Table of Contents
Retro Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator
In today’s typography tutorial, you will learn to make the Retro Style Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator. We will use the Type Tool, Blend Tool, Shape Builder Tool, and Pen Tool.
Launch Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Now follow the below steps:
Step 1
Select the Type Tool and type the word. Select a suitable font type and also increase the font size.
Go to the Character Panel and increase the tracking.
Let the text be selected and press Shift + Ctrl + O to make the text editable.
Step 2
Select the text and with the help of the Alt key create a duplicate copy of the text.
Now create one more duplicate copy of the text.
Select both the texts and make a Blend by pressing Alt + Ctrl + B. To make the blend smooth increase the Specified Steps in the Blend Options dialogue box. To open the Blend Options dialogue box double click on the Blend Tool in the Tool Panel.
Change the Fill color of the Blend.
Step 3
Now create two more duplicate copies of the text and place them above the blend as shown in the below image.
Place the one duplicate copy on the blend and another duplicate copy at a small distance towards the right side.
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Now make a Blend of the two layers of the text.
Now arrange this second blend layer below the first blend layer.
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Step 4
Go to the Layer Panel and select the lower text of the backward blend layer.
Now with the help of the Selection Tool adjust the selected layer. The backward blend layer is the shadow of the text. So fill this blend with a dark color to make it appear as a shadow.
Step 5
Now with the help of Pen Tool, we will create a shadow effect on the top blend layer. Select the Pen Tool and change the Fill color to a darker shade of the color filled in the top blend layer. Then draw closed paths at the bottom of the letters to give a shadow effect.
Step 6
Now place the text layer filled with black color above the blend.
Change the fill color of the text.
Step 7
Now draw a horizontal line, with the help of Pen Tool, near the text. Turn off the fill color and give a light shade stroke color.
Now select the line and with the help of the Alt key make a duplicate copy of the line. Place the duplicate copy below the original.
Then press Ctrl + D till the whole text is covered with lines.
Now select all the lines and the top layer of the text (filled with yellow color shade) then select the Shape Builder Tool from the Tool Panel.
After selecting Shape Builder Tool, press and hold the Alt key and remove the lines which are not covering the text.
Step 8
Now select the text layer which is below the lines. Press Ctrl + C to copy the text layer and then press Ctrl + F to paste the text layer in front. Swap the Fill color into Stroke and then select white as the Stroke Color.
Then open the Stroke Panel and select Align Stroke to Inside. Also, increase the Stroke Weight.
Let the white stroke text layer be selected. Right-click on the mouse and place the cursor on Arrange. Then select Bring to Front to bring the stroke layer in the front.
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Step 9
Now select the white stroke text layer and press Ctrl + C (copy the layer) and then press Ctrl + B (paste the layer at back). By pasting the stroke layer at back, we will create the shadow effect of the white stroke layer.
Select the stroke layer pasted at the back and change the stroke color from white to grey. Now move the layer slightly towards the left. The layer will come out from the text which we will remove later on.
Now select both the stroke text layers; i.e.; the white stroke text layer and the grey stroke text layer.
Then select the Shape Builder Tool and remove the paths which are coming over the blue blend layer.
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Select the Rectangle Tool and draw a nice background.
This is how you can make Retro Style Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator. Practice this tutorial and share your views in the comment section. Also, share this tutorial with others.
