In the following steps, you will learn how to create a simple and editable text effect in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters, you will learn how to create a background using the Rectangle Tool and how to easily center it using the Align panel. Next, using the Type Tool and some of the Type panels, you will learn how to add your piece of text. Moving on, you will learn how to stylize your piece of text using the Appearance panel. Finally, using the Recolor Artwork feature, you will learn how to quickly recolor your entire design.
For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final text effect, you can find plenty of resources at Envato Market.
1. Create the Background
Focus on your toolbar, remove the color from the stroke, and then select the fill and set its color to R=122 G=201 B=67.
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and simply click on your artboard to open the Rectangle window. Set the Width to 870 px and the Height to 620 px, and then click the OK button to create your rectangle.
Make sure that your newly made shape remains selected and open the Align panel (Window > Align). First, tap that Align to button and select the Align to Artboard options. Open the fly-out menu from the Align panel and go to Show Options if you can't see that Align To button. Now, simply click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons. In the end your rectangle should be perfectly centered and cover the entire artboard as shown in the following image.
2. Add Some Text
Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Rockwell font, set the style to Bold Italic, change the size to 150 px, and increase the Tracking to 50. Now, simply click on your canvas and add the desired piece of text. You can easily center your text using the Align Center button from the Paragraph panel (Window > Type > Paragraph).
3. Set the Appearance of Your Text
Step 1
Make sure that your text is still selected and simply remove the fill color. This will make your text invisible.
Step 2
Make sure that your invisible piece of text is still selected, open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and add a new fill using the Add New Fill button. Select that new fill and set its color to R=22 G=101 B=7.
Step 3
Make sure that your text is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Enter the attributes shown in the left window (in the following image), click the OK button, and then go again to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. This time, enter the attributes shown in the right window and then click that same OK button.
Step 4
Make sure that your text is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Select the existing stroke, set its color to R=172 G=251 B=117 and increase the Weight to 3 px.
Step 5
Make sure that your text is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Reselect that stroke and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Drag both Move sliders to -10 px and then click the OK button.
4. Recolor Your Piece of Text
Finally, here's how you can easily recolor your entire design.
Select your rectangle along with the piece of text, go to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork, and move to the Edit section. Make sure that the Recolor Artwork box and the Link harmony colors buttons are checked, and then play with those color handles. Also, adjust that Brightness slider as you wish.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Market, with interesting solutions to improve your design.
