Envelope Distort > Make with top object.

[The Buzz]

Online tutorials show users creating a shape > typing text > converting text to outline > move shape to front > selecting shape and text > Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object. It shapes the text perfectly to shape, without distorting the font or curving the letters.

But when I follow these steps, but my text always comes out wavy and distorted within the shape. I've tried Envelope Options and deselecting "Distort Appearance" but this does nothing.

This is happening with uniform serif fonts or detailed san serif fonts.

I have read through the forum and tired addeding extra points on the down arrow shape and made that shape a gradient mesh (2 rows and 2 colums) and the issue is still the same. 

Any guidence on this would be apprecated 

[Doug A Roberts]

Monika's method here worked for me:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/make-with-top-object-text-distorted/td-p/9538...

Side question: is this four year old post also yours?

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/34342096--envel...

[The Buzz]

Thanks Doug,

Yes I did try Monkia's method and to no avail unfortunatley..

Side Q: No it's not my post, I was just being lazy and I just cut and pasted some of the text to save me typing out the same thing.

[Monika Gause]

I've made a video about it in the meantime to further explain the issue.

What applies to meshes, does also apply to envelopes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIqGHoLPuuE

[The Buzz]

Thanks for the link to the video @Monika Gause , this helped with me understanding how meshes work.

Unfortunately it's still distorting the text when I do these steps and envelope to top object

[The Buzz]

For this results 

[The Buzz]

Or if I just utilize half the shape so it's a sheared rectangle I still get the same results for following your instructions.

Is there something I'm missing or is this something Illustrator will need to look at for me..?

[Monika Gause]

I would recommend you do it with half the shape.

And then for the method to work you need 5 points on your shape. It's very important to have more than 4 anchorpoints because of the way Illustrator selects things.

You should also try if shearing the objects could just do it for you.

[The Buzz]

Thanks again for your reply @Monika Gause  unfortunately I'm getting the same outcome. These last screen shots I sent through had 5 points (1 in each corner + one bottom left) on them and I tried again as the whole shape and half the shape with the same out comes.

[Monika Gause]

Please share your AI file with the base objects on Dropbox, Creative Cloud or the like.

[The Buzz]

@Monika Gause 

Here you are.. thanks again for your time and effort on this.

Here they are pre meshed.... see how you go with them...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxq74dlwgydrmyv/enevelope%20issue%20file.ai?dl=0

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/5a2508033e9b430f19b9d7fbe9fa24c620220314074119/f4dd7f

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

It can be done.

I think the error happens when you create the mesh.

You have to select the 4 corners with the direct selection tool. And then Make the mesh. And then make the envelope. https://www.dropbox.com/s/1pbdgy6lbksjkwy/Makegradientmesh.mov?dl=0

[The Buzz]

Thanks Monica,