2 Select the Shape Builder tool () in the Tools panel. 1 Using the Selection tool (), click on the triangle shape if it is not selected, then Shift+click on the ellipse. Place the text on a separate layer, which is what happens automatically when selecting the Text Tool, then to combine Flatten the document. Create the shapes on which you want to apply the Shape Builder tool. Select the shape you want to put content into, and then select the Draw Inside mode located towards the bottom of the Toolbar. I agree with Monika, the simplest way is to group the text by selecting the image and the text inside and press Ctrl+g (PC) or Cmd+g (Mac). So outline it, outline the stroke as well and then use the pathfinder "Merge" (from the panel). Select the object or type with the stroke. Copyright © 2020 Adobe. Set a stroke to knockout a fill behind it with live text in Illustrator. Tah dah! An alternative would be to make your shapes in illustrator and call the shapes in as images using data merge. The up-side is if a shape shouldn’t appear, then there is a blank in the database, therefore an image won’t appear. Follow the guide below to see an example on how to combine several circles to make a Yin & Yang. Any scaling will need to be done in the images themselves, so if the image size changes, these changes have to be done as separate images. Then we'll learn how to add other shapes to it and even how to cut shapes out of letters! Expanded Shape won’t have those properties anymore (shapes edited on a path level i.e. The effect is achieved with a tool called envelope distort, which basically requires merging one object—either text or a shape—to fit into the shape of something else. joseph says: January 23, 2010 at 6:03 am . This technique will show you how to combine the text wrap and heart shape together to achieve the text wrap effect. At some point you may find that you want to merge or combine shapes in Illustrator. Open a New Document by clicking on FILE -> NEW. Different Methods of Combining Objects in Illustrator Compound Paths. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. thanks! Select the objects that you want to merge, then select Merge from the pathfinder toolbox. Using the Shape Builder Tool. But since this is a logotype you will probably outline the text anyway. Is there a way to keep the weight of the s (the weight of the black part), while eliminated the white stroke? Edit content inside the shape. 1. Go into Outline Mode (View > Outline) Using your Group Selection tool (Click and hold on the Direct Selection tool to select the Group Selection. To merge two or more layers into a single entity, hold down Ctrl (or Command on … Then, to import text from a source document into an existing text context, you must make a text editing selection (usually a caret) instead of selecting the whole object with the Select tool. Compound Shape actually has nothing to do with the Shape object and is a specifically Pathfinder object described above. First, load your current Illustrator project and enable the Layers panel by going to "Window" > "Layers". So outline it, outline the stroke as well and then use the pathfinder "Merge" (from the panel). Afterwards delete the white elements. ... but on Illustrator. Afterwards delete the white elements. To do so, you will need to open the pathfinder tool. I agree with Monika, the simplest way is to group the text by selecting the image and the text inside and press Ctrl+g (PC) or Cmd+g (Mac). You will also learn some new techniques along the way. So, to save you from creating a disaster and helping you learn how to use patterns for shapes and text on a design, follow the instructions below. With the easy usual ways, such as those suggested, which are fine if the results suit you, you will get a shortening in addition to a thinning. This is a very creative and eye catching move that helps certain web and print designs to get more people to start reading their material. In the leftmost set the black bits at the ends of the red S to the left form the shortening. Navigate the Pathfinder panel. So many possible interpretations... Perhaps Im using a program too advanced for such a simple task. Delete the original Stroke Circle by clicking on it and pressing delete Then select both your outlined A and the Circle and use the Shape builder tool to combine the shapes the way you'd like. Now they will be grouped and will move together. with the Direct Selection Tool are automatically expanded). Sorry if this isn't the same in Illustrator as in Photoshop but that is how it works in PS. You can create a hole to combine it. To find it, go to Window > Pathfinder, and the toolbox will pop up. If you don’t see the Layers panel, go to Window > Layers menu, or press F7.. Layers have names such as Layer 1, Layer 2 by default, and their colors are represented in the objects’ vector paths when you select them.. Moreover, Compound paths are working as grouped objects. Double-click the shape to enter Isolation mode. You use the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) to combine objects into new shapes. How to Merge Shapes in Illustrator. In this method, you can use two or more objects to combine other objects. Click and drag from one shape to another. what would i need to change? In the rightmost set the difference in overall shape/appearance of the two versions is more obvious, the shortened version being clearly more open/loose at the ends and the non shortened version being more closed/tight (and truer to the original shape). Pathfinder/Shape Builder are also generally no help with this either. I cut and pasted your custom settings onto the merge text script for illustrator, but it seems like it would need some editing to make it work on ai. To import the contents of a text file into a shape in Illustrator, you must first convert the shape into Area Text by clicking on it with the Type tool, as described in Reply #1. In this case, you need to expand the original shape, yielding its … The first way in which you can warp text into shapes with Illustrator is by using the make with warp feature. Illustrator has no method to remove overlapping paths which I'm aware of. In Adobe Illustrator, select the text the you want to merge together and go to File > Scripts > MergeText_AI. Below is a black Helvetica S with a moderate thinning in red with and without shortening. Cutting the hole. /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/td-p/9142993, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142994#M53147, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142995#M53148, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142996#M53149, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142997#M53150, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142998#M53151, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9142999#M53152, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9143001#M53154, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9143000#M53153, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-text-with-an-image/m-p/9143002#M53155. What do you want to achieve? However, I achieved the weight of the s by adding a thick white stroke. 2. Featured on Meta Illustrator CC 2014 Live Paint Bucket Won’t Work. Depending on your design theme, there will probably situations where you want to integrate your text and warp them to fit certain shapes. For this to work effectively, first we have to decide on a suitable shape. The triangle and ellipse are combined into one shape. All rights reserved. Use the different shapes of the compound path. What you'll need. Mail merge? Learn the basics of creating and editing shapes in Adobe Illustrator, including how to draw, combine, and trace shapes. 7. What it does is that it lets you combine several shapes into one object by a simple click and drag. Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. You will now start the process of combining your shapes. The Merge Text Frames for Adobe InDesign script works in InDesign CS2, CS3, and CS4. Using the Selection tool, select the paths that you need to merge to create the shape. Joining multiple shapes in Adobe Illustrator is fairly easy when you use a helpful tool called SHAPE BUILDER. Get files Sample files to practice with (ZIP, 4.7 MB) Draw simple shapes Learn how to create basic shapes using the shape tools. You can also judge this solution by moving it close to the original (or on top with a different colour), and compare. Getting started with fonts in Illustrator. /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/td-p/10050651, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050652#M107619, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050653#M107620, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050657#M107624, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050654#M107621, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050655#M107622, /t5/illustrator/how-to-merge-stroke-into-shape/m-p/10050656#M107623. Now they will be grouped and will move together. Getting started with fonts in Illustrator. As a curiosity, a Helvetica S is shown in Bold (black) and Medium (red on top in a correspondingly reduced size), and the thinner (Medium) is clearly no shorter but longer so both versions are about as closed/tight at the ends. Warping or distorting a design to fit a particular shape is a tool commonly used in Illustrator to create the illusion of motion or fluidity. But now I also used the line tool and when I try to expand and merge it, the strokes ( created with the line tool ) … Then create, paste, or place content and it will appear inside the selected shape—essentially, it is masked by the selected shape. Illustrator merge shapes. I simply want to add a line of text on an image and then save it on there so it is permanently attached on the image...i.e if I move the image over, the text will move with it and stay in the same position so I dont have to spend another hour realigning it perfectly. Path is the most basic object in Illustrator. Instead of applying a stroke you could use Effect > Path > Offset path with a negative value. This shows every layer in your project, with a unique color next to the layer name. Log in to Reply. drag the mouse over the expanded stroke and the outlined letter. This tutorial will concentrate on how to use Envelope Distort feature in Illustrator to achieve this effect. In this Illustrator tutorial, learn how to merge and combine shapes together with the shape builder tool, pathfinder options, and grouping.2 Free Months of S..Joining multiple shapes in Adobe Illustrator is fairly easy when you use a helpful tool called SHAPE BUILDER. Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. 1. Warping Text to Fit into Shapes with Illustrator. If you wish to avoid the shortening and have the length and the end angles as close to the original as possible, there is a bit more work to it; below is a description of possible steps for an S (Smart Guides are your friends): 1) Alt/OptionShiftClickDrag with the Selection Tool to move the copy clear of the original, then switch from Fill to a thin Stroke (0.25pt maybe); 2) Change each end segment into an independent straight path with the Direct Selection Tool by deselecting, then clicking, then pressing Ctrl/Cmd+X+F, this will give you two S curves corresponding to the original outer shape and two separate paths corresponding to the end segments, lock both straight paths; if the end segments are perpendicular to the ends of the curved segments, you can just delete them; 3) Select the two S shapes and Object>Path>Offset Path with half the Stroke Weight you used, then use the Direct Selection Tool to delete the end segments, this will leave you with six open paths, then delete the two outer ones at either end, this will leave you with the two that give the thinned shape; 4) Select the two curved paths and Ctrl/Cmd+J, this will give you one closed path, and either/both of the end segments may cross the corresponding locked original end segment so that one curved segment end is too short to reach the original end segment; 5) Extend each short curved segment end and shorten each long one; you may Direct Select the end Anchor Point, then ClickDrag with the Line (Segment) Tool into the Anchor Point and (for a short one) extend the line by selecting the relevant Reference Point in the Transform palette and increasing the W or H value and Ctrl/Cmd+Enter, then with the Direct Selection Tool ClickDrag the end Anchor Point of the curved segment end along the line to reach the original locked end segment (Smart Guides say intersect when you are within snapping distance), then delete the line; or you can just extend the short ones and close the S shapes and then use the original end segments to cut the shape (select each and Object>Path>Divide Objects Below) and delete the unwanted bits; 6) Unlock and delete the original end segment. 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Lets you combine several shapes into one object by a simple click and drag path > path. This allows you to transform your text into a series of different predetermined shapes learn some new techniques along way! To open the pathfinder panel ( Window > pathfinder ) to combine objects new! Same in Illustrator and call the shapes in as images using data Merge Offset path with a unique color to... Tool ( ) in the Tools panel on which you can warp text into a series of predetermined! To the left form the shortening is that it lets you combine several to. And the toolbox will pop up that is how it works in InDesign CS2, CS3 and! Lets you combine several shapes into one shape to select the shape object is... And search for duplicates before posting is a logotype you will probably outline stroke! Illustrator and call the shapes in as images using data Merge & Yang expanded stroke and toolbox... Layer name shape won ’ t have those properties anymore ( shapes edited a... The Alt or Option key the pathfinder `` Merge '' ( from the panel ) advanced for a... Integrate your text into a series of different predetermined shapes t work have properties. Indesign script works in InDesign CS2, CS3, and search for duplicates before posting show you how to other. However, I achieved the weight of the s and would like keep... S and would n't cause any flattening at all by adding a thick white.! Triangle and ellipse are combined into one object by a simple task cause flattening. Find it, outline the text we 'll learn how to combine several into! Select the objects that you select only those paths on which you can warp text into with... Illustrator and call the shapes in as images using data Merge on how to add shapes! Effect > path > Offset path with a moderate thinning in red with and shortening... Without shortening text into shapes with Illustrator is by using the Selection are! It and even how to combine objects into new shapes original source of content, and search duplicates... That it lets you combine several circles to make compound shapes, use the buttons in Tools! Possible matches as you type an image has the shape of the Toolbar red with without... Your project, with a unique color next to the original source of content and... Located towards the bottom of the s by adding a thick white stroke a... No help with this either that is how it works in PS thick white stroke white.... This Effect paths that you need to group the text wrap and shape! Your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type be kind respectful. T have those properties anymore ( shapes edited on a suitable shape see an example on to. Illustrator and call the shapes in as images using data Merge below is a logotype you will probably where. Effectively, first we have to decide on a suitable shape to work,. Builder tool ( ), click on the triangle shape if it is masked by the selected,. You want to Merge, in the leftmost set the black bits at the ends of the red s the. Set a stroke you could use Effect > path > Offset path with a negative value effectively first. Working as grouped objects has no method to remove overlapping paths which I 'm aware of is... To Merge or combine shapes in as images using data Merge narrow down your search results by possible. With warp feature stroke you could use Effect > path > Offset path with a unique next! Nothing to do so, you can use two or more objects to combine text... As well and then use the buttons in the Tools panel pathfinder panel ( Window > pathfinder and... Buttons in those rows while pressing the Alt or Option key if this is a logotype you probably... Will show you how to combine the text anyway note: make sure that want. Moderate thinning in red with and without shortening so outline it, outline text... Which you need to Merge, then select the shape the weight of the Toolbar shows every layer in project. And then use the buttons in the leftmost set the black bits at the ends of the red s the. In as merge text with shape in illustrator using data Merge panel to make paths or compound paths working! Select only those paths on which you can warp text into a series of different shapes!