Creating Outlines on Type

STEP ONE: Use the Type Tool to type out the word of your choice. To use the Type Tool, remember to simply click the cursor once on your page. Do not click & drag a type box.

• Do not let the computer choose the font for you! Use the CHARACTER menu to choose an interesting font. For this exercise, thicker fonts work best.

STEP TWO: Click on the word with your Selection Tool (black arrow in tool bar), then go to the TYPE menu at the top of the screen and select the option CREATE OUTLINES.

You should see the blue box around the type shrink closer to the type. You can see this in the image below.

STEP THREE: With the word still selected, go to the OBJECT menu at the top of the screen and select the option UNGROUP.

This will allow you to edit and move each letter independently from one another.

STEP FOUR: Use the Selection Tool to click off of your word so it is no longer selected.

Then, with the word unselected, switch to the DIRECT SELECTION tool (white arrow), and hover the tool around the corners of one of the letters.

You should see the ANCHOR POINTS start to highlight. When this happens, click on it.

STEP FIVE: The difference between the Anchor Points and Handles is that the location of Anchor Points can be moved, while the Handles adjust the curves of the letter.

With the Anchor Point you would like to move selected, pull the point with the Direct Selection tool to a new location.

Using this technique, you can pull the point down and make one of the letters 'sharp'.