How do I emulate faux bold in Illustrator?

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Hi all,

A long time ago I designed a logo in Photoshop (before I knew about the wonders of Illustrator) and applied a faux bold setting to a font which does not come with a bold style.

I'm currently learning Illustrator and thought I would have a go at redesigning the logo so its a vector graphic. Only problem is, I can't replicate the exact look of the text as I can't apply a faux bold in Illustrator. Instead I'm left with a thin looking font (the font I'm using is 'coolvetica')

This makes sense, as I imagine Illustrator can't determine paths with a faux bold turned on. Is there any way I can duplicate the look of the font I've used in Photoshop into Illustrator, with a view to it becoming a vector graphic?

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Bob Horry

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Bob:

Not recommended but- Select text and add a stroke (same color as fill) and set stroke width to taste.

steve

[Bert Philippus]

Steve:

I can't find the "taste" setting...

Bert

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Bert:

In Edit> Preferences> General (Ctrl + k) check Enable Graphic Quality. Now in the Stroke Palette (Window> Stroke), when fully expanded, can move the Taste slider between Good and Bad toward the bad end.

steve

[J***@adobeforums.com]

That setting, of course--as Stephen explains--is poorly implemented as a general pref instead of as the document-specific setting common sense dictates it should be. So all of your open documents will taste either good or bad, regardless of how you had set their taste when you saved them.

It was designed by the same engineer who programmed SmartGuides.

;-)

JET

[S***@adobeforums.com]

James:

As you well know this capability is a feature, not a workaround. We don't need no steenking taste buttons on the Toolbar (but context sensitive on the Control Palette might greatly improve the quality of my artwork).

steve

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for your replies.

Steve: I'm having some troubles locating that check box in my general preferences. This is what I am presented with:

* Disable auto add / delete
* Use precise cursors
* Show tool tips
* Anti-aliased artwork
* Select same tint %
* Append upon opening legacy files
* Double click to isolate
* Use Japanese crop marks
* Transform pattern tiles
* Scale strokes and effects
* Use preview bounds

I can't find "Enable Graphic Quality". Also, let's say I wanted to have a faux bold text which was white with a black stroke, could I apply your method, then convert the text to outline (and then fill again?)

Thanks alot

Cheers

Bob

[Bert Philippus]

[L***@adobeforums.com]

Bob,

The gang are having a laugh at your expense, I'm afraid.

When Steve said "set stroke width to taste. ", he meant "set the stroke to a suitable width".

Bert and JET were just having fun - encouraged by Steve.

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Bob,

Also, let's say I wanted to have a faux bold text which was white with
a black stroke, could I apply your method, then convert the text to outline
(and then fill again?)




There is no need to outline: in the Appearance Palette, Fill is shown as None; if you select it (just click) you can change it to Color in the bottom of the Toolbox and insert the values for white.

When you Add Stroke, it will be on top of the fill so the white part will be smaller than the actual font; if you want it to fille the font, the stroke being an addition completely outside, you can drag the Stroke down below the Fill in the Appearance Palette and increase the Stroke Width.

Hi gang.

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Lol thanks guys - will try not to take things so literally next time.

Jacob - the appearance palette trick works a treat thank you very much.

Kind Regards

Bob

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Bob,

You are welcome. And now you know who belong to the banter gang.

[Bert Philippus]

Hey Hey watch it, pal! ;)