Creating a dot-matrix/"scoreboard" text pattern

[TheJeffMiller]

I'm stumped.

I need to create a bunch (100+) of signs that will have a dot-matrix style pattern to the text.

The desired end-result is something like this:

I started by creating the field of dots, and then outlining the character on top:

That's where I'm getting stumped. What I need is a way to select all the dots underneath the character that are fully within the character's boundary. If I try doing a simple clipping mask, the problem is the dots on the edges are cut off:

That's not the look I want.

I could go through and clean these characters up by hand, but that would be extremely laborious given the amount of work I have in front of me.

I also thought about creating a new font, but that introduces a whole other set of problems...mainly that my output requirements have lots of different type sizes, but all the dots have to be the same size.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

TRy the method described in here:

Vektorgarten - Pathfinder-Special

(some of the examples on that page can be achieved by other methods, but for your example it will work)

[TheJeffMiller]

Excellent! That will work!

Still a bit cumbersome, but way, way easier than trying to do it all by hand!

Thanks!

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome.

Unfortunately the easiest method will not work for you since you don't have a 90° angle in you dot matrix. That easiest method would have been to rasterize your type and then use the Object > Object mosaic function followed by the Convert to shape > Ellipse effect.

Just in case you could make use of it some day.