By Design Bundles
05 Nov 2017
4 Mins

Folded Text Effect in Illustrator

For this tutorial we used Bajern Font from Font Bundles. Just make sure the font you choose has angles in it so the folding effect will be easier to achieve.

1 – In Illustrator create a New Document or open an existing one.

2 - Using the “Type Tool” (T) and the font you chose write your text. You can give it any color and size.

3 – Select your text with the “Selection Tool” and go to Object > Expand. “Object” and “Fill” must be selected in the dialog window. Click OK.

4 - Select the text again and right-click on it then select “Ungroup” to make each letter selectable.

5 – Now, let’s start making the shading for the folded areas. Use the “Pen Tool” (P) to draw vector shapes in the areas your shading will occur.

6 - Fill the vector shapes with gradients and apply this settings (the angle of the gradient will be different depending on the location of the shaded area. Complete all the folded areas for every letter.

Horizontal: Transparency: Multiply, Opacity 50 %. Gradient: Angle: Linear from transparent to black or a darker shade of the color of your text.

Vertical: Transparency: Multiply, 40 % opacity.

7 – In some of our letters we are making some “Highlights”. Instead of using black (or a dark color) use white and change the Transparency mode to “Luminosity”.

8 – If you want to modify your shapes you can use the “Direct Selection Tool” (A) to move individual anchors in your path.

9 – On the letters that have longer portions, add a shade in the middle with a values similar to this:

10 - Your final result should look similar to this.

11 – If your font of choice is more rounded, you can create some “corners” after step 4. (We are using a font called Norwester from jamiewilson.io for this example). Just use the “Direct Selection Tool” (). Then you can use the “Anchor Point Tool” to straight some curved paths or vice versa and you can use the “Add Anchor Point Tool” (+) or “Delete Anchor Point Tool” (-) to add or delete some points to make your letters easier to work with.

by @lornacane

6 Related Illustrator Tutorials

Glitch Text Effect in Illustrator

For this tutorial, we will use a “Glitch” Background image and the Font “Moscow”.1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”. If the “Rulers” are not enabled, go to View > Rulers > Show Rulers (Command/Control + R) to turn them ON. Also, enable “Snap to Grid” (View > Snap ...

How to Create a Marquee Sign Text Effect in Illustrator

For this Tutorial, we are going to use a Bold and Rounded Font (we chose Myriad Pro Bold).1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”. Choose “Pixels” in the “Units” drop-down menu and click on the “More Settings” button. Change the “Color Mode” to RGB and click “Create Document”.2 - ...

Repeating Outline Text Effect in Illustrator

For this tutorial we are using the Free Font “Wask New” from Vasilis Skandalos.1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”.2 - Select the “Type Tool” (T), choose your font (we used “Wask New”) and type your text. Use Black as “Fill” color.3 - Right-click on top of it and ...

Neon Text Effect in Illustrator

1 - In Illustrator, create a New Document or Open an existing one. Select the “Rectangle Tool” then click and drag to draw a rectangle that covers your entire artboard. Set the Fill color to black and the Stroke color to none.2 - Select the “Type Tool” (T) type your text ...

Plastic Text Effect in Illustrator

For this Tutorial, we are using the font Beach.1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”.2 - Select the “Rectangle Tool” and draw a rectangle that overlaps your “Artboard”. Use black as “Fill” color and none as “Stroke” color.3 - In the “Appearance” Panel select the “Fill”, click on the “...

Overlapping Shaded Text Effect in Illustrator

For this tutorial, we will use “Pricedown” Free Font by “Typodermic”.1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”.2 - Select the “Type Tool” (T), choose your font (we used “Pricedown”) and type your text.3 - Right-click on top of your text and choose “Create Outlines”. Then, right-click on top again ...