Step Text in Illustrator

We have a fun text effect tutorial for you today! We will teach you how to create a cliff or step text effect in Illustrator. You can make this text effect with any word or phrase, and it’s really cool to look at.

Thick fonts like those found on Font Bundles work great for this text effect.

Step 1 - Add an Artboard-Sized Rectangle

Pick a Fill color for the background. We went with the color red.

Then select the Rectangle Tool (M) and make a rectangle covering the entire artboard.

Step 2 - Lock the Background Layer

Lock your rectangle layer in the Layers panel by clicking on the left side of the layer thumbnail. A small padlock icon will appear once it’s locked.

Step 3 - Create a New Layer

Click the Create New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 4 - Add the Text

Click the Type Tool (T) in the left toolbar.

Set white as the Fill color. Then select your font and change the font options in the Control panel or the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Next, click on the artboard and type your text.

Step 5 - Create Outlines of the Text

With the text selected, right-click and choose Create Outlines.

Step 6 - Cut the Text With the Knife Tool

Select the Knife tool in the toolbar.

Then draw a line that cuts through your text from left to right. The idea is to divide your text into two halves (top and bottom).

Step 7 - Distort the Text

Click on the Add new effect (fx) icon in the Appearance panel and go to Distort & Transform > Free Distort.

Move the corners of the image in the Free Distort dialog to make it look like the text is lying somewhat flat on the ground at a slight angle. Once you are happy, click OK.

Step 8 - Apply Expand Appearance to the Text

Go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Then right-click and choose Ungroup (Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + G).

Step 9 - Group Text Pieces and Move Them

Holding the Shift key, select the parts of the text that belong to the top portion, then Group (Ctrl/Cmd + G) them together.

Do the same with the ones that belong to the bottom portion. Next, select the bottom portion, and move it down using the arrow keys or dragging it down while holding Shift.

Step 10 - Draw a Path With the Pen Tool That Matches the Cut

With the Pen Tool (P), draw a path that matches the curves of the cut as best as possible.

Make the path go from the left edge of the artboard to the right edge.

Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to modify the anchor points and angles where needed. Then Copy (Ctrl/Cmd + C) the path and Paste in Front (Ctrl/Cmd + F).

Move the path copy down and match it to the cut of the bottom text portion.

Step 11 - Join the Lines to Create the Step Shape

With the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the anchor points on the left ends of both lines.

Then Join (Ctrl/Cmd + J) the anchor points. Repeat with the anchor points on the right ends to close the path and create a shape.

Fill the shape with a gradient that has the same background color at the top and a darker shade on the bottom.

Step 12 - Fix the Text and Shape

Select the bottom text portion, right-click, and choose Ungroup (Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + G).

Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to fix any parts of the text and/or shape that don’t exactly line up.

You can select your text and Lock (Ctrl/Cmd + 2) it temporarily if that helps to make editing the shape easier.

Repeat this step for the top text portion as well.

Step 13 - Draw Shapes With the Pen Tool to Connect the Top and Bottom Text Portions

Select the Pen Tool (P).

Then draw some shapes to “connect” the top and bottom text portions to make it look like the text is going down the step. Fix any problems with overlapping using the Direct Selection Tool (A).

Select the “connecting” shapes, and in the Transparency panel, change their Blending Mode to Hard Light, and lower their Opacity to 60%.

Your work should look similar to ours down below.

And that’s how to create step text in Illustrator! Go on and try this text effect with whatever words and phrases you want!