Border around text box in Illustrator

[neils92191373]

How do I add stroke (line width) and change color to text box frame? I am trying to add a border to the text box without having to add another rectangle behind the text box.

[Monika Gause]

Area text or point text?

[neils92191373]

I am using the Type tool (T)

[Monika Gause]

And what kind of text object is it?

You might want to have a look at the documentation: How to create text in Illustrator

In order to answer the question. It's crucial because the proceeding is different.

[neils92191373]

I am trying to add borders to the labels to a line art drawing. The amount of text causes the blocks change size.  I can place the text as desired but want a simple box around the text that will adjust as the text block changes size. I also want to be able to change color of the border to identify different parts of the drawing.

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Neils,

As I (mis)understand it, including your using plain Type (neither Type on a Path nor Area Type), also called point type, you may:

1) Select the live Type with the Selection Tool and in the Appearance palette flyout click Add New Stroke;

2) In the Stroke palette set the Stroke Weight and (kind of) Join as desired, and set the colour as desired (Color palette or Swatch or whatever);

3) Effect>Convert to Shape>Rectangle, setting the Relative Extra Width/Extra Height as desired.

This will give you the box as a live effect that adapts to the Type.

You may switch the order of 2) and 3). It is important that (ony) the Stroke is selected (highlighted) in the Appearance palette until you are done.

[newcat2013]

Thanks for this, Jacob! Found it incredibly helpful on my current templating project.

Related question to this... do you know if it's possible to apply a minimum width to a live effect rectangle stroke/fill in Illustrator? My goal is that none of the text box outlines are narrower than 1".

Thanks for any wisdom!

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, newcat.

I believe it may be worth asking for a script in the scripting forum, unless Carlos or Theunis happen(s) to see this.

Illustrator Scripting

Carlos, Theunis?

[craigt_0313]

Thanks for the tip; very helpful. To take it a step further, I'd like the container to adjust with the length of the text within. Possible?

[Larry G. Schneider]

See post #5 for instructions.

[craigt_0313]

I followed the steps and set width/height to relative. Container still doesn't adjust to fit. Could be an issue with my AI install...

[tromboniator]

Use point type, not area type.

Peter

[LuisGustavoDW]

I know it's been 7 years since you posted this, but you saved me. That's exactly what I was looking for ahhahaha.

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Luis.

[macpawel · Accepted solution]

The easiest way is working with White Arrow (A) - Direct Selection Tool.

Just Select ONLY rectangle (not text and rectangle) and add stroke (F10) or/and fill

That's it

Pawel

[neils92191373]

This got it. Thanks.

[mollymCA]

Wow, I wish I'd asked how to stroke a bounding box about 20 years ago. I'm using AI Cs6 and F10 strokes the bounding box but when only the bounding box is selected the top toolbar changes -- no stroke or fill. I chose a color from the vertical toolbar but is there a way to choose a stroke width?

[mollymCA]

Oops, I scrolled down a way and found the solution: go to Window, open the Appearance panel! (Well-duh)

[edgrimley]

With the Appearance panel open, use the Direct Selection tool to select just the text box path. That will give you fill and stroke options for the path only, independent of the text..

[JamSos]

If you're having trouble selecting the text box with the white cursor it's best practice to click on the corners of the object to make sure you've selected the text box, not the text.

[tobiv333]

Is there any way to make the text actually vertically centered. i.e. remove the "descender" part of the bounding box?

[Ton Frederiks]

You can change the baseline and align