Guides / Text in a shape
How to put text inside a shape in Illustrator
Draw the shape, choose the Area Type tool (under the Type tool) and click the shape's edge; the text flows inside it. To make the letters themselves take a shape, use Envelope Distort › Make with Top Object. To turn text into an editable shape, use Type › Create Outlines.
JuicyType Shape · screen recording goes hereSkip to JuicyType ↓
The manual way, in Illustrator
- Draw a closed shape with any shape or Pen tool.
- Hold on the Type tool, pick Area Type, and click the shape's outline. Type or paste; text wraps inside.
- Adjust with Type › Area Type Options for inset spacing and columns.
- To mould the letters to a shape instead: place the shape over the text, select both, Object › Envelope Distort › Make with Top Object.
Area type shapes lose their own fill and stroke; add a copy behind if the shape should show.
Steps drafted from Illustrator's documentation; to be checked in Illustrator 2025–2026 before launch.
Or, with JuicyType
3 effects in JuicyType
For text that sits on or in a shape, Ribbon Banner and Sticker draw the container from the text, so a longer word grows the shape.
- ShapePennant, Oval, Heart, Arch and more: the word warped into the container, container drawn behind
- Ribbon Bannera banner drawn from the word
- Stickera die-cut shape that follows the letters
JuicyType≡
Shape✓
Ribbon Banner✓
Sticker✓
Keep live text●
Apply
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Common questions
Area type, point type, what is the difference?
Point type grows from a click; area type fills a container and wraps. Double-click the end handle to convert between them.