Illustrator: Rough edges text effect

[rainy]

Nothing new, just reposting tutorial that was once in a lost thread

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In this tutorial we will make a rough edges like in a logo of Cops TV series. You can find the original Cops logo here: www.fox.com/cops/ (http://www.fox.com/cops/)

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops_original.gif

You can find free stencil-like fonts at FontSeek web site (http://www.fontseek.com/cgi-bin/fsearch.pl?search=stencil).




1. Using Type tool create your text. Make it large enough, like 70 pt. Easier to work with, you can always downscale it later. Select it with Selection tool and convert into outlines (Type > Create Outlines).

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops1.gif

2. Select it. Apply Object -> Path -> Add Anchor Points 2 times. This will make all paths more complex. The more points you have the more textured edges you will get at the end.

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops2.gif

3. Apply Filter -> Distort -> Roughen. Play with settings. To get results like on the picture apply 1% relative size, 15/in detail, Corner Points. The resulted text should be slightly rough and consistent in texture.

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops3.gif

4. Using Pen Tool manually move some points to make cracks, add more points to the path inside the cracks and move them slightly to make them realistic, not smoothly cut out. Move groups of points, some sides of letters to distort straight lines.

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops4.gif

At this point rough edges effect is complete.

5. To make it look like Cops logo color text yellow and make an outline. For outline like here copy the text, color it black and apply Object -> Path -> Offset Path with 0,05 in Offset. In Layers palette move the outline layer under the text layer. Move the points that stick out too much.

http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/tut_cops5.gif

Group them together and that’s it.