Quick Tip: How to Create Dynamic Labels Using the Convert to Shape Effect

Quick Tip: How to Create Dynamic Labels Using the Convert to Shape Effect

on Mar 7th 2013 with 17 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Program: Adobe Illustrator
  • Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
  • Screencast Length: 4 minutes 3 seconds

Learn how to create text labels using Illustrator effects. Once you create this effect, you can apply it to any text and the size will update automatically.

 
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Cheryl Graham trained as a traditional artist in drawing and painting. These days she spends more time in front of the computer than the easel. She's been using Adobe Illustrator for over 15 years. Her Illustrator work has been featured in the "The Adobe Illustrator WOW! Book" and "Real World Illustrator."  

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  • Maciej Lenartowicz

    Cheryl,
    I’ve been using these dynamic fills for quite a time now but I’ve never actually even tried creating these arrows in such a manner. You totally blew my mind with this one! Great job!

  • Marc

    Great tut but the video isn’t displayed properly the right hand side is cut off in my browser

    • http://vector.tutsplus.com/ Sharon Milne

      Ahhh fixed it – my apologies there – enjoy :)

  • chronic128

    Good Lord. This is the kind of tutorials we need. such that saves you time and effort.

    Great tuts Cheryl.

  • Sandeep Singh

    Agreed with chronic128. We need more like this.

  • Diana

    simply brilliant !

  • ParasUniversal

    Excellent tut/tip ! Thank you

  • Magnus

    Great tut..thank you

  • mindiola

    This is the best Illustrator tip I’ve seen in a while. It’s small things like this that both save time and open the doors for other creative applications. Brilliant!

  • Maria

    It’s a great tuto! I just have one question… how do I create the effect to keep it and apply it ? I jus’t can’t figure it out :( Thanks

    • CherylGraham
      Author

      You can save the effect as a Graphic Style, but it won’t work on all type, because the size can be so different. For best results, use the Eyedropper to pick up the appearance of one type object and apply it to a new one. But this is important: You must double-click the Eyedropper tool and check “Appearance” in the options.

  • GoBenji

    I’ve been using Illustrator for years now and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a short tutorial like this that has totally floored me. Fantastic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/michaelgoodtimespowell Michael Powell

    I just got so excited!!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/craig.thigpen Craig Thigpen

    Great tut but can’t quite get a right-hand arrow to work. When changing text the second rectangle doesn’t move to fit. See example.

  • http://www.facebook.com/henry.hill.92123 Henry Hill

    OMG. I’ve been doing this the hard way for years. Thank you Cheryl.

  • Matheus

    Wow! Great! Thanks for the article! How can I achieve this same effect in InDesign?

  • Matheus

    By the way, I’ve been trying to do this in InDesign to create little “tag” buttons that autofit and resize according to the word inside each specif tag button. How can I achieve the same effect in InDesign? Thanks!