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A
Anonymous
May 9, 2008
Question

Drop Cap In Illustrator

  • May 9, 2008
  • 8 replies
  • 99255 views
Is there any way to drop cap the first letter of a paragraph like you can in InDesign?

Thanks

      8 replies

      M
      mstone-638EfM
      Participating Frequently
      July 15, 2010

      Another method is to type your cap, (then create outlines) This is important so that you can eliminate any leading. Next draw a transparent box around the letter to assign the amount of wrap. Group the box and the cap and bring the object on top of your body text. Then select Object > Text Wrap > Make. I have found this to be a fast way to make drop caps and it allows for very precise control. One side effect is that it does not spell check.

      W
      Wade_Zimmerman1
      Inspiring
      July 15, 2010

      In any case I find the two text wrap methods to be a better way as it is easier to enlarge the Character and still have the text wrap automatically with out you needed to reset to baseline offset etc.

      V
      Vernox
      Inspiring
      May 13, 2008
      Just set a tab at the correct point in the second line and tab the start of the second line over

      Alternatively:

      (The drop cap and the two lines need to be a separate paragraph than the third (and fourth and fifth...) lines for this method and the text must be in a box.)

      Set a left margin about the width of the drop cap, than set the first line indent to be the negative value of the left margin value. Tune as required. Note that you have to set the margin first, if you try and set the negative first line indent first, Illustrator will tell you youre crazy, it cant be done so piss off (the logic is that the first line indent cannot be wider than the margin).

      Yours
      Vern
      A
      Anonymous
      May 9, 2008
      Th first letter with a negative baseline value is now overlapping the second line of text below. How do I get the second line underneath to move over to the right so that it is not covered up by the paragraph's first letter now?
      A
      Anonymous
      May 9, 2008
      Larry beat me with an alternative method. His works well if your drop cap is "unadorned." If you want to prettify it in any way, try the text wrap method.
      A
      Anonymous
      May 9, 2008
      No apologies necessary. How can you know if you don't know?

      Make your drop cap. Put a text wrap around it. Type your body copy. Arrange the two elements so your text wraps around the drop cap.
        M
        mirafoto
        Known Participant
        May 16, 2020

        How to arrange elements to make text wrap around another one?

         

        M
        mirafoto
        Known Participant
        May 16, 2020

        Ok, Object - Text Wrap - Make Wrap

         

        Larry G. Schneider
        Community Expert
        Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 9, 2008
        With the Text tool, highlight only the first letter of the paragraph. From the Character Palette, resize the letter appropriately and then set a negative baseline for the letter. In the Paragraph Palette, indent the paragraph as needed and set a negative first line.
          A
          Anonymous
          May 9, 2008
          I apologize for my ignorance...how would you do it manually?
          A
          Anonymous
          May 9, 2008
          Only manually.
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