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.
Illustration by Maria