Fill in gaps in a hollow text font

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

Hi all !

I'm using DS Cathedral font and I'd like to be able to use a stroke so the inner font is brown and the outer is yellow.

I thought I could do this naturally but when I add stroke, it doesn't fill all the gaps in the background and adding more stroke just got over the orignal text. If you see what i mean in the attachement.

I have tried a clipping mask but evezrything got yellow then.

Possible to do it easily 

Thank you

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

In the Appearance panel add a new fill and move it below the characters.

Then apply Effect > Pathfinder > Trim and after that Effect > Pathfinder > Add to that fill (only to that fill). Disregard the warnings. Unfortunately this will also fill the punches.

Maybe you could also add a new stroke in the Appearance panel, move it below the Characters and then just apply a very thick stroke so that the gaps are filled.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Similar to Monika's solution but with Pathfinder Merge.

Object > Expand Appearance will create outlines and the Shape Builder tool (Shift M) will remove the fill in the e when clicked with the Alt key.

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

Wow thank you both of you !  Appearance, pathfinder and fill for the color  and shape tool to remove the extra color in E did the trick ! I learned a lot with that one !  🙂

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped.

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

The colored path thickness is a little bit too small in my opinion but I'll check how I can enlarge it !

[Ton Frederiks]

I am not sure that I understand what you mean by the colored path thickness is a little bit too small. 

It has the same size at the characters.

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

It's a feeling based on the final result I want.

I think it's maybe due to the rounded corner of the inner path

It is possible to modify the corners and ask that it's mor straight than rounded ?  see the final result expected

If you see what I mean 🙂

[Ton Frederiks]

The way the font is designed with varying thickness and roundness will make that very difficult.

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

Ok, I can do it using Pen tool with anchor but it will require some time 🙂 

Thanks !

[Benjamin24186980srbo]

Hi ton, just to let you know, finally, I have re-shaped the anchors and paths of the letters I needed to make it more straight.

It took me time but happy with the results 🙂

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that, Benjamin.