How to Fill a Shape with Text in Adobe Illustrator

I bet you’ve already seen this kind of super cool text effect design? 

Being a graphic design newbie ten years ago, I always wondered how does it happen? I just didn’t think it was that easy until I tried. Nothing crazy, just select and click a couple of times. 

You can create an awesome text poster or vector using the Envelope Distort tool or simply fill your paragraph in a shape with the help of the Type Tool. Whatever you’re making, you’ll find a solution today. 

In this tutorial, I’m going to share with you two quick and easy ways to fill a shape with text in Adobe Illustrator. 

Let’s dive in! 

2 Easy Ways to Fill a Shape with Text in Adobe Illustrator

You can fill text in a shape using Envelope Distort and the famous Type Tool in a couple of selects and clicks. Envelope Distort fits text in a shape by distorting the text form while the Type Tool simply fills text in a shape without distorting the text. 

Note: Screenshots are taken from Adobe Illustrator CC Mac version. Windows or other versions might look slightly different. 

Method 1: Envelope Distort

You can create a really cool text effect using the envelope distort tool and it’s super easy to make. 

Step 1: Create a shape that you’ll fill your text in. If you downloaded a vector shape, place it on your artboard. For example, I’m creating a heart shape and I’m going to fill it with text. 

Step 2: Use the Type Tool to add text to your Illustrator document. I typed the word love. 

Step 3: Bring the shape to the front with the keyboard shortcuts Command + Shift + ] or right-click on the shape Arrange > Bring to Front. 

Note: Your top object must be a path, if your text is on top, you should send it back (behind the shape) before going to Step 4.

Step 4: Select both the shape and text and go to the overhead menu Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object. 

You should see something like this. 

It works the same if you have a paragraph of text. Select the text box and the shape, and follow the same steps. 

Method 2: Type Tool

If you’re filling a paragraph or text in an object but don’t want to distort any text, the Type Tool is the go-to. 

Step 1: Create a shape or place a shape in Adobe Illustrator. 

Step 2: Select the Type Tool. When you hover your mouse near the shape path, you’ll see a dotted circle around the type icon. 

Step 3: Click near the shape border and you should see Lorem Ipsum text filled in the shape. Simply replace your text on it. 

Pretty easy, right?

FAQs

Below you’ll find quick answers to some of the questions related to filling a shape with text in Adobe Illustrator. 

How do you fill a letter with text? 

Create a text outline of the letter and go to the overhead menu Object > Compound Path > Release. Then you can use either of the methods above to fill it with text. 

How to change the color of the text filled in a shape? 

If you use the Type Tool method, you can directly change the text color by selecting the text and choosing a color from Swatches or the Color Picker. 

If you want to change the color of text made by envelope distort, double-click on the text within the shape and change the color from the separated layer. Double-click the artboard again to exit the layer editing mode.

How do I fill different text in a shape?

I assume you’re talking about using the Envelope Distort?

You will need to create different paths and fill in different text using the same method: Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object and combine them. 

Wrapping Up

Filling text into a shape in Adobe Illustrator is only a few clicks away. The type tool method works best when you simply want to fit text into a shape. It’s quick and allows you to edit text easily. 

If you are thinking of creating a text vector or design and don’t mind distorting the text, try the Envelope Distort option. Just keep in mind that your top object has to be a path. 

Have fun creating! 

Graduated from Creative Advertising major, worked more than eight years as a graphic designer focusing in branding and Illustration. Yes, Adobe Illustrator is my best friend and I’m passionate about art and design.