Guides / Text to outlines
How to convert text to a shape (outlines) in Illustrator
Select the text and choose Type › Create Outlines (⇧⌘O). The letters become editable paths you can cut, merge and reshape, and they no longer need the font. It cannot be undone later, so keep a live copy. Most effects no longer require it; JuicyType's effects work on the live text.
JuicyType Crack · screen recording goes hereSkip to JuicyType ↓
The manual way, in Illustrator
- Duplicate the text (⌘C, ⌘F) and hide the original in the Layers panel as a backup.
- Select the copy and go to Type › Create Outlines.
- Ungroup (⇧⌘G) to edit letters individually; use the Direct Selection tool for points.
- Merge or cut with the Pathfinder panel as needed.
Outlined text is heavier for the file and cannot be spell-checked or retyped; reserve it for hand-lettering edits or printer requirements.
Steps drafted from Illustrator's documentation; to be checked in Illustrator 2025–2026 before launch.
Or, with JuicyType
3 effects in JuicyType
The three common reasons to outline text, cutting it, splitting it and adding tails, are each a live effect in JuicyType.
- Crackshards and cracks without cutting outlines by hand
- Split Facea divide-and-shift split as a live effect
- Swishtails drawn out of the letters, no Pathfinder
JuicyType≡
Crack✓
Split Face✓
Swish✓
Keep live text●
Apply
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Common questions
How do I undo Create Outlines?
Only with Undo right away. Otherwise retype the text; that is why you keep a copy.