Resources

40 Must Learn Text Effect Tutorials in Illustrator

by . November 16th, 2014

[This post was originally published on January 3, 2011 by Ronald Bien]

The love of creating text effects has become a common ground for many designers and enthusiasts.

Indeed, it has even become an art form in itself. But text effect tutorials can be intimidating because of the software screenshots and terms used. There are many text effect tutorials here and there, and sometimes we are scared to even click on the link because of the many steps that follow. These tutorials were made by artists just like us and we should be thankful that there are people who are willing to spend time to prepare these tutorials to share what they know.

We gathered 40 Must Learn Text Effect Tutorials in Illustrator so you can be inspired to venture into typography. If one of these works for you, please don’t forget to share your work with the rest of the world right in the comments below.


Learn to Create a Variety of Script Lettering


 

from zero

This tutorial will showcase three different approaches, which result in three different script lettering styles. starting with a nice simple basic script, touch on a more athletic inspired lettering style and work along the way to a classic, fancy script.


How to Create an Entangled Lettering Illustration


 

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A two-part tutorial where you will learn how to create a brief typographic message from scratch. The first part will go over the basics of constructing the letterforms. You can check the second part HERE.


Create a Green Viscous Text Effect


 

Green Text

In this tutorial you will use illustrator’s 3D tools to add dimension on the text, and then add a green viscous text effect.


Create a Mummy Text Effect


 

Mummy text Effect
This tutorial will show you how to create a treatment with some gradients and heavy use of the appearance panel.

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Getting Carried Away with Balloon Lettering


balloon lettering
Here is a tutorial covering on the process of creating some illustrative shiny balloon lettering and in creating rounded, semi-transparent, bubble letters that will make up the basis of the balloon lettering.

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How to create a glassy text effect in Illustrator


 

glass text

This tutorial will teach how to create a glassy text effect in Illustrator. You will learn some simple techniques to enhance our types giving them gloss and shine.


How to Make a Cartoon Style Cereal Box Logo in Adobe Illustrator CS3


 

illustrator tutorials
Get tips on how to make a cartoon style logo with illustrator.

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How To Create a Simple Sticker Text Effect


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Learn how to use text and the Round Any Corner script to create a simple sticker effect.This effect can be applied to a variety of graphics, including shapes and symbols.


Create Colorful, Layered Paper Type in Illustrator


 

Colorful layered paper
Here is a tutorial on how to brighten one’s mood by creating vivid illustrations with layered paper text and ribbons and create custom type and use Illustrator effects extensively to optimize work.

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Old School Type – Line Gradients


 

old school type line gradients
This tutorial is about creating line gradients using illustrator.

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Illustrator Tackle Twill


illustrator tackle twill
Here is a tutorial on how to simulate a tackle twill look with Illustrator’s Appearance palette.

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Ornate lettering


 

ornate lettering
Get new ideas in creating ornate lettering through the tips and techniques offered by this tutorial.

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How To Create Detailed Gothic Linework Typography


 

gothic linework typography
This step by step walkthrough illustrates the design process for a recent gothic typography design.

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Create a Glossy, Smooth Text Effect


 

glossy smooth text effect
The tutorial is on how to create a glossy, smooth text effect using multiple fills and strokes with different blending modes and varied opacity percentage.

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Retro 3D Arcade Text Effect in Illustrator


 

retro 3d arcade text effect
This tutorial makes clever use of Illustrators built in 3D capabilities, gradients and opacity masks to design a Retro 3D Type Effect.

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Working with type in Illustrator


 

text effect
Get tips and techniques with this tutorial on how to use and manipulate adobe illustrator in creating several text effects.

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How to Add Decorative Glamour to Your Ordinary Script Font


 

ordinary scrip t font
Learn how to give some extra sparkle to your ordinary font, creating a typographic design which can stand by itself through this tutorial

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Blueprint-Style Text in Adobe Illustrator


 

blueprint style text
This tutorial is a quick demo using a blend of live effects, filters, and even a little gradient mesh to create a seemingly complex logo treatment.

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Illustrator type technique using shapes


 

shapes text effect
Here is an illustration on how to make logos through shapes with illustrator.

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How to Make a Wooden Text Effect with Adobe Illustrator


 

wooden text effect
The tutorial is on creating “wooden text” using the 3D Extrude and Bevel Tool combined with some clever gradients and layer effects you can make this great effect that’s perfect for text and symbols alike.

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3D Typography in Photoshop


 

3d typography photoshop
Here is a tutorial on using various techniques on creating typogrpahy with illustrator

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Tug and Twirl Text in Illustrator


 

tug and twirl text illustrator
Learn how to tug and twirl texts with illustrator through this tutorial.

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Learn to Create a Variety of Beveled Lettering


 

beveled lettering
This tutorial showcasea three different approaches, which result in three different beveled lettering styles.

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Create An Editable Metal Type Treatment


 

editable metal type treatment
In this tutorial, you will learn to create editable metal type treatment with illustrator

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Creating stunning, detailed typography with Illustrator


 

detailed typography
Learn new ideas in creating stunning yet detailed typography through the tips and techniques offered by this tutorial.

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Stylish text effect tutorial using Illustrator


 

stylish text effect
The tutorial illustrates how to create a beautiful text effect with a subtle vintage look that’s going to be applied to an specific typeface.

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Illustrator Tutorial: Warp Text Inside A Heart Shape


 

warp text
The following tutorial will show you how to combine the text wrap and heart shape together to achieve the text wrap effect.

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Create a Folded Paper Text Effect


 

folded paper text effect
In this tutorial, you will learn to create a simple folded paper text effect and create some ink blobs and stains from some simple ellipses and brushes.

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Let’s Make a Playful Yet Robust 3D Letter Design


 

3d letter design
This tutorial is for the advanced beginner who wants to take her skills to the next level by creating robust and layful text effect in one artwork.

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Quick Tutorial: Create a Reusable Retro Type Treatment


 

retro type treatment
This tutorial will show you how to create a simple retro type treatment using the Appearance panel and some texture effects, Warp effects, and some simple layering.

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Create a Furry Calligram in Illustrator


 

furry calligram in illustrator
The following tutorial will walk you through creating calligrams by manipulating a typeface through to rendering fur, adding doggy features, and various details.

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Create a Grimy Text Treatment with a Pen Tablet


 

grimy text treatment
Here is a tutorial on creating a grimy text treatment utilizing Illustrator’s Blog brush, Live Paint, and a pen tablet.

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How to Create a Smokin’ Western Type Treatment in Illustrator


 

letterpress styled text
This tutorial will show you how to create a western type treatment primary using Illustrator’s Effects.

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Creating Editable Letterpress Styled Text


 

letterpress styled text
Learn how to utilize the Appearance panel and Graphic Styles to consistently apply this style to any editable text and other vector objects through this tutorial.

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Create a Polished Raised Type Treatment


 

polished raised type treatment
The following tutorial illustrates on how to use the Appearance panel, some gradients to create a polished lifted type treatment.

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The Hidden Power of the Average Command: Creating Swirly Type


 

swirly type
Learn to create abstract swirls using relatively simple methods and applying it to type.

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Create a Glowing Neon Sign using the Appearance Palette – Screencast


 

glowing neon sign
The following tutorial shows the potential of the Appearance Palette in Adobe Illustrator, build an elaborate neon sign, utilize the Appearance Palette to speed up the process and remove the need of drawing complex paths.

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Illustrator Tutorial: Bling Bling Text Effect


 

bling bling text effect
This tutorial will show you how to create an eye catching bling bling effect in illustrator by creating the texture and applying it to any text.

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Create Fun, Eye-catching Text with Adobe Illustrator


 

fun eye catching text
Learn to manipulate text in Illustrator by combining color and effects with this tutorial.

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Quick Tutorial: Gradient Strokes


 

gradient strokes
This tutorial shows how I create gradient strokes by using the Appearance panel and effects to create editable gradient strokes in Illustrator.

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Turn Any Font Into a Sketch Font


 

turn any font into a sketch
The following tutorial illustrates one cool way of turning any font into a sketch font.
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