Learn how to create multi-stroked text with effects using Adobe Illustrator with our guide. From selecting the right brush to layering and blending, our guide covers all the essential steps for creating eye-catching multi-stroked text with effects that add depth and dimension to your designs.
Type the text preferably using a stout font. Then convert it to outlines. Press Ctrl+H to hide the points. If the letters are too close together, increase the tracking. You may also need to increase the size of the font as well.
2 Apply a Stroke of 5pt to the lettering.
3 Open the Appearance palette. The stroke of the text is red and has a point value of 5 and the fill is black.
4 Choose the Stroke layer.
5 Click on the arrow and choose Duplicate Item.
6 We have two Stroke layers now.
7 Without deselecting the Stroke layer, change the weight to 3 pt. Change the colour.
8 Duplicate the layer. Change the stroke weight to 1 pt. Change the colour.
9 Duplicate one more time. Changed the weight to .25. Change the colour.
10 Have a close look at the letter.
11 Choose the second stroke layer and apply a Transparency of Multiply.
12 This is the result.
13 Increase the size of the first layer and duplicate. Then change the attributes as shown below.
14 Here is the result of Step 13.
15 Choose the red layer again.
16 Apply a Pencil brush stroke.
17 Choose the yellow stroke layer and apply the Galaxy brush stroke to it.
18 It has turned out very nicely.
19 Here is the result. This has all been achieved by merely using the Appearance palette, creating multiple stroke layers, changing the
values, and applying brush strokes to a couple of the stroke layers as well.
Note: If we were to continue drawing other items, we’d find that the effect below would follow. To stop the effect replicating itself onto other shapes, click on the arrow and select Reduce to Basic Appearance. You can also create a basic appearance piece and use the Eyedropper tool and click on the effect text to replicate it onto the piece and then turn around, select individual stroke layers and change their appearance and transparency as in the sample below the text shows.
