In Adobe Illustrator, text is a fundamental element, and understanding how to create and manipulate text boxes is essential. This tutorial will guide you through the process of making a text box without the complexities of the Pen Tool.

Starting with Point Type

  1. Accessing the Type Tool: On the left-hand side toolbar, you’ll find the Type Tool, represented by the letter ‘T’.
  2. Creating Point Type: Simply click on your document. This action creates what’s known as “point type.” For demonstration, you can type the word “test.”
  3. Scaling the Text: Using the Selection Tool, hold ‘Shift’ and drag to scale the text. However, note that this isn’t a text box but point type.

Creating a Text Box

  1. Using the Type Tool: Go back to the Type Tool.
  2. Drawing the Text Box: Instead of just clicking, click and drag to create a text box. This action will automatically fill the box with placeholder text.
  3. Typing in the Box: You can type any content you want within this box.

Adjusting the Text Size

  1. Scaling the Text: To increase the text size, you’ll need to adjust the font’s point size.
  2. Resizing the Text Box: When you drag the edges of the text box, it only resizes the frame, not the text inside.

Scaling Text within the Text Box

  1. Accessing the Scale Tool: If you wish to scale the text like point type, you’ll find the Scale Tool, possibly within the Rotate Tool section.
  2. Using the Scale Tool: The Scale Tool scales text based on a reference point. By default, it’s the center. To scale from a corner, click on that corner first, then drag to scale. Holding ‘Shift’ ensures uniform scaling.

Conclusion

Creating and manipulating text boxes in Illustrator is a straightforward process. By understanding the difference between point type and text boxes and knowing how to scale and adjust text, you can enhance your design workflow.