Need Assistance Creating Outline

[HLA]

Hello Everyone,

I'm having a bit of trouble creating an outline (may have another technical term?). Let's use this example:

Create a square 6"wide by 3"tall (color red), next type the letters HLA (color blue) - enlarge to fill approx. 3/4 the size of the square, now i would like to create an outline - similar to a stroke, let's say about 4 or 5 pts - around the letters HLA. In all actually, the outline will contain nothing, meaning the backgournd will show in this given area. This file will used for silkscreening, vinyl cutting, etc... Thus allowing a bit of wiggle room between colors.

Hope this paints a decent picture. Feel free to contact me should you require additional information. Thanks,

[The Repro Kid]

Command-Option-Shift-o.

[HLA]

I failed to mention that I'm using a pc, illustrator cs3

would that be ctrl, alt, shift

[The Repro Kid]

I can't really answer that. convert keys at your own risk ;)

[HLA]

Ctrl Alt Shift o is opening the paragraph options window. Hmmmm

what is the name or technical term of this procedure, I'll search in the help menu. Thanks

[Scott Weichert]

Just use the menu command... Type > Create Outlines.

I think the shortcut on the PC is Ctrl-Shift-O
The actual Mac shortcut is Command-Shift-O (no Option in there)

[HLA]

So far the easiest way that I have found to do this is to:

Copy text, paste copy under existing text - put stroke to whatever pt necessary, create outlines, then outline stroke, then merge the two as to give you one outline (a larger text than top copy, then place that layer under the square, select both square and copy of text (not original text), then minus thus deleting from square. I think I covered all the steps. Does anyone know of an easier way?

This creates a void between the text and the square. Looks like a stroke but there is nothing filling that area

[Lukas Engqvist]

After creating your text outline use the Object: path: offeset path… dialog

giving you miter, round or bevel as options… there is a handy preview chackbox too so you don't have to guess ;P

If you want the path to go both ways there is "Outline stroke" after adding a stroke that looks like you want it to.