User Guide Cancel

Work with type and fonts

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 create and edit text using the Type tool and how to activate Adobe Fonts in Illustrator on the iPad.

From advertisements to street art and from a book cover to a logo, you can create amazing typography in Illustrator on the iPad. A rich font set and advanced typographic features help you quickly create unique typography designs. For greater precision and a smoother experience, you can connect your keyboard or use Apple Pencil.

An image of a set of four logos created for summer festival

Create a text object

  • To create a text object in the horizontal direction, on the left toolbar, tap the Type tool ().
  • To create a text object in the vertical direction, on the left toolbar, double-tap or long press the type tool to view the Vertical Type tool () in the tool options.

Create point and area text

  • Point text is a line of text that begins where you tap and expands as you type characters. The line expands or shrinks as you edit it, but doesn’t wrap to the next line. To create a point text, tap the Type tool. A point text frame is created.
  • Area text (also called paragraph text) uses the boundaries of an object to control the flow of characters, either horizontally or vertically. When the text reaches a boundary, it automatically wraps to fit inside the defined area.
    To create an area text, drag the Type tool to draw a text frame on the canvas. 
The image shows how to create point text on iPad using Apple pencil
Create point text

The image shows how to create area text on iPad using Apple pencil
Create area text

Edit text using contextual widget

After the text object is created, select the text frame to view the contextual widget that has some handy text controls that you use to modify text.

  • Keyboard: Tap to use the virtual keyboard on the screen. You can open the keyboard when you actually need to type your text. You can use the cut, copy, and paste icons visible on the virtual keyboard to copy and paste the text.
  • Letter spacing: Type the spacing you want to have between letters in your text or use slider to set the value.
  • Line spacing: Type the spacing you want to have between lines in your text or use slider to set the value.

View and edit text properties

You can format the text and the font using the text properties available in the Text section of the Properties panel. 

The text properties when you can change font name, font style, and additional options that display when you type
Set text and font properties from Properties panel

  • Font name: Choose a font from the drop-down list. You can browse through thousands of fonts from Adobe Fonts included as part of your Creative Cloud subscription. For details, see Activate fonts. 

Tap the arrow to browse through the font list. Font preview is displayed next to the font name to help you pick the right font quickly. Your recently used fonts are displayed in the Recent section for quick access.

When you tap on a font, the font is applied on the selected text or the text frame. To look for a font, you can type the font name (if you know it already) in the font search field.

  • Font style: Tap to view and change the font style options for the selected font.
  • Font scale: Tap to change the horizontal and vertical scaling of font using sliders.
  • Font size: Specify the size of the font.
  • Line spacing: Specify the spacing between two lines of text.
  • Letter spacing: Specify the spacing between letters in the text.
  • All caps: Tap to convert the all letters in the text to uppercase. Tap again to go back to the previous casing.
  • Small caps: Tap to convert all letters in the text to lowercase. Tap again to go back to the previous casing.
  • Underline text and Strikethrough

See also: Format type.

Change the text frame

With a point or area text selected, you can change the text frame from point to area or vice versa. In the Properties panel, under text options, choose the text frame in the Text Container section.


Align text in a paragraph

Under Paragraph, you can select a suitable option to align and justify your text.

Activate and use Adobe Fonts

Illustrator on the iPad provides a comprehensive typography feature set that helps you find the right font for your artwork. You can access thousands of fonts as well as add your own fonts directly from the Illustrator on the iPad app. The fonts are added to your Creative Cloud library and become available across Creative Cloud apps.

Use fonts styles and learn how to use thousands of fonts provided in Creative Cloud subscription
Browse through the font list

Adobe's subscription-based online fonts library (Adobe Fonts) offers unlimited high-quality fonts from hundreds of type foundries, included for free in most Creative Cloud subscriptions. Browse and activate these fonts instantly from within Illustrator on the iPad or go to fonts.adobe.com. Activated fonts become available for use in all Creative Cloud applications on desktop and mobile.

You can also use variable fonts and color fonts (embedded with colors, patterns, and gradients) to use the latest font technologies to design your text. For more information, see Fonts and typography in Illustrator on the desktop.

See also: Activate fonts on Creative Cloud Mobile

Resolve missing fonts

If a font used in your document is not available on your iPad, Illustrator automatically substitutes the missing font with the nearest matching font available on your iPad. When you open a cloud document that contains fonts not currently available on your device, Illustrator on the iPad automatically activates Adobe Fonts in the background and substitutes the missing font with an identical font.

If you can access the font file, you can instantly add the missing font in the Illustrator app. For details, see Quickly add a missing font.

See also: Resolve missing fonts in desktop applications.

View East Asian type options

To view the formatting options for East Asian characters in the Properties panel, do the following:

  1. Go to Manage App Settings > General.
  2. Select the Enable East Asian type options check box.
  3. In the Placeholder Text drop-down list, choose the dummy text as Japanese (selected automatically when the check box is enabled), Korean, Maru-Maru, or Lorem Ipsum. 

Related resources

Talk to us

Ask the Community

We would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts with the Adobe Illustrator Community.

 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