Create headline type with a twist


    Adobe Illustrator provides powerful, flexible features for creating and modifying type. You can add type anywhere in your artwork--horizontally, vertically, along paths, inside shapes, around shapes, in rows and in columns. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a headline that you can reuse for a variety of purposes.

    A simple headline can provide visual interest and attraction when it’s placed on a path.

1. Draw a curved path.

    Select the Pen tool, and position the pointer where you want to start your path. Click and drag in the direction you want the curve to go. Release the mouse button and move the pointer; then click and drag again in the direction you want the curve to go. You can repeat this as many times as you want. When you are finished drawing, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) away from the line.

    If this is your first time using the Pen tool, it may take some practice to get the hang of it; however, it will be time well spent. When you're comfortable using the Pen tool, you can draw any line or shape with precision. (See Drawing precise paths with the Pen tool.)

    Drawing a curved path

2. Add type along the path.

    Select the Type on a Path tool. Click the path to set the insertion point, and type the desired text. Don't worry about the position of the type on the path--you'll learn how to adjust it later on.

    Adding type along the curved path

3. Format the type.

    Click the Selection tool to select the type, and choose Window > Type > Character to display the Character palette. Set the font family, font style, and font size. (See Formatting characters.) You can also change the color of the type by selecting a color in the Color palette, Swatches palette, or Color Picker. (See Selecting colors.)

    Illustrator comes with a variety of fonts that you can use in your artwork. To view a catalog of fonts, choose Help > Welcome Screen and click Cool Extras.

    Format the type on a path as you would any type

4. Reposition the type if necessary.

    Position the Selection tool over the type's start, center, or end bracket until a small icon appears next to the pointer. (If the pointer doesn't change, make sure the Selection tool is still selected.) Drag to the right or left to reposition the type on the path.

    Repositioning the type on the path

5. Apply a drop shadow to the type.

    Choose Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Select Preview, and adjust the drop shadow options. (We used the default values.) When you're satisfied with the results, click OK.

    You can still edit the type after applying an effect.

    Applying a drop shadow to the type

6. Place a symbol instance.

    If the Symbols palette isn't showing, choose Window > Symbols. The Symbols palette displays a variety of default symbols; however many additional symbols are available to you through symbol libraries. To open a symbol library, click the triangle icon at the top right corner of the Symbols palette, and choose an option from the Open Symbol Library submenu.

    Once you locate the symbol you want to use, drag it from the palette into the document window. The placed symbol is called a symbol instance. We used the Bee symbol from the Nature symbol library. After placing the symbol, we rotated it and applied a drop shadow to match the text.

    Placing a symbol instance at one end of the path

7. Save the headline.

    The format you save in depends on how you want to use the headline. We chose File > Save for Microsoft Office to save our headline for use in Microsoft Word. We also saved our headline as a Web banner using the Save for Web dialog box. (See Optimizing images.)