HOW TO KEEP TEXT EDITABLE

While there are occasions where you do have to rasterize a text object or convert a text object to an outline, there are many techniques that you can use to keep the text editable. FYI: While we are discussing keeping text editable, these techniques works with any vector shapes.

Object > Envelope Distort (Liquify Tools)

There are three options under the Object > Envelope Distort menu:

Make with Warp....

Instead of using the Warp tools (Warp, Twist, Pucker, Bloat, etc.) in the ToolBar which you can only use if you convert the text to an outline, you can use the Object or Effect menu to create editable text. The Warp tools is best used for shapes and not text.

Select text object  with the Selection tool and then select Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp.... and do the following in the Warp Options dialog box:
NOTE: You have to select the text object and not the text content (i.e, hightlighting the text)

    1. Click on the preview checkbox
    2. Select a style (Arc, etc.)
    3. Set or adjust any additional parameters
    4. Click OK.

NOTE: You can also use the Effect > Warp menu to do the same thing

Make with Mesh...

  1. Select text object  with the Selection tool and then select Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Mesh... and do the following in the Mesh Options dialog box:
    NOTE: You have to select the text object and not the text content (i.e, hightlighting the text)
    1. Click on the preview checkbox
    2. Set the number of rows and columns
    3. Click OK
  2. Use the Direct Selection tools to modify points on mesh.

Make with Top Object

This will allow you to make text conform to the shape of an object (i.e., cup)

  1. Create a path or use an existing path to use as the object to apply the text object to.
  2. Create a text object.
  3. Move the path on TOP of the text. (TIP: Arrange > Bring to Front)
  4. Select both objects and select Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object.

Make with Top Object –

You can also use the following option as well:

  1. Release -- used to release the text from the  envelope.  You will  have to manually delete the envelope.
  2. Envelope Options... – used to change the envelope options:
    1. Raster
    2. Fidelity
    3. Distortion
  3. Expand – used the break the text object to vector shapes. If you do so, text will no longer be editable.
  4. Edit Envelope – used to edit the text object

Using the Appearance Panel

You can use the Appearance panel to modify the existing stroke or fill on a text object, but you can also use it to add additional strokes and fills.

  1. Type some large bold text with no fill.
  2. Switch to the Appearance panel and double-click on the word Characters. You will see that you have a fill but no stroke applied to the text.
    NOTE: If you go the the Appearance panel menu, you will see that the Add Stroke and Add Fill are grayed out.   That because you can only have a single stroke or fill on live text. However, you can work around this problem in the next step.
  3. Remove the Fill from the text so that you have both the fill and stroke set to none.
  4. Switch back to the Appearance panel again and click on the Add Fill. Notice this time it did let you add a Fill and it also gave you a no stroke option.
  5. Click the Add Stroke in the Appearnce panel to add another stroke that will be later offsetted.
  6. Change both strokes color in the Appearance panel and increase the size of the first stroke to 3 and the second stroke to 1.
    NOTE: Because the first stroke is larger and on top of the second stroke, you can not see the effect of the second stroke. Do resolve this problem do the next step.
  7. Move the first stroke layer below the second stroke layer.  You should not be able to see both stroke.
    NOTE: If you double-click on the word Charaters, you will see that the text has no fill or stroke. That is because the effects are taking place at the type level of the text object. If you double-click again on the word Type, you will see the stroke and fill that you set.

HOW TO CREATE COMIC BOOK TEXT

While you can you live text, it is easier to create comic book text with text converted to outlines.

Use Negative Fill Offset

  1. Create some large bold text and convert them to oultine.
  2. Double-click on the word Character in the Appearance panel and select  the fill layer
  3. Select Effect > Path > Offset Path... and set a negative (i.e., -3 px) for the offset in the OffSet dialog box.
  4. (Optional) Use the Effect > Warp to warp text to your liking.

Use Double Text

  1. Create some large bold text and convert them to oultine.
  2. Make a copy of the text and select Edit > Paste Behind and increate the size of the stroke.
  3. Select the text on top and change the stroke to white and optional increase the stroke.
  4. (Optional) Use the Effect > Warp to warp text to your liking.
  5. Double-click on the word Character in the Appearance panel and select  the fill layer

Add Double Stroke

  1. Create some large bold text and convert them to oultine.
  2. In the Appearance panel, select Add Stroke from the menu
    TIP: Press CTRL+ALT and the forward slash key ("/") to add a stroke or CTRL+ forward slash to add a new fill.
  3. Select Effect > Path > Offset Path and in the the OffSet Path dialog box, set an offset for the stroke.
  4. If you make a stroke larger then the stroke beneath it, you may have to move the first stroke below the second stroke to see the effect.

TIP: You can create your own Graph Style panel simply by creating some graphic styles and dragging them into the Graphic Style library. Then select only your style and delete the other. Next, Select Save Graphic Style from the menu and give it a descriptive name.  Next time you open AI you will see that panel show up as a User Defined library in the list.