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WanderElla
WanderElla
Inspiring
August 19, 2019
Answered

How to change the shape of a text box in Adobe Illustrator?

  • August 19, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 38542 views

So this is an example of the text shaped or adjusted from the shape of the lady (see above picture). I need to know how it is done because I need to change the position of the lady from right to left so facing right, I need to also change the shaped part of the text. I just transformed the text box to show you how I want it to be but the text inside will also transformed (see picture below).

Thank you in advance guys!

    Correct answer tromboniator

    It seems to me that this is a pretty good place to use Text Wrap, from the Object menu. Use the Pen Tool to trace the head (or, as I did, Export Paths to Illustrator from Photoshop), and be sure that the new path is above the text. With just the new path selected, apply the Text Wrap, and adjust the offset in Text Wrap Options.

    To move to the other side, just select both the head and the wrapping path, reflect, about the vertical axis, and align as you will. And, if you wish, change the offset.

    Peter

    Edit: Hi, Eric, I see you got in ahead of me!

    4 replies

    tromboniator
    Community Expert
    tromboniatorCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    August 19, 2019

    It seems to me that this is a pretty good place to use Text Wrap, from the Object menu. Use the Pen Tool to trace the head (or, as I did, Export Paths to Illustrator from Photoshop), and be sure that the new path is above the text. With just the new path selected, apply the Text Wrap, and adjust the offset in Text Wrap Options.

    To move to the other side, just select both the head and the wrapping path, reflect, about the vertical axis, and align as you will. And, if you wish, change the offset.

    Peter

    Edit: Hi, Eric, I see you got in ahead of me!

      WanderElla
      WanderEllaAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 4, 2019

      Thank you so much 🙂 

      Anna Lander
      Anna Lander
      Inspiring
      August 19, 2019

      Use Pen tool. Every text box is a vector form, so you can change it with Direct Selection tool (White arrow) and Pen tool.

      1. Select the box edge by Direct Selection tool.

      2. Use Pen tool. Click on the box segment where you want to have a new anchor point. The new point will appear.

      3. Hold Ctrl (Cmd) button to temporarily get the Direct Selection Tool. Move the point to needed position.

      4. If you need a smooth point, hold Alt (Option) and drag the handles from the point.

      5. Add as many points as you need.

      6. Adjust the line using Direct Selection Tool.

        Eric Dumas
        Community Expert
        Eric DumasCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 19, 2019

        HI,

        I think there is a simpler way.

        Do not flip the text. Create a shape around the face, above the text frame, use that as a Object>Text Wrap>Make . Of course with no fill and no colour for the stroke.

        So now, you can move, flip, adjust , rotate... the wrap shape it will push the text nicely.

        Please always include the version of illustrator and operating system you are using, just in case.

          Anna Lander
          Anna Lander
          Inspiring
          August 19, 2019

          yes, you're right. Text Wrap is the best way. But since the question was "How to change shape?", I explained how to change shape

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 19, 2019

          If the textbox is already filled with text, you can direct select the textbox only and flip it.

            Mohammad.Harb
            Community Expert
            Mohammad.HarbCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            August 19, 2019

            Here is a workaround:

            if you already filled the text inside the path, when you flip ithe path the content ( Text ) will also be flipped, so you need to flip the path first before filling it with text

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