Image of a TV with stylized font reading Get Funky with Text and Logos

Learn How to Warp Text in Illustrator

Daniel Scott

@dan

Have you ever wanted to create a professional looking sports logo or a funky retro inspired festival poster but you’re unsure how to achieve that fantastic text shaping effect? Then this blog post is for you! I’ll walk you through some simple steps in Adobe Illustrator to warp type, plus share some great places to go for inspiration.

If you are brand new to Illustrator, start with the basics in my course Illustrator Essentials for Beginners. In this course, I will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Adobe’s most powerful vector-based drawing program. In no time you’ll be creating stylish logos, icons, illustrations and posters.

When you become a BYOL member, you gain access to this course as well as my 30+ additional courses on Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Webflow, and more. As a BYOL member you will also enjoy personalized support, earn certificates, and tackle exciting community challenges. Get started here.

Read on to find out how to bend and warp text using Envelope Distort in Illustrator.

Step 1 – Create your type, then bend and warp with Adobe Illustrator

Start by using the Type tool to create a piece of text – choose the Type tool from the toolbar on the left, click once on the page then begin typing.

Screenshot of Adobe Illustrator showing the location of the Type Tool on the toolbar

Choose the Type Tool from the toolbar on the left

For this kind of effect your choice of font is key. If your font menu is looking a little sparse then check out fonts.adobe.com to browse a massive range of fonts available for you to use directly in Illustrator. You can view and add fonts individually or check out the font packs which are organized by theme. (If you aren’t sure how to use Adobe fonts with Illustrator this is another topic covered in my Illustrator Essentials course). The best part is all Adobe fonts are free with your creative cloud membership!

screenshot from fonts.adobe.com showing a range of fonts available as packs

These are some of the font packs available on fonts.adobe.com or you can browse by theme and add fonts individually.

Once you have selected your perfect font pick, to bend and warp your type, go to the menu along the top and choose
Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp

Screenshot showing where to find the ‘Make with Warp’ function in Adobe Illustrator.

In Illustrator go to the menu along the top and choose Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp.

Play with the warp settings to find something that suits your text. This changes the shape that your text is warped into.

Screenshot showing the Warp Options for bending your text in Adobe Illustrator.

Start by using the preset shapes to see what kind of bend or warp looks great with your type.

Take a tour back in time for some inspiration!

Three examples of 1960s and 1970s warped text posters.

Check out these examples of some funky warped text. Image credits from left to right April 29-30 1966 Artist Wes Wilson Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Lightning Hopkins at Fillmore Auditorium, SF © 1966 Bill Graham © Wes Wilson. May 6-7 1966 Artist Wes Wilson Jefferson Airplane, The Yay Walkers at Fillmore Auditorium, SF © 1966 Bill Graham © Wes Wilson. May 20-21 1966 Artist Wes WilsonQuicksilver Messenger Service, Final Solution at Fillmore Auditorium, SF © 1966 Bill Graham © Wes Wilson

If you are trying to create a retro inspired poster with a warped text effect check out these authentic posters from the 60s and 70s. These would have originally been hand drawn but you can use the Envelope Distort feature in Adobe Illustrator to get the same kind of bent and warped effect on your text.

Step 2 – Uh oh typo… how to edit your text once it is in shape

If you realize you have made a typo, don’t panic, you can still go back in and change your text after you have applied the Envelope Distort. Simply double-click on the warped text to go into isolation mode, which will let you change the text.

Sometimes it can be a little hard to see so try this method instead:

Tap Cmd Y (Mac) or Ctrl Y (PC) which takes you into outline view. All you will see is the text itself (no colors and the warp will be invisible).

A screenshot of editing warped text in outline view in Adobe Illustrator

An example of editing your warped text in outline view – note how you are viewing the straight text, there are no colors visible on the text and also the images in the background are indicated by squares alone.

Type to change the text
Tap Cmd Y (Mac) or Ctrl Y (PC) to go back into normal view.

A slick look for your sports team

Maybe the retro look is not your thing but you still like the idea of playing with the warped type effect in Illustrator. Don’t worry, it is not only for the 70s! Many sports teams use logos that incorporate bent or distorted type.

Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets NBA logos. Shown as contemporary examples of warped text.

If the retro look is not for you here are some contemporary examples of warped text in these NBA logos (images sourced from sportslogos.net)

For some more contemporary examples and a history of some of these famous logos browse through sportslogos.net.

So now you know how to create a warped or bent text effect using Envelope Distort in Adobe Illustrator. You can use this in logos, posters and illustrations to create an eye-catching text effect. If this has inspired you to move beyond the basics then take a look at my other Illustrator course Adobe Illustrator CC Advanced.

What’s Next?

Check out my Adobe Illustrator Essentials course for everything you need to know about getting started with Illustrator.

When you become a BYOL member, you gain access to this course as well as my 30+ additional courses on Figma, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Webflow, and more. As a BYOL member you will also enjoy personalized support, earn certificates, and tackle exciting community challenges. Get started here.

See you in class! - Dan