Illustrator Typography: How to Create Custom Script Type

Introduction

Creating custom typography does not always require hand-drawing. Today, you can take advantage of ready-made fonts to achieve trendy lettering. This article will guide you through customizing a ready-made typeface in Adobe Illustrator to create unique and visually appealing script typography.

Getting Started

Open Adobe Illustrator: Start by creating a new document, preferably in the A4 layout with the document units set to pixels and RGB color mode for the brightest colors.
Choose a Suitable Typeface: Instead of scanning and vectorizing hand-lettered art, select a suitable typeface. Investing in quality fonts is essential, as many free fonts do not contain the open type features necessary for customization. A recommended font is "Fountain," which comes with plenty of swashes, ligatures, and alternative characters.
Type Your Text: Use the Type tool to create your chosen text in the Fountain typeface. Explore the alternative glyphs for letters to find unique variations that suit your design.
Kerning Adjustments: Adjust kerning by placing the cursor between letters and using the Alt key along with the left or right arrow keys to space them appropriately.

Applying Distortions

Warp the Text: Go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp and select the "Rise" option with a 10% amount to give your text a dynamic angle. To apply this effect permanently, expand the text by navigating to Object > Expand.
Unite Letter Shapes: Open the Pathfinder panel and click the "Unite" button to merge individual letter shapes into a continuous outline.
Offset Path: Go to Object > Path > Offset Path and enter 10 pixels. Use the Unite button again to merge the new shapes into one outline.
Creating Shadow Effects: Use Edit > Cut, followed by Edit > Paste in Back to create a shadow effect. Adjust the fill to white for the original text and nudge other shapes to create an offset shadow.

Blending and Coloring

Create a Blended Shadow: Select the outer shape and the original shadow shape, then navigate to Object > Blend > Make. Adjust the blending options to create smooth transitions.
Fill Colors: Select the gradient-filled text and replace its fill with vibrant colors. Adjust the gradient and use the Gradient tool to modify the angle as desired.
Highlight and Shadow Details: Create highlights using small curves with a custom brush. Change the stroke to hard light and apply reduced opacity for visual effects. Similarly, draw shadows using dark colors.
Final Touches: Draw a rectangle covering the artboard and sample colors from your text to set the background. Add small decorative elements like paint drips or stars to enhance your design.

Conclusion

These tips will help you create stunning custom typography using Adobe Illustrator. By leveraging the power of ready-made fonts and applying vector shading techniques, you can achieve high-quality designs without needing extensive hand-lettering skills. Remember, the right fonts can transform your typography and allow for unique creative expression.

Keywords

Adobe Illustrator
Custom Typography
Ready-Made Fonts
Fountain Typeface
Scripts
Kerning
Warp Text
Offset Path
Gradient Fill
Custom Brush

FAQ

Q1: Do I need to be a hand-lettering expert to create custom typography?
A1: No, with the right fonts and techniques in Adobe Illustrator, you can create beautiful typography without extensive hand-lettering skills.

Q2: What font is recommended for custom script typography?
A2: The "Fountain" typeface is a recommended script font that features ligatures and stylistic alternates suitable for customization.

Q3: How do I adjust the spacing between letters?
A3: You can adjust kerning in Illustrator by placing the cursor between letters and using the Alt key along with the left or right arrow keys to modify spacing.

Q4: What is the use of the Pathfinder panel?
A4: The Pathfinder panel allows you to merge, unite, or subtract shapes to create complex outlines from simple letterforms in your typography design.

Q5: Can I create shadow effects in Illustrator?
A5: Yes, by using the offset path and adjusting fill colors, you can easily create shadow effects to enhance your typography.