Master the Art of Curving Type Around a Badge in Illustrator CS3

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creating a New Document in Adobe Illustrator cs3
3. Setting Up Guides
4. Creating Circles for the Badge
5. Splitting the Circles in Half
6. Adding Type to the Top Section
7. Adjusting the Type Position and Font
8. Adding Type to the Bottom Section
9. Curving the Type and Aligning it Properly
10. Adding Extra Features
11. Mirroring the Circles
12. Adding a Soccer Ball
13. Converting Type to Outlines
14. Saving the File

How to Curve Type Around a Badge Using Adobe Illustrator cs3

In this Tutorial, I will guide you through the process of curving type around a badge using Adobe Illustrator cs3. This technique is commonly used in Graphic Design and can add an interesting visual element to your designs.

1. Introduction

Curving type around a badge can make your designs more dynamic and visually appealing. In this tutorial, I will show you step-by-step how to achieve this effect using Adobe Illustrator cs3.

2. Creating a New Document in Adobe Illustrator cs3

To begin, open Adobe Illustrator cs3 and create a new document. Go to the "File" menu and select "New." Name your document "How to Curve Type Around a Badge" and set the file size to your desired Dimensions for a landscape orientation. Make sure the color mode is set to CMYK and the Raster effects are in preview mode.

3. Setting Up Guides

To ensure precise placement of the curves and type, we need to set up guides. Bring up the rulers by pressing "Command R" and click and drag to create guides on the top and side of the document.

4. Creating Circles for the Badge

Next, we will create two circles to serve as the Outline of the badge. Select the "Ellipse Tool" and press "Option" while clicking to create a circle with a diameter of 100 pixels. This will be the outer edge of the badge. Repeat the process to create a circle with a diameter of 70 pixels, which will define the size of the type.

5. Splitting the Circles in Half

To prepare the badge for curved type, we need to split the circles in half. Select the "Scissors Tool" and click on one anchor point of the circles. Click on the opposite anchor point to split the circles into halves.

6. Adding Type to the Top Section

Now that the circles are split, we can add type to the top section of the badge. Select the "Type Tool" and hover over the top half of the badge. Click and type the desired text, such as "How to Curve Type." Use the "Selection Tool" to deactivate the typing.

7. Adjusting the Type Position and Font

To position the type properly within the badge, click on the vertical line between the two halves of the circle. Drag the line down to Align the text with the bottom of the badge. Repeat this process on the other side. To center the text, press "Command Shift C." Adjust the font by selecting the type and choosing a font like "Helvetica" and a size of 26.

8. Adding Type to the Bottom Section

Following a similar process, add type to the bottom section of the badge. Click with the "Type Tool" and start typing. Note that the text may disappear, but don't worry. Click and drag the vertical line to reveal the text. Use the "Character Tool" to adjust the alignment and lower the type if needed.

9. Curving the Type and Aligning it Properly

To achieve the curved effect, click and drag the type to follow the bottom half of the badge. Use the "Direct Selection Tool" to adjust the alignment of each letter. If necessary, go to the "Character Tool" and enter a negative value for the baseline shift to align the type properly.

10. Adding Extra Features

To enhance the design, let's add some extra features. Bring back the guides and use the "Ellipse Tool" to create a 6x6 pixel circle. Move and duplicate it as desired. For a mirrored effect, use the "Reflect Tool" while holding the "Option" key. Copy or mirror a circle to the other side of the badge.

11. Adding a Soccer Ball

For further visual interest, let's insert a soccer ball into the design. Find an image of a soccer ball and open it in Illustrator. Select the ball, copy it, and paste it into our document. Resize the ball using the "Transform" option and position it in the center of the badge.

12. Converting Type to Outlines

Before sending the file to a decorator, it's important to convert the type to outlines. Save a copy of the file with the type active, then select all and go to "Type > Create Outlines." Now the type is converted to outlines and can be safely shared with others.

13. Saving the File

To preserve the original editable version of the file, save a copy with the outlined type. This ensures that the design can be modified later if needed. Save the file with a descriptive name, such as "How to Curve Type Around a Badge_with Outlines."

I hope this tutorial has been helpful in guiding you through the process of curving type around a badge using Adobe Illustrator cs3. Experiment with different fonts, shapes, and sizes to create unique designs. Remember to have fun and explore the possibilities that typography offers in graphic design.