"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" - William Shakespeare. The reference is used to state that the names of things do not affect what they really are.

The same can be said about TEXT. TEXT (or, the font of body of text) by any other name would act just like text - until it doesn't. This lesson on TEXT FX will demonstrate just that. Sometimes, we don't want straight text. We want something that can be more modifiable, more maleable, more transformable. 

1. Create a "Text FX" folder in your Graphic Design folder
2. Create a new Adobe Illustrator document (set to Print, 8.5 x 11)
3. Use the Type tool to create your text
   • “TEXT” = Impact (183 pt)
   • “FX” = Tw Cent MT Bold (225 pt)
4. Create a black bar underneath your text, that spans the entire length from under the "T" to beyond the far right of the "X" (by about an inch)
5. Right click on your text and select  “Create Outlines” to convert text to shapes. Ungroup all of the letters.
6. Arrange the X so that it overlaps the F in "FX" like this:
   
   
7. Add a stroke to the “FX” (use the “Align Stroke to Outside” setting). Make the stroke is white and make it 4 pt
   (use the exact same settings you see below - especially the "Align Stroke:" button)
   
8. Use the “Direct Select” arrow to manipulate individual points to reshape the “X,” the black bar, and the “F” (so that it appears like the image below - you may have to re-arrange the X so that is on top of the black bar).
   
   
9. Use “Outline Stroke” (under Object then Path on your menu bar), to create the white buffer area between the tail of the X and the black bar
10. Select the X and select "Ungroup" from the "Object" item on the menu bar (This will separate the stroke from the X shape).
11. Select the black bar and the stroke. Use Path Finder (Divide) to separate the stroke area from the black bar.
12. Ungroup the black bar, the stroke, and the X
13. Delete the black bar portion that extends to the right of the X so that what you have looks like the image below
    
14. Select the divided white stroke portions and delete them
15. Using the Direct Select Arrow (the white arrow), hold SHIFT and select the two points of the bar that are between the legs of the X. Drag them so that they overlap the right leg of the X
    
16. Select all of the divided X portions (hold SHIFT and then select them individually) and reconnect them by using Path Finder (Unite) function.
17. Color the X and the black bar red.
18. Use the “Knife” tool on your toolbar to cut the word “TEXT” into different sections. If you hold SHIFT, you will get straight razor style cuts.
19. 
20. Ungroup your “TEXT” so that the different segments can be manipulated individually
21. Move the different “TEXT” segments around, maybe rotating some pieces slightly, offsetting their spacing to create that broken and fractured appearance.
22. Select all of the “TEXT” segments and use “Unite” (under Pathfinder) to rejoin them.
23. Apply a red stroke, aligning the stroke to the “Inside”
24. Apply a “Drop Shadow” Stylize filter from the “Effect” drop down menu using these settings
    
25. Save your document as "TEXT FX.pdf" in your "Text Fx" folder

 Total Points Available: 25