MOAN: Converting Text to Curves on Export

[rorys64395165]

It's 2023 and we have Illustrator being able to recolour artwork using artificial intelligence.

And yet it still cannot export (to PDF etc) with type converted to curves / outlines.

Am I the only one who can't understand why this is overlooked?

Don't tell me I shouldn't need to: some specialist printing or post-production software cannot cope without this and renders text in weird ways.

I am aware of the various workarounds. But they all take time which is pain when you have batches of artwork. Drawing a transparent rectangle to take advantage of flattening is just stupid.

Affinity have recognised this feature; can I really be the only one who can't believe it still doesn't exist in Illustrator?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Apply the effect > Path > Outline object to the text. Could be applied to the text layer - you DO have all your text on the same layer?

Text will be editable inside of Illustrator and expanded after exporting.

If you want to make a feature request: https://illustrator.uservoice.com

This public forum is 95% volunteers. Staff is marked as such.

[rorys64395165]

Conceding that I did not know of this non-destructive method, it still feels like a workaround. But thanks 🙂

An Export > Convert Text to Curves option like Affinity would be far superior. Am I the only one who feels this way?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

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@rorys64395165  schrieb:

An Export > Convert Text to Curves option like Affinity would be far superior. Am I the only one who feels this way?

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That would need to be an option in all the different export dialogs for the different file formats. It would need to be set for every export you are doing, because clearly nobody would want it to be on by default (that would carry the danger of ruining files for good). I don't see any difference to applying the effect (you could even set up a template file that already contains the effect).

But anyway: make a feature request.

[Ton Frederiks]

It is very easy to do what Monika suggested, record an action that selects all text and applies the Outline Object effect. Apply it with just one click.