The Letterville BullBoard: In Illustrator how do you convert to curves?

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»	The Letterville BullBoard » Old Archives » In Illustrator how do you convert to curves?

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Topic: In Illustrator how do you convert to curves?

Amy Brown
Visitor
Member # 1963

posted

I have a customer that is trying to send me their logo with some fonts I don't have. I've asked them to have their designer convert the image to curves.

What it the proper terminology for Illustrator users? Anyone have step-by-step instructions fro me to send to this so called designer!! I hope they didn't pay much for this crap that I am seeing so far!

Thanks!

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Amy Brown
Life Skills 101
Private Address

Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

Bob Gilliland
Visitor
Member # 28

posted

Mr Adobe is probably getting ready for the big Sandcastle meet, so I’ll pinch hit this time around.

With the Text selected…

MAC: Command+Shift+O
PC: Control+Shift+O

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Bob Gilliland
InKnowVative Communications
Harrisburg PA, USA

"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it.
You have to catch up with it yourself."
Benjamin Franklin

Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998 | IP: Logged |

ScooterX
Resident

Member # 2023

posted

well, of course it might make a difference as to which version of Illustrator, and if its for the PC or Mac,...

I've got Illustrator version 9 for the Mac, and this is how I do it:

1. "Select All" (with the Arrow/Selection tool, NOT with the Text tool)
2. "Create Outlines" (the command is under the Type menu)

that will get everything on the page - including any invisible text or other things like the (R) that sometimes get missed.

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:: Scooter Marriner ::
:: Coyote Signs ::
:: Oakland, CA ::
:: still a beginner ::
::

Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged |

Amy Brown
Visitor
Member # 1963

posted

Thanks guys!

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Amy Brown
Life Skills 101
Private Address

Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

Don Coplen
Resident

Member # 127

posted

Mr Adobe, eh? lol

Bob, thought you'd be packing for Florida by now.

You covered that pretty well. The part about invisible objects I may as well add a bit on. If you go to object>path>cleanup, you'll get rid of those pesky invisible objects and stray nodes.

One major cause of invisible objects is when using the pathfinder divide tool. It will put unstroked, unfilled objects inside of closed objects, which you won't see. If you're cutting, your plotter will see these and cut shapes twice. This generally won't hurt anything unless the second pass cuts through your vinyl backer, but it will cause you to require twice the time to cut your art.

Stray nodes are single points/nodes in your artwork that aren't connected to anything. One way this happens is if you click in your workspace with your type tool but don't type anything. These can make your plotter not want to talk to you.

Do the "cleanup" routine and you won't have to mess with either one of these potential problems.

(Sorry, I would have just answered your question, but everybody beat me to it)

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...

Posts: 4084 | From: ... | Registered: Nov 1998 | IP: Logged |

John Smith
Resident