Select the Type tool.
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Add text in Illustrator with Type, Area Type, and Touch Type tools
Last updated on
May 11, 2026
Learn how to add text in Illustrator using different text tools to create standard text, fill shapes, or place text along paths.
You can add text to your artwork using different text tools in Illustrator. Use the Type tool for standard text, the Area Type tool to fill shapes, and the Touch Type tool to modify individual characters, such as moving, scaling, or rotating them.
Learn how to use the Type tool, Area Type tool, and Type on a Path tool in Adobe Illustrator, and understand the key differences between them.
Click on the artboard to create a text object.
Type your text, and then select the Selection tool to move or resize the text.
Select a shape, and then select the Area Type tool.
Move the pointer over the shape until it changes.
Click inside the shape.
Type your text to fill the shape.
Select the text, and then select the Touch Type tool.
Select a character you want to modify.
Drag to move, scale, or rotate the character.
