free transform

[Duck Shots]

Trying to do WOW letters in this months layers magazine. Put type on the board. Converted to outline. Ungrouped. Selected a letter. Using free transform tool, I dragged a box on transform box with free transform tool. No distortion occurs. How do I distort, not just enlarge?

[TORCH511]

Go to Effect>Distort & Transform>Free Distort from the menu bar

You can also use Filter>Distort>Free Distort

The two methods are exactly the same with one exception, the Effect is a live effect. The path remains untouched, this way you can tweak and adjust the effect as often as needed.

You can also use the direct selection tool to move individual ancor points to distort the letters.

[Lukas Engqvist]

Take a peak at envelope distortions. There should be threads explaining how, I find them more usefull than free distortions.

[TORCH511]

Being a huge fan of envelope distort, I am not sure that they would be the best choice in this case, though it is totally something that you should check out in the near future.

The Free Distort Effect probably works the best as it is easily editable, totally reversable and the in-precision of the effect kind of works in favor of what is trying to be accomplished in the tutorial.

[The Repro Kid]

...totally reversable and the in-precision of the effect...I'm kind of a word hound. Here's what you're looking for:

imprecise |ˌimpriˈsīs|
adjective
lacking exactness and accuracy of expression or detail : the witness could give only vague and imprecise descriptions.
DERIVATIVES
imprecisely |ˈˈɪmprəˈsaɪsli| adverb
impreciseness |ˈˈɪmprəˈsaɪsn1s| noun
imprecision |-ˈsi zh ən| |ˈˈɪmprəˈsɪʒən| |-ˈsɪʒ(ə)n| noun

[Duck Shots]

Thanks to all. I will check out all the suggestions.

I based my question on the tutorial on page 60 of the January-February 2009 Layers magazine. Corey Barker says use E for the Free Transform tool. It doesn't work for me.

[TORCH511]

Thanks Repro, and you are correct (the definition may have been a bit much)

I stuggled on which to use, went it a totally made-up version... too lazy google it (or use M-W.com) or even grab the dictionary that was sitting 1 foot away.