Typeface and font

  • The Type tool: Easily select and manipulate fonts for your designs.
  • The ReType tool: Easily identify and edit fonts from static text in raster images and outlined text.
  • Access Adobe Fonts: Browse and apply fonts directly within Illustrator for seamless integration.
  • Create custom fonts: Use the Font Creator tool to design and customize your own fonts.

Hierarchy

Text formatting in Illustrator: Utilize the Character and Paragraph panels to format text and establish hierarchy.

Styles for consistency: Create and apply paragraph and character styles to maintain a consistent hierarchy across your design.

Contrast

  • Color guide panel: Use the Color Guide panel to create harmonious color schemes that enhance contrast.
  • Visual interest: Apply gradients, patterns, or textures to your text for added visual interest.

Alignment

  • Precise text positioning: Use the Align panel to position text precisely.
  • Custom grids and guides: Create custom grids to maintain consistent alignment throughout your design.

Line length

  • Adjust text box sizes: Modify text box sizes and column widths to optimize line length for readability.
  • Flowing text: Use the Area Type tool to flow text across multiple linked frames for balanced layouts.

Leading

  • Adjust leading: Control line spacing with the Character panel to ensure comfortable reading.
  • Auto leading: Use the Auto Leading feature to adjust line spacing based on font size automatically

Kerning

  • Manual kerning: Adjust the spacing between individual characters using the Type tool and Alt/Option key for precise control.
  • Optical kerning: Utilize optical kerning in Illustrator to automatically improve letter spacing.

Tracking

  • Adjusting tracking: Control the overall spacing between characters with the Character panel.
  • Custom tracking presets: Create and save custom tracking presets for consistency and efficiency.

Color

  • Eyedropper tool: Sample and apply colors from your design directly to text.
  • Custom swatches: Create and save custom color swatches to maintain consistency in your typography color palette.

White space

  • Effective composition: Use artboards and layers in Illustrator to manage white space and ensure a clean layout.
  • Clipping masks: Use clipping masks to create interesting negative space and enhance the composition around your text.
With the flexible tools in Adobe Illustrator, anyone can create functional and visually striking typography.