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Add text and work with type objects

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Illustrator

Illustrator

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  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
      5. GPU performance
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      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
      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. Trace images
      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
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Expand, group, and ungroup objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic art mockups
    7. 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
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Reflow Viewer
      3. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      4. Manage text area
      5. Fonts and typography
      6. Convert text within images into editable text
      7. Add basic formatting to text
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Import and export text
      10. Format paragraphs
      11. Special characters
      12. Create type on a path
      13. Character and paragraph styles
      14. Tabs
      15. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      16. Arabic and Hebrew type
      17. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      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
    9. 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
    10. 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. Safe mode
    6. File issues
    7. Supported file formats
    8. GPU device driver issues
    9. Wacom device issues
    10. DLL file issues
    11. Memory issues
    12. Preferences file issues
    13. Font issues
    14. Printer issues
    15. Share crash report with Adobe
    16. Improve Illustrator performance

Learn how to add text, work with type objects, and wrap text in your vector art.

Whether you create a logo, brochure, banner, or artwork, you can add text in different ways to enrich your design. You can also delete empty type objects, remove default placeholder text, fill only selected type objects with placeholder text, and wrap text.

Watch this 1 minute 24 seconds video to learn how to create a logo using text in Illustrator. 

Do you want to create a logo? Launch Illustrator now!

Get Started

Add text at a point, in an area or shape, and on a path as per your design requirement:

Image showing how to enter text at a point

Enter text at a point

Image showing how to enter text on a path or shape outline

Enter text on a path

Image showing how to enter text in an area

Enter text in an area

Enter text at a point

Point type is a horizontal or vertical line of text that begins where you click and expands as you enter characters. Each line of text is independent. The line expands or shrinks as you enter or delete the text, but doesn’t wrap to the following line. Follow these steps to enter text at a point:

Add text at any point

  1. Select the Type tool   (T) or the Vertical Type tool  . 

  2. Click anywhere to enter your text. Press Enter or Return to begin a new line of text within the same type object.

  3. Click the Selection tool   (V) to select the type object.

Enter text in an area

Area type (also called paragraph type) uses the boundaries of an object to control the flow of characters, either horizontally or vertically. When the text reaches a border, it automatically wraps to fit inside the defined area. Follow these steps to enter text in any area of your vector art:

  1. Use any of the following ways to define a bounding area:

    Drag to define a bounding area

    Image showing how to drag to define a bounding area

    Select the Rectangle tool   (M) and drag diagonally to create a rectangular object.

    Convert any shape to bounding area

    Image showing how to convert a shape into a bounding area

    Select shape tools such as Ellipse tool  , Polygon tool   or any shape tool to create an object.

  2. Select Area Type tool   or Vertical Area Type tool  .

  3. Click anywhere on the path of your object. Your object is now filled with placeholder text.

  4. Enter your text.

Enter text on a path

You can enter text on any path or shape outline. Follow these steps to learn how:

Add text on any path or shape outline

  1. Draw a path or shape.

  2. Select the Type on a Path tool   or Vertical Type on a Path tool   .

  3. Click at the beginning of the path or at any point on the shape border.

    Your path or the border of your shape is now filled with placeholder text.

  4. Enter your text.

Delete empty type objects from your artwork

Delete unused type objects to reduce the file size thereby making it easy to export or print. You may inadvertently create empty type objects if you select the Type tool   in the artwork area and then choose another tool. Follow these steps to delete empty type objects:

  1. Choose Object > Path > Clean Up.

  2. Select Empty Text Paths.

Remove default placeholder text

Illustrator fills all new type objects with placeholder text. However, follow these steps to disable this default Illustrator behavior:

Fill any area or path with placeholder text
Fill any area or path with placeholder text

  1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Type.

  2. Uncheck Fill New Type Objects With Placeholder Text.

Fill selected type objects with placeholder text

Follow these steps to fill selected objects with placeholder text:

  1. Create a type object or select an existing one on the artboard.

  2. Choose Type > Fill With Placeholder Text.

You can wrap area text around any object, including type objects, imported images, and objects you draw.

Before you proceed, ensure that the type object you want to wrap your text around is:

  • An area type (typed in a box).
  • In the same layer as the wrap object.
  • Located directly under the wrap object in the layer’s hierarchy.
  • If the layer contains multiple type objects, move the objects you don’t want to wrap the text around into another layer or above the wrap object.
Image showing how to wrap text around any object or shape
Wrap text around any object or shape

Wrap text around an object

  1. Select the object or objects around which you want to wrap the text.

  2. Choose Object > Text Wrap > Make.

Unwrap text from an object

  1. Select the object around which your text is wrapped.

  2. Choose Object > Text Wrap > Release.

You can further customize the way you wrap your text by setting the following wrap options.

Set wrap options

You can set wrap options before or after you wrap the text.

Options to wrap text around an object
Options to wrap text around an object

  1. Select the wrap object.

  2. Choose Object > Text Wrap > Text Wrap Options and specify the following options:

    • Offset: Specifies the amount of space between the text and the wrap object. You can enter a positive or negative value.
    • Invert Wrap: Wraps the text around the reverse side of the object.

Update legacy text

Type objects created in Illustrator 10 and earlier are uneditable until you update them for use in later versions. After you update you have access to all the text features in Illustrator CS5 and later releases, such as paragraph and character styles, optical kerning, and full OpenType® font support.

Follow any of these options:

  • While you open the document, select Update when prompted by Illustrator.

  • Choose Type > Legacy Text > Update All Legacy Text.

Follow any of these options:

  • To update the text without creating a copy, select the type object and choose Type > Legacy Text > Update Selected Legacy Text.

    Alternatively, select the text you want to update with Type tool, or double-click the text with the Selection tool and select Update.

  • To preserve the legacy text on a layer below the updated text, select the text with the Type tool or double-click it with the Selection tool and select Copy Text Layer.

If you create a copy of legacy text when you update it, you can use the following commands:

  • Type > Legacy Text > Show Copies or Hide Copies to show or hide the copied text objects.

  • Type > Legacy Text > Select Copies to select copied text objects.

  • Type > Legacy Text > Delete Copies to delete copied text objects.

Tips and tricks

Now that you know how to add text to your artwork, here are a few tips and tricks while you work with text in an area:

  • Do not click an existing object when you work with the Type tool. Doing so converts the type object into Area Type to enter text in an area or Type on a path to enter text on a path. You can lock or hide the object to keep it as it is.
  • Set the bounding box setting to Show Bounding Box. If you cannot see the bounding box, click View > Show Bounding Box.
  • You can use the Area Type tool   to define the bounding area for an object with an open path. Illustrator draws an imaginary line between the ends of the path to define the boundaries.
  • To convert a shape into a text area, make sure to click on the path and not inside the path.

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