Converting Text to Outlines in Vector Art Programs

When an artist enters text in a vector design, it behaves much the same way as any word processing program would. allowing the spelling, size, and font (type style) to be changed. The appearance of the text, however, is actually borrowed from a font file on the artist's computer. If the art is exchanged from one computer to another, the font file must be exchanged as well. The shapes of the letters are not actually made permanent until the text is "converted to outlines". This renders letter of the text as a vector shape and it is then independent of the font file, although it cannot be edited again.

Below we have provided a basic step by step guideline for converting text to outlines in some of the most common vector art programs.

Illustrator

ConvertingText to Outlines.

1. When all layout is completed, save your file to a new name in case you need to make changes later! (Save as...)
2. On the menu bar go to Select/Select/All.
3. On the menu bar go to Type/Create Outlines.

Freehand

Converting Text to Paths.

1. When all layout is completed, save your file to a new name in case you need to make changes later! (Save as...)
2. On the menu bar go to Edit/Select/All.
3. On the menu bar go to Text/Convert to Paths.

CorelDraw!

Converting Text to Curves.

1. When all layout is completed, save your file to a new name in case you need to make changes later! (Save as...)
2. On the menu bar go to Edit/Select All/Text.
3. On the menu bar go to Arrange/Convert to Curves.