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benji-the-great
benji-the-great
Inspiring
February 19, 2018
Answered

Hide overset text icon?? (red plus box)

  • February 19, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 14443 views

I've been using Illustrator for a long time (decades), but have something that I've never been able to figure out and need an option. How do you hide the overset text icon (red plus box), and/or anything that is an on-screen, in-app visual cue? I've tried looking it up online and all I can find is explanation of what it is. I know what it is and why it's there, but if I want to hide it so that I can take a screenshot for a proof, etc., I've found nothing. Only way would be to do the screen shot - take it into photoshop, remove the OTI, and then it's good - but that's a cumbersome extra step. I feel like there has got to be somethign that does this. I find it hard to believe that there is no way in an app this size to show a preview, unencumbered by monitor cues. It seems to me that it should be in Type>Show/Hide Hidden Characters, but nope - that doesn't do it. Does anyone know where/how I can do this?

Thanks!

Ben

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer lajaney

    First, select the box containing type. In the main overhead menu, select Type, then, Area Type Options. When the attributes box pops up, select Auto Size at bottom left above the Preview box (presumably already checked). 

    When you get back to the text box in you doc, it will be blue...Use the Type cursor to select the area with below your text, and delete. When you check off the box with the arrow select tool, the red box, (and/or white box at the beginning), will be gone. 

     

     

    4 replies

    L
    lajaneyCorrect answer
    Participant
    November 20, 2022

    First, select the box containing type. In the main overhead menu, select Type, then, Area Type Options. When the attributes box pops up, select Auto Size at bottom left above the Preview box (presumably already checked). 

    When you get back to the text box in you doc, it will be blue...Use the Type cursor to select the area with below your text, and delete. When you check off the box with the arrow select tool, the red box, (and/or white box at the beginning), will be gone. 

     

     

    L
    louisk65499674
    Participant
    July 14, 2020

    Hi, This is a bit late but I just ran into the same issue. The red plus box means you have overflowing text in the box. i.e. text that isnt visible. To remove this place you Text cursor at the last visible character and then clear (delete) all the text to the right. Once there's no overflow there will be no red box. 

      barbara_a7746676
      Community Expert
      barbara_a7746676Community Expert
      Community Expert
      February 19, 2018

      You could select the text object and Type > Create Outlines. After taking the screen capture, undo.

        michelew83603738
        Community Expert
        michelew83603738Community Expert
        Community Expert
        February 19, 2018

        As far as I know you can't hide it/turn it off. But you can, for example, put a white rectangle over it if the background is white, etc.

          benji-the-great
          benji-the-greatAuthor
          Inspiring
          February 19, 2018

          Huh - weird. I feel like I would have tried that before, but I guess not. I guess I figured that since it is a visual cue and not actual content, it could not be covered and would still show up over top of all the artwork. I guess not. Cool, well this helps. Hopefully they will fix this soon, and make it hideable (Are you listening, Adobe?), but in the meantime, this will at least help for what I need - thanks much!

          Ben

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 19, 2018

          You can do a feature request here:

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