Fur Text Effect in Illustrator

1 - In Illustrator, create a “New Document”.

2 - Select the “Rectangle Tool” (M), and make a rectangle that covers all of your Canvas and fill it with a “Linear Gradient” (choose Orange, Yellow from the Menu).

1. Lock your Layer by clicking on the left side of its thumbnail in the and bringing out the small padlock icon. Then, click on the “Create New Layer” button at the bottom of the “Layers Panel”.

4 - Select the “Type Tool” (T), choose a heavy font (we used “Myriad Pro Bold”) and type your text. Fill it with Black.

5 - Click on the “Swap Fill and Stroke” arrow in the Toolbox (Shift X) to make the “Stroke” black. Right-click on top of it and choose “Create Outlines”, then right-click again and choose “Ungroup”.

6 - Double-click on the inner Path of the letter to enter “Isolation Mode” and select just that path, then delete it. Click on the left-facing arrow on the Top Menu to exit “Isolation Mode”.

7 - Select the “Ellipse Tool” (L), click inside your Canvas and input a “Width” and “Height” of 2 cm and “Swap Fill and Stroke” again.

8 - Fill the Circle with a “Linear Gradient” of contrasting colors (we chose a Pink and Purple from the “Swatches Panel”, used a -90° Angle and placed the “Gradient Slider Location” at 60%).

9 - Use the “Selection Tool” (V) to drag your circle downwards while holding the “Alt/Option + Shift” keys to create a duplicate. Place it about 5 cm under the original one and select them both.

10 - Go to Object > Blend > Make… This will apply the default or last “Blend” settings you had.

11 - Then, go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and use a “Specified Distance” of 0.05 cm as “Spacing”, and click “OK”.

12 - Select the “Letter” path and with the “Scissors Tool” (C), click on one of the “Anchor Points”. Right-click on top of it and choose “Release Compound Path”.

13 - Select both “Shapes” and go to Object > Blend > Replace Spine… to turn the “Stroke” of the Letter into the blended circles you created before.

14 - Use the “Direct Selection Tool” (A) to select one of the path’s endpoints. If you find it difficult, in the “Layers Panel” click on the small arrow to the left of your Layer to show its contents, then click to the right of the “Point” (you will see a colored square if it is selected). Check the “Width” and “Height” measurements in the Top Menu (2 cm) and change them to 1 cm.

15 - Right-click on top of the small endpoint and choose to Arrange > Send to Back… to make the thicker one sit on top.

16 - In the “Appearance Panel”, click on the “Add New Effect” button at the bottom, navigate to Distort & Transform > Roughen… and input 50% for “Size”, check the “Absolute” and “Corner” Radio Buttons and use a value of 65/in for “Detail”, then click “OK”. (Save your document before this step because it may crash the program if it considers it too complex).

17 - Double-click on the front Point to enter “Isolation Mode”, select the “Gradient Tool” (G) and adjust the “Gradient Slider” if you want. Click on the left-facing arrow on the Top Menu to exit “Isolation Mode”.

18 - Finally, Select the “Ellipse Tool” (L) and create an oval shape under your Letter to mimic a Shadow. Fill it with a “Radial Gradient” from a Dark Purple to Transparent with a 10% “Ratio” and placed the “Gradient Slider Location” at 46%.

19 - In the “Transparency Panel”, change the “Blending Mode” to “Multiply” and lower the “Opacity” to 75%.

20 - Check it out!

How cute is that? Adding fur to text really adds character to your projects.