Using the ENVELOPE DISTORT distort command in Illustrator

The ‘Envelope Distort’ tool is a very simple tool to use. It can be used in variety of ways to create some interesting, and eye catching effects. In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to create some text that needs to be displayed in a perspective angle.

For example the label on a side of a box or a sign on the front of a building.

Firstly, prepare your graphic. I've created a box or a building and drawn a rectangular shape which is where the text will go. This will be the ENVELOPE.

While keeping the ENVELOPE still selected choose OBJECT>ARRANGE>BRING TO FRONT .

Type the text that you want to go into the shape and then with the selection tool select both the text and the shape together as shown.

Select OBJECT from the menu, then select ‘Make with top object’. The text should now fill the shape area.

You don't have to just use text for this method, try using other objects and graphics.

Just remember to keep the shape that is going to be filled as the top most object.

Once you're satisfied with the result, you can select the OBJECT>EXPAND command from the main menu, if you want your graphic to become editable again. It will still retain the new shape.