Whether you create a logo, brochure, banner, or any artwork, you can add text in 3 different ways to enrich your design. You can also delete empty type objects, remove default placeholder text, fill only selected type objects with placeholder text, and wrap text.

Watch a quick video tutorial and get started

Watch this 1 minute 24 seconds video to learn how to create a logo using text in Illustrator. 

Add text in 3 different ways

Whether you want to add a title, paragraph, or 3D text, you can quickly add text at a point, in an area or shape, and on a path from supported formats as per your design requirement. Read on to know more about how to add text in 3 different ways:

Enter text at a point

Point type is a horizontal or vertical line of text that begins where you click and expands as you enter characters. Each line of text is independent. The line expands or shrinks as you enter or delete the text, but doesn’t wrap to the following line. You can use this to enter just a few words in your artwork.

You can follow these steps to enter text at a point:

Enter text in an area

Area type (also called paragraph type) uses the boundaries of an object to control the flow of characters, either horizontally or vertically. When the text reaches a border, it automatically wraps to fit inside the defined area. This is used to create text with one or more paragraphs, such as a brochure.

Follow these steps to enter text in any area of your vector art:

Enter text on a path

You can enter text on any path or shape outline. Follow these steps to learn how:

Now that you know how to add text, read on to know how you can delete empty type objects, fill type objects with placeholder text, and wrap text around an object.

Delete empty type objects from your artwork

Delete unused type objects to make your artwork easier to print and reduce the file size. You can create empty type objects if you inadvertently click the Type tool   in the artwork area and then choose another tool.

Fill type objects with placeholder text

Fill your type objects with placeholder text to visualize your design better. By default, Illustrator automatically fills newly objects created with placeholder text. The placeholder text retains the font and size applied to the previous type object.

Wrap text around an object

You can wrap area text around any object, including type objects, imported images, and objects you draw.

Make sure that the type object you want to wrap your text around is:

• An area type (typed in a box).
• In the same layer as the wrap object.
• Located directly under the wrap object in the layer’s hierarchy.
• If the layer contains multiple type objects, move the objects you don’t want to wrap the text around into another layer or above the wrap object.

You can further customize the way you wrap your text by setting the following wrap options.

Tips and tricks

Now that you know how to add text to your artwork, here are a few tips and tricks while you work with text in an area:

• Do not click an existing object when you work with the Type tool. Doing so converts the type object into Area Type to enter text in an area or Type on a path to enter text on a path. You can lock or hide the object to keep it as it is.
• Set the bounding box setting to Show Bounding Box. If you cannot see the bounding box, click View > Show Bounding Box.
• You can use the Area Type tool   to define the bounding area for an object with an open path. Illustrator draws an imaginary line between the ends of the path to define the boundaries.
• To convert a shape into a text area, make sure to click on the path and not inside the path.

We've got you started with how to add text and work with type objects. Take a step forward and learn how to manage text area, thread text, and creating type on a path.

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