Video Training – Tutorials

Adobe Illustrator CS3 Tutorial Video- Type on a Path

November 13, 2008

For users who prefer a practical hands-on approach to learning we have Adobe Illustrator CS3 Tutorial Videos. These training courses come complete with working files and show how to use Illustrator step-by-step. Adobe Illustrator CS3 Training Videos .

This Illustrator CS3 Tutorial can be downloaded in a zip file from here

 Illustrator Tutorial –  Type on a Path

Type can be displayed in an infinite amount of ways and Illustrator helps you to explore them with a wide range of tools. In this Adobe Illustrator Tutorial I’m going to explain how to place your type on a path, which instantly opens up a massive number of possibilities to experiment with. This Tutorial is suitable for versions CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4

To begin with, download this Allstar font and install it on your system. We’re going to use this font to simulate lettering on a car tyre. For the purposes of this tutorial I’ve illustrated a simple car tyre; a series of concentric circles and some nobbles.

Draw a circle, aligned centrally with the tyre. This is the path our type is going to flow along.

Now select the Type on a Path Tool as shown below.

Click somewhere on the circle you’ve recently created. Wherever you click is where your text is going to begin, though this can be edited later. Use the Character palette (Window > Type > Character) to select the Allstar font, choose to have it white, then type something appropriate.

Now we’re going to change the baseline of the text so that the path runs along it’s centre. With your text on a path object selected go to Type > Type on a Path > Type on a Path Options to open up the dialogue as shown below.

Choose to Align the path to the ‘Center’ and click OK. You can clearly see that the alignment of the type has changed. It will now remain vertically centred along the path regardless of the font size.

The type on a path can also be edited and repositioned in a number of ways. To demonstrate this, take your Direct Selection tool and move to one of the handles at the beginning of the text. The mouse cursor will change () to denote that you’re hovering over the type path handle. Click and drag it along the path and in doing so you’ll alter the starting point of your text.

Should you want to, it’s also possible to use the Direct Selection tool to flip the text on your path. Click and drag the central handle (again the mouse cursor will change). By pulling it inwards towards the centre of the circle, you’ll flip the text upside down. Note how it still remains vertically centred along the path.

So there you have it, the basis of Type on a Path. Go and play with it and you’ll uncover it’s limitless uses.

If there is a subject that you would like to see covered in Adobe Illustrator please let us know.

Entry Filed under: Adobe Illustrator. Tags: Adobe Illustrator CS3 Tutorial, path tool, Vector type.