Typophile

Some help please on how to acheeve this effect.

Evie

Hello everyone,

I'm going to do my first year Graphic design at the Academy of art and i really like typography, i'm just starting out so i try to read as much as i can about typography in books and here on typophile, very much aware that i still need to learn tons i also try and keep busy by having fun with type, trying out tutorials, drawing letters...etc

i was wondering if someone here might try and help me explain how the effect in the bottom image was don "Guerra quality meats" (its painted on the window but wondering if its possible to achieve the same effect in illustrator)

i tought i could get the same effect using the "type on a path" tool in illustrator by just typing the words on a curved line. Obviously it didn't work as you see (the word quality meats), the letters don't stand up as in the example where parts of the type looks slanted (?)

Its not for a project or anything, purely for the fact of having some fun and trying out/learning new stuff.

I would immensely appreciate it if someone would be kind enough to explain how to acheeve this effect in illustrator (if its even possible ofcourse)

Thank you all in advance

*image comes from Bohemia signs

Jabez

Type > Type on a Path > Skew

Evie

hey jabez thank you for replying, itried looking for the "skew" tool but can't find it (CS4) and could you maybe explain a bit more in depth please like a litl step by step tutorial (i know i'm asking allot here) ...like do i outline the type first...etc.

sorry for asking so much

Russell McGorman

:o)

when all else fails, read the manual.

Jabez

Download the Illustrator CS4 Help manual (PDF) if you're not familiar with the tools in AI.

Apply effects to type on a path

blank

That was done with an envelope distort and a lot of touchups. Type on a path is the wrong way to go—it will set the type on a path as opposed to reshaping type to fit a path.

Evie

thank you so much jabez. i tried it out and it looks indeed more like the example i posted. Still doesn't quite look good yet some characters are really deformed...i tryed using envelope distort like Dunwich proposed but i get even worse results. (don't worry its because of me ofcourse)...mmm i tought this was like a pretty eazy effect to achieve, actually its hard to create it and make the letters (width..etc) look in balance.

if any more tips or ways to do this i'm all ears :D

again thank you Jabez and Dunwich!!

Craig Eliason

I'm not positive but seem to remember that the Logo, Font & Lettering Bible has a how-to on this.

Jabez

I'd use either method as a starting point, then convert to outlines and tweak it from there.

Frode Bo Helland

Yeah, you have to clean it up by hand!

Beau W

A simple Effect>Warp>Arch or Arch will do the trick. If you need more control, use the Object>Envelope Distort>Make with Mesh. Try to set only one row and one column for the mesh, and then play around to learn how to get the exact effect you are looking for. Turning on the grid can help if you want to make sure you are moving the control handles of the grid equally.

1985

I'm fairly sure QUALITY MEATS can be produced with type on a path.
GUERRA QUALITY MEATS however is quite different, it's important to distinguish between the two.

Si_Daniels

Why not hire a professional sign painter to produce the lettering for you? Then hire a professional type designer to scan and trace the lettering for further manipulation in Illustrator.

jonathanhughes

"Why not hire a professional sign painter to produce the lettering for you? Then hire a professional type designer to scan and trace the lettering for further manipulation in Illustrator."

from the OP:

"Its not for a project or anything, purely for the fact of having some fun and trying out/learning new stuff."

1985

I'm fairly sure QUALITY MEATS can be produced with type on a path.
GUERRA QUALITY MEATS however is quite different, it's important to distinguish between the two.

I'm guilty of not reading too, sii.

Si_Daniels

:-)

Theunis de Jong

Object -> Envelope Distort -> Make With Warp, then in the dialog select Style: Arch comes pretty close.

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