How can I type Chinese characters in Illustrator?

[edgtimeline]

How can I type Chinese and Korean characters in Illustrator?

[Test Screen Name]

Much the same way as in any other app. Are you able to use Chinese and Korean characters on your computer at all? What system?

[Scott V · Accepted solution]

Hello Ed,

Here is a link to help show you to type Chinese characters in Illustrator. It would also help if you have a Chinese keyboard to help type in Chinese.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/formatting-asian-characters.html

Thanks

Scott

[edgtimeline]

Thanks,Scott. However, I still can't manage to get Chinese characters onto my Illustrator file. Is a Chinese keyboard essential or is there a way to convert an English keyboard to type in Chinese?  Thanks for your help.

[Test Screen Name]

Please answer: Are you able to use Chinese and Korean characters on your computer at all? What system?

[edgtimeline]

No I can't get Chinese characters in any application. However, I need to enter them into an Illustrator file.  Thanks very much for any help.

[Test Screen Name]

Ok, thanks, that helps us understand what kind of advice you need.

To enter Chinese characters you need two different things.

1. A Chinese font. The ordinary fonts like Times Roman and Arial do not have Chinese shapes in them.

2. A way to get Chinese information typed on screen. One way is to use your keyboard through something called an "Input Method Editor". For instance, using the Japanese IME I can choose "Katakana" and type "HE". The IME will translate this HE to the Japanese character ヘ. Another way is to copy and paste.

So that we can help you find a font and explain how to type Chinese, please let us know

- your system. For example, Windows 8 or Mac OS Lion.

- whether you want Chinese Traditional or Chinese Simplified letters

- whether you can read the Chinese characters that follow: Adobe Acrobat是由Adobe Systems所開發的電子文書處理軟體集，可用於閱讀、編輯、管理和共享PDF格式文檔。  I do not mean "do you understand". I mean, does this show as mixture of English and Chinese letters for you, or does it have junk or boxes or some other rubbish.

[edgtimeline]

I have Windows 7 Home (not Ultimate). I'm not sure what type of Chinese characters I need - it is for use in Taiwan. Yes, the Chinese characters you typed appear correctly on my screen.

I tried to load an IME from Microsoft's sight but it said it couldn't load - I guess because I have Windows 7.

I'm very grateful for your help.

[Test Screen Name]

Ok, I think Taiwan uses Traditional Chinese. I think this is important, but I don't know: it probably depends who you want to read.

Anyway, I think this will get you started about how to use an IME: you don't have to download, it's all in your Windows settings.

You will also need to choose a suitable Traditional Chinese fonts. I don't work with Chinese so I have no recommendations.

Once you have done this you will be able to type Chinese in many apps, including Word. (Note that Word will AUTOMATICALLY choose a Chinese font, but Illustrator may not).

[edgtimeline]

I just upgraded my Windows 7 to  W7 Ultimate. Now, at last, I can enter Chinese characters.

Thanks again for your help.

[keiths55952771]

I am having a mixed result.

I enter 远端通路导管 in illustrator....the first and 5th character is a sqaure with an X in it. As you can see, it displays correctly here. It also displays fine in Word and a label prorgram (Prisym GLS) just fine. I am only havng the issue in Illustrator

Windows 7 Pro

Illustrator CS6

PLease advise

[Marvest]

For some reason Illustrator applies by default Kozuka Gothic Pr6N. Try FangSong.

[keiths55952771]

Thanks for the reply. I actually found another solution on another discussion board. Someone suggest "NSimSun" and it worked. It might be part of the FangSong like you suggested. I doubled checked it against our certified translation (of the product) and it looks the same.

Thanks again