Creating 3D Type in Adobe Illustrator

On a new document type your text. Select the type with the Direct Selection tool (this is the second arrow on the pallet over on the left hand side with the arrow tip filled in white). Go to Effect, 3D, Extrude & Bevel. Check the preview box and move that big box around. You’ll be able to see how your text will look without accepting the changes this way. Choose a custom color and you have just created your Custom 3D Text! See examples below:

Click to enlarge

And here is the final(Click to enlarge)

Interlocking Shapes & Letters in Adobe Illustrator

You can use the Pathfinder filter to create interlocking shapes and letters. Here are the instructions to do this:

Draw your stroked only paths or enter your type. (Note: if you are using text remember to create outlines first) For strokes, go to Object, Path, Outline Stroke. Overlap the shapes.

Select all the overlapping objects. Go to the Pathfinder palette (under the window menu) and choose Divide. Now any overlapping areas are defined as separate objects which can be individually filled in.

Use the direct selection tool (the arrow that is filled in white under the main selection tool on the pallet) to select areas to fill in to create an overlapping effect. Remember to change the fill, not the stroke color.

Basic instructions for creating text that is rippled in Adobe Illustrator

Want to learn how to type on a line like this?

It’s so easy! Here are the steps using Adobe Illustrator CS3

Open a blank page

Click on the Paintbrush from your tool pallet. You will want to change the brush style to something a little thicker. You can do this once you click on the paintbrush tool, you should get a new toolbar at the top of your screen. You’ll see something that says “Brush.”  This is where your brush styles are located. I am picking a thicker calligraphy style but you can choose any of these. They are stored under the library in CS3 and you have a ton to pick from (see below and click to enlarge)

Next you just draw your line on the page in the direction you want the words to go. So do something swirly:) Here comes the fun part. Over on your tool pallet you’ll see you have the text tool (T).  If you press down and hold on that you’ll get several other Text Tools. I want you to pick “Type on a path tool.” Now go back to your line and hold your mouse over the line until the symbol changes to a slanted text tool. Now, click your mouse and start typing. You can change your font size and colors here as well if you like. Once you click off of the text and onto another area of your document, the original line will disappear.  Pretty cool right? If you use the Circle tool, it will type around the “Stroke” (line) of the circle. You can do this on any object you place into Adobe Illustrator. If you have questions, just email me at sylwilsonmarketing@yahoo.com