report with Adobe
    15. Improve Illustrator performance

Learn how to apply advanced formatting options and unlock the full potential of text formatting in Adobe Illustrator.

Welcome to the world of advanced text formatting in Adobe Illustrator.

Once you've perfected basic text formatting, you can use advanced text formatting techniques to add stunning effects to your text. From applying stylistic sets to using smart punctuation, you'll uncover many techniques to help perfect your text designs.

Read on to learn how to use these advanced formatting options to attain your aspired design outcome.

Apply stylistic sets

You can apply a stylistic set to a selected text block, replacing the default glyphs in the font with the alternate glyphs.

  1. Choose Window > Type > Character Styles or Paragraph Styles.

  2. Select the OpenType Features tab.

  3. Select Stylistic Sets  and choose a set from the list.

    Add stylistic sets to a character style

    You can apply multiple stylistic sets to a range of text. To learn how to apply stylistic sets to a text selection, see Special characters.

Number formatting in OpenType fonts

You can choose different number styles, format fractions, and ordinals in OpenType fonts in Adobe Illustrator. 

Number style

  1. To change the style of existing numbers, select an OpenType font and the characters you want to modify. 

  2. In the OpenType panel, choose an option from the Figures pop‑up menu:

    • Default Figure: Uses the default style for the current font.
    • Tabular Lining: Uses full-height figures of the same widths.
    • Proportional Lining: Uses full-height figures with varying widths.
    • Proportional Oldstyle: Uses varying-height figures with varying widths.
    • Tabular Oldstyle: Uses varying-height figures with fixed, equal widths.

Format fractions and ordinals

You can automatically format ordinal numbers with superscript characters when using an OpenType font.

  1. To change the style formation fractions and ordinals, select an OpenType font and the characters you want to modify.

  2. In the OpenType panel, select the Ordinals button to turn ordinals on and off or the Fractions button to turn on and off fractions.

Use Smart Punctuation

Smart Punctuation enhances the visual appeal of your text. It searches for keyboard punctuation characters and replaces them with ligatures and fractions.

  1. Choose Type > Smart Punctuation after selecting the desired text objects or characters.

  2. Select one or more of the following options:

    • ff, fi, ffi Ligatures: Renders ff, fi, or ffi letter combinations as ligatures.
    • ff, fl, ffl Ligatures: Renders ff, fl, or ffl letter combinations as ligatures.
    • Smart Quotes: Changes straight keyboard quotation marks into curly quotes.
    • Smart Spaces: Eliminates multiple spaces after a period.
    • En, Em Dashes: Replaces a double keyboard dash with an en dash and a triple keyboard dash with an em dash.
    • Ellipses: Replaces three keyboard periods with ellipsis points.
    • Expert Fractions: Replaces distinct characters used to represent fractions with their single-character equivalents.

Convert type to outlines

Select the type object that you want to modify and navigate to Type > Create Outlines.

Modifying a letterform
Modifying a letterform

A. Original type object B. Type converted to outlines, ungrouped, and modified 

Set anti-aliasing options for type

When you save artwork in a bitmap format, Illustrator rasterizes all objects at 72 pixels per inch and applies anti-aliasing to them.

  1. Select the type object, and choose Object > Rasterize.

  2. Choose an anti-aliasing option:

    • None: Applies no anti-aliasing and maintains the hard edges of type when it's rasterized.
    • Art Optimized (Supersampling): Default option that rasterizes all objects, including text objects, by the specified resolution and applies anti-aliasing to them.
    • Type Optimized (Hinted): Applies anti-aliasing that is best suited to type. Anti-aliasing reduces the appearance of jagged edges in the rasterized image and gives type a smoother onscreen appearance.

Creating superscripts or subscripts

Superscript and subscript text (also called superior and inferior text) is the reduced-size text raised or lowered in relation to a font's baseline.

Regular fonts

  1. Select the type that you want to change.

  2. Choose Superscript or Subscript from the Character panel menu.

    Superscript and Subscript options in the Character panel menu
    Superscript and Subscript options in the Character panel menu

OpenType fonts

  1. To change characters to Superscript or Subscript, select the characters and ensure you’ve chosen an OpenType font.

  2. In the OpenType panel, choose an option from the Position pop‑up menu:

    • Default Position: Uses the default position for the current font.
    • Superscript/Superior: Uses raised characters.
    • Subscript/Inferior: Uses lowered characters.
    • Numerator: Uses characters designed as fraction numerators.
    • Denominator: Uses characters designed as fraction denominators.

Specify curly or straight quotes

Typographer’s quotes, often known as curly quotes, blend in with the curves of the font. They're traditionally used for quotation marks and apostrophes. Alternatively, straight quotes traditionally serve as abbreviations for feet and inches.

  1. Choose File > Document Setup, and do one of the following:

    • To use typographer’s quotes, select Use Typographer’s Quotes, choose the language you want, and choose options for Double Quotes and Single Quotes.

    • To use straight quotes, deselect Use Typographer’s Quotes.

Pro tips and tricks

  • While using an OpenType font, select the OpenType panel instead of the Smart Punctuation dialog box to typeset ligatures and fractions.
  • You can’t convert bitmap fonts or outline-protected fonts to outlines.

More like this

Talk to us

If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in Adobe Illustrator Community. We'd love to hear from you.

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans
View quick links
Hide quick links
Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now
Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy