How To Create Custom Type Designs in Adobe Illustrator

In today's Adobe Illustrator tutorial I'm going to show you how to create a custom typography design. Usually text styles like this would be lettered by hand, but in this tutorial I'll share some secrets on how you can still create cool looking typography by customising ready-made fonts with clever OpenType features. The tutorial will then continue with some customisation of the type to add shadows, offset accents and highlights to create a bright and colourful text effect.

Get 30% off my top 5 script fonts
There must be 1000s of typefaces in my fonts library, but I often find myself choosing the same select few in my creative projects. I’ve put together a collection of my top 5 script fonts with a 30% discount. If you want to enjoy my most-used typefaces in your own projects too, check out this special custom bundle at Design Cuts to pick them up at the best price around!

Deals & Discounts:

Tools & Resources I Use:

Watch more of my content:

#Illustrator #IllustratorTutorial #AdobeIllustrator

Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator design tutorials from Chris Spooner of Spoon Graphics. Subscribe to learn how to create stunning artwork as I share my tips and tricks in video format.

[nmflash]

While most people have commented that you went too fast, I disagree. Granted, I have been using Illustrator for years (lots and lots of years) so I wasn't looking for a beginner tutorial. So, the pace was perfect. Nothing is more painful than wanting to pick up a couple quick tips and have someone drone on and on about what the pen tool is, and having to sit through 10 minutes of video for a 15 second trick. Nice job overall!

[staticklingon]

4:00 OMG. I had NO CLUE you could do that in Illustrator. This just made my month. THANK YOU!

[AWopBopaLoo]

Loved learning how to do something with such an amazing result! For those who couldn't keep up - take it step by step - split screen between YouTube and Illustrator. Worked for me like a charm.

[scottbminer]

One of the most thorough, concise, and well orchestrated tutorials I've come across on YouTube. And you actually explain the techniques verbally & with type, where a lot of people fail by assuming the audience "knows."
High Fives Mate, you've done a great job. Thank you for the knowledge shared.

[Fancylooks]

The trick with the brush ellipse made my day, thank you so much! The rest is very interesting, I use the appearence tool to make those effects and it also works wonderful, though it is a bit more difficult to understand and takes a bit of patience to get the trick.

[berlinnful]

funny how I'm actually learning more from your videos than I did from my tutors back in the university..

[epiphanyvideomarketing]

I know everyone complains about people being to fast with this type of stuff, but God al mighty, I really hate it when they're super slow... so thanks for the quick work... that's what pause is for. Keep up the good work.

[mexatroll]

I had to stop the video each 5 seconds, so I could do this in like 30 minutes. But you are AMAZING, LOVE IT.

[josephsnowball]

I loved designing it and my outcome was remarkable on the first try !

[at]

You talk a just bit too fast me, but you're awesome!!! NICE WORK!! Thanks for sharing...

[sketchbookzm]

Mans says he's a noob but I was barely keeping up, but all in all you're a BAD MAN. Respect

[yerlee]

THAT OPEN TYPE FEATURE IS A GAME CHANGER.

[chiderajames]

''how mere us mortals can make use of the high quality fonts with open type feature that has been made by the typographic gods'' .

[Mrkva]

*teaches beginners
*uses premium fonts that cost 99 dollars

[barbaragoatcher]

What a great, and concise turorial! I tried many before this one and couldn't crack it. This one worked first time!

[SkolVikings]

My new favorite tutorial account. Gets straight to the point and provides the meaningful steps clearly. Not like other tutorials that give 50 steps talking about grouping in the layers panel. Awesome video!

[leahmitchell]

Hi, looks like a great tutorial but way too fast too follow, even when I stop and go back to fast for me .

[VansVibes]

I tried this today with the lobster 1.3 font and had a little trouble with some steps like the brush at the end and the blend with specified steps but I got it. I will definitely try it again with different fonts this was fun to do thank you.

[Navigator]

You are spot on about buying quality fonts. I refer to this video over and over. Watching your videos puts money in my pocket. Thank you!

[realtoast]

I'm liking how you zip through the tutorial without the normal fill talk. Just right to the point where it's very easy to stop the video, mimic the action, and move to the next action without having to scrub through nonsense talk.