Creating a Typographic Brush

Download this flower image and place it in Illustrator.

Set Up Your Layers

  1. Open your Layers Panel. Name it "Original", check the Lock and Dim box. Press OK


  2. Click on the New Layer icon to create another layer. Name that layer: Trace

  3. Select the Type Tool. Click and type the word: flower. Press the "Esc" key to set your type.
    This text is set to Myriad Pro.


  4. Convert the text to outline by pressing CMD+Shift+O (or right click and choose "Create Outilnes")

  5. Open your Brushes Panel.

  6. Drag the outlined text to an empty space in the Brushes panel. When you let go you'll see a dialog box appear.


  7. Choose "Art Brush" in the Brush Options. Then apply these 2 settings ('Proportional' & 'Method:Hue Shift'). Press OK.


  8. Choose your Brush tool. Pick a Stroke color from your Swatches/Color Panel. Your brush will apply the strokes as text.


  9. What can you come up with?

 

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