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Yotamik
Yotamik
Inspiring
May 31, 2020
Answered

How to write on a Path with Auto-spacing in Illustrator?

  • May 31, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 3272 views
What do I do if I need to spread text along an entire circle path in Illustrator, but I am not allowed to change the font size, because the brand guideline provides me with certain character rules.
 
When applying text on a circular (or any) path in After Effects, there is a function you can turn on called 'Force Alignment'. This tells After Effects to calculate the spaces between characters and words, so it will make sure to stretch your line of text from one end of the path to the other. And the tab key makes bigger spaces between two sentences or words to create separation for instance.
 

 

How can I apply the same practice in Illustrator?
 
I have a fixed font size, I place those lines that tell Illustrator where to start and end the text on the path, right next to each other. Now I want Illustrator to know how large the kerning, gaps between words, and tab spaces need to be, in order for the line to reach both ends of the circle, just like in the right example above.
 
 
{Renamed by MOD}
 
 
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Yotamik

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/distributing-text-along-a-circular-path-evenly/td-p/10611492?page=1

 

I have found a way around it, although it is not as easy as it is in After Effects, just one button to be enabled, it is not as complicated as readjusting the kerning every time I change the word.

 

Seems that Illustrator does not have this feature AE does, these are different programmes after all.

5 replies

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 12, 2020

yotamguttman,

 

"The much larger gap is in Illustrator not After Effects."

 

I am referring to the gap in the black image to the right that says AfterEffects (in the OP/original post), which is about 50% larger than the other 6 gaps.

 

My eyes see it as much larger.

 

 

Yotamik
YotamikAuthor
Inspiring
June 12, 2020

Okay that might be because I cheated and created the black circle in Illustrator, imitating how it would look if it was done with After Effects.

 

It is easy to export an image in Illustrator so I did all the comparison in Illustrator.

 

However, I replied to your previous post with examples from After Effects by taking a screenshot, you can see how After Effects distributes the text evenly when you turn the 'force alignment' feature on.

Yotamik
YotamikAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
June 12, 2020

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/distributing-text-along-a-circular-path-evenly/td-p/10611492?page=1

 

I have found a way around it, although it is not as easy as it is in After Effects, just one button to be enabled, it is not as complicated as readjusting the kerning every time I change the word.

 

Seems that Illustrator does not have this feature AE does, these are different programmes after all.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 12, 2020

    yotamguttman,

     

    "but After Effects does automatically, what needs to be manually done in illustrator,"

     

    Are you satisfied with the irregularity in AfterEffects, especially the much larger gap to the left of the top instance of Photographer?

     

    Yotamik
    YotamikAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 12, 2020

    The much larger gap is in Illustrator not After Effects.

     

    Let me try to clarify.

    After Effects ha got the 'Force Alignment' feature, which makes it distribute the text by adjusting the spaces automatically, so the text is reaching from one part of the path to the other, which allows me to have it appear as a full circle.

     

    This comes in very handily when I need to change the word along the circle. In Illustrator, every time I change the word I need to adjust spacing and kerning because it is either too short and not reaching from the start to the end of the path (as seen in the left example above). Whereas in After Effect, thanks to the force alignment feature, I do not need to worry about the length of any word because it will have just made it right. Whether if it is a word the length of "Photographer" or "Graphic Designer". I would not need to adjust any preference such as kerning or add more tab spacing between the words to complete a circle After Effects adjusts the spacing of the words on its own.

     

    Thank you a lot for your attempts to help!

     

    I hope have managed to make it clearer this time.

    Yotamik
    YotamikAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 12, 2020

     

    This is an example of the feature.

     

    Besides writing the text and spacing each word with a tab, I did nothing else.

     

    In the top example, as you can see, the 'Force Alignment' feature is turned off.

    In the bottom example, the feature is turned on.

     

    The software does the justification and spacing on its own, regardless of which word you have chosen to fill in, whereas in Illustrator you will have to manipulate the paragraph parameters every time you change the word you apply along the circle because it will be either too short to too long.

     

    All I am asking is if there is a function of Illustrator, just like After Effects, that the programme can complete the circle on its own by changing the spacing of the words, without me getting involved in the process every time I need to change the word.

    Srishti Bali
    Srishti Bali
    Legend
    June 12, 2020

    Hi there,

    I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.
    Kindly update the discussion if you still need assistance with it.

    Regards,
    Srishti

    Yotamik
    YotamikAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 12, 2020

    It is not the ideal solution but there are ways around it. Seems like the feature I was after does not work as I wished in Illustrator. 

     

    The answers were very helpful, but After Effects does automatically, what needs to be manually done in illustrator, although it's exactly the same tool.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 2, 2020

    Yotam,

     

    I believe you may be happier with a different, more simple/flexible and even more accurate approach:

     

    1) before adding the Type, select the circle and Object>Path>Offset Path by a sufficiently large offset and remove the Stroke from the offset (circle) path;

    2) Apply one instance of the Type on the (original) path, then ShiftClickDrag to select everything and Ctrl/Cmd+G to Group;

    3) Effect>Distort & Transform>Transform>Rotate by the desired angle (360 divided by the number of Type instances, such as 7 as shown in your screenshot) and number of copies (number of Type instances less 1).

     

    You can Undo and redo 3) until it looks right if you change your mind about number of instances.

     

    If desired, you can Object>Expand Appearance to get single instances of Type on (copies of) the original path; and (if you must) you can Type>Create Outlines to have just the outlined Type instances.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 2, 2020

      You could apply "Force justification" to the paragraph. Then adjust the tracking of the type manually until it looks good.

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