Illustrator Effects can't be applied

[Daniela5E41]

hey there, 

I'll start by saying that I'm fairly new to illustrator, I've learned it in school but forgot most of it over time.

I want to create a text with 3D effect, which worked great. This was only a small exercise, now that I deleted the text and started to create a new one with the effect, it just doesn't work anymore. I can't click on the effect (it's light grey, so not 'clickable'). I tried everything, deleting all filters/ effects in the apperance window, checking if my font is converted to paths and even closing and reopening illustrator.

Does someone know the answer to my problem? I'm starting to loose hope and patience.

[Daniela5E41 · Accepted solution]

I just realized that I can't use filters on text, when I select the text.

so thanks to myself and everyone who supported me in those difficult times of half an hour.

Maybe someone else is as stupid as me and can be helped by my mistakes.

[Dan Rodney · Accepted solution]

Try selecting the text object as a single element (using the Selection tool) and not using the Type tool to select the text. Selecting characters limits what you can do. Text objects are more capable than characters.

[michelew83603738 · Accepted solution]

Are you selecting your text by highlighting it or are you selecting it with the selection tool (black arrow)? If highlighted, you can't do the things you want, you need to select the text as a whole and then you shouldn't have anymore problems. If you are still haveing problems, then please post some scene shots of your artboard and layers panerl expaneded so we can see what is going on.

[Daniela5E41]

I did highlight the text

Thank you, everything works fine now 🙂