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Editing envelopes


    When you create an envelope, Illustrator groups the envelope and the original artwork. You can edit either the envelope or the artwork, but not both at the same time.

    TipWhen editing text inside an envelope, turn on Smart Guides to help while typing.

To edit the original art in an envelope:

    Select the envelope, and choose Object > Envelope Distort > Edit Contents. The Layers palette displays a small triangle to the left of the <Envelope> entry so that you can access the contents. (See Using the Layers palette.)

    Note: When you modify the contents of an envelope, the envelope shifts to recenter the results with the original content.

    To return to the original editing mode, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Edit Envelope.

To modify the shape of a warp or mesh envelope:

  1. Select the envelope in the artwork. (If necessary, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Edit Envelope.)
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the envelope in the artwork, and choose Object > Envelope Distort > Reset with Mesh or Reset with Warp. Select Maintain Envelope Shape to keep the outer shape intact while you reset the inner nodes; deselect it to alter the entire shape. Specify Rows and Columns, and click OK.
    • Use the direct-selection tool, add anchor point tool, or delete anchor point tool to modify the shape on the artboard.
    • Use the mesh tool to modify the shape on the artboard.