We know how daunting it can be to start a brand, you may have great ideas and loads of ambition, but where do you start? We’ve put together some advice to help you get going.
This is a very quick and easy step-by-step tutorial on one of the most essential requirements to sending artwork to print.
Here at Icon Printing, we often have to manually edit artwork because text has come through to us as an ‘active’ typeface. This basically means it is still editable, and if we don’t have the typeface you’ve used on our system it will convert to a default font and your design will all of a sudden look very different!
Converting type to outlines – also known as “expanding” it, essentially means you are turning it into a graphic. Once this quick process has been done to all your type, you will no longer be able to edit it and neither will we – which is just what you want.
Step 1.
Firstly, always try to remember to make a copy of your design to convert, don’t alter the original – that way you always have something to edit, should you wish.
Step 2.
Once you have your (copied version) artwork ready to go, select the text. At this moment in time your text is still editable and a box will appear around it – like shown below:
Step 3.
Your text is now ready to convert.
Using the top menu bar, go to: TYPE > CREATE OUTLINES
Your selection will now look like this:
Each letter is now its own graphic/vector. You can move them, alter their size, shape and colour – but you can no longer type into this selection or change the letters or wording.
You’re done! This is now ready to send through to us. Don’t forget to to this to every item of type, including glyphs (posh word for additional letter forms or marks available within a typeface) and you should have no problems!