How to use fonts on Adobe Illustrator

All you need to know to start designing with fonts.

 

 

In this post, we will teach you how to create text and use fonts on Adobe Illustrator. We’ve already tackled this topic on this article from our Ultimate Font Guide, but we thought it’s important to include it in our Guide about Graphic Design. 

Here, you’ll find all the features that you must take into account to create text and use your fonts on Adobe Illustrator. We hope you find these resources insightful!

If you are searching for some fonts to use on your next design project, check our growing library of Fonts. All the fonts at Creative Fabrica include a license for personal and commercial use.

 

On this article:

How to install fonts on your computer
How to use the Type tool on Illustrator
How to use the fonts panel on Illustrator

 

How to install fonts on your computer

 

If you want to use the fonts that you download on Illustrator, you must install them on your computer first. With Illustrator, you will have access to all the fonts that you have installed on your Mac or PC.

To learn how to install fonts on your computer, check our articles about installing fonts on Windows and installing fonts on Mac.   If you can’t see your font on Illustrator, restart the software.

 

How to use the Type Tool on Illustrator

 

On Illustrator, the Type Tool allows you to display text on your canvas. You can use this functionality to create text boxes. It is important to bear in mind that your characters won’t behave like shapes (unless you change this – we’ll explain this later).

The Type Tool has seven different versions. You can choose between the Type Tool, the Area Type Tool, the Type on a Path Tool, the Vertical Type Tool, the Vertical Area Type Tool, the Vertical Type on a Path Tool, and the Touch Type Tool. Let’s look at what you can do with each one of them.

 

 

How to use the basic Type Tool on Illustrator

 

The first version of this tool that you can use is the basic Type Tool. This functionality allows you to draw text boxes that you can use for writing. Your text will be displayed in a common way. You can see an example of the Type Tool on the image below.

 

 

How to use the Area Type Tool on Illustrator

 

The Area Type Tool allows you to insert your text inside a shape. The first thing you need to do is to trace a shape. After it’s ready, select your shape with the tool and write or copy your text inside it.

 

 

How to use the Type on a Path tool on Illustrator

 

The Type on a Path tool allows you to display your text following the direction of a certain path. If you want to place your characters in a wavy or circular shape, this is the right tool for you.

You will just have to draw a path, select the tool, and click over it. Once you have selected your path with the tool, you can start typing or writing your text.

 

 

How to use the Vertical Type Tool on Illustrator

 

The Vertical Type Tool allows you to create text boxes that display the characters vertically. The layout of these pieces of text emulates the look of Japanese Texts (also, starting from right to left).

 

 

How to use the Vertical Area Type Tool on Illustrator

 

The Vertical Area Type tool allows you to place texts with a vertical display inside an area. The procedure is the same as with the Area Type Tool. First, you trace an area. Then, you select it with this tool, and then you write or paste your text inside the shape.

 

 

Vertical Type on a Path Tool

 

This tool allows you to display your characters vertically, following a certain path. It works just like the Type on a Path tool: after you have drawn the path, you select it with the tool and write or copy your text on it.

 

 

Touch Type Tool

 

The Touch Type Tool allows you to adjust the position and rotation of a character without affecting the rest of the text. This feature is a great resource for logo design.

 

 

 

How to use the fonts panel on Illustrator

 

You can find the fonts panel in two different locations. It’s available on the upper menu, and on the right panel. Look at the images below to learn how to find it.

By default, when you activate the fonts panel, Illustrator will display a dropdown menu with all the fonts you have. But this is not the only feature of the Fonts panel. Let’s look at some other characteristics.

 

 

The Fonts panel allows you to filter your fonts. This feature will help you find the perfect match for any occasion. As you can see on the image below, the software displays some options that you can use as guidance for your search.

 

 

You can also make a selection with your favorite fonts. By pressing the icon with the star, you’ll have quick access to your favorites.

 

 

By pressing the cloud icon, you’ll get access to the font library from Adobe Creative Cloud. To be able to use these fonts on your device, you will have to download them first. You can do this by hitting the small cloud at the right of the name of the font.