How to Create a Spring Text Effect in Illustrator

Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to start it than with a floral design? Looking for Illustrator text effect tutorials? In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a bold floral text effect using a bunch of brushes.

Learn how to create a spring text effect, or go ahead and check out Envato Elements. Find plenty of resources such as spring fonts to create text effects in Illustrator.

Prefer to learn by watching video tutorials? You can learn how to make this bold floral text effect in Illustrator by following this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

If you’re a fan of these Illustrator text effect tutorials, take a look at these tutorials as well:

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What You’ll Learn in This Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

• How to create flower designs in Illustrator
• How to create flower brushes in Illustrator
• How to create a bold floral text effect in Illustrator

What You’ll Need

You will need the following resource in order to complete this bold flower text effect:

• Wonder Boys font

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up a Grid

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, set the Width to 850 px and the Height to 500 px, and then click that Advanced Options button. Select RGB for the Color Mode and set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click the Create button.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid or Control-“) and Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid or Shift-Control-“). You will need a grid every 1 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-“ keyboard shortcut.

You can learn more about Illustrator’s grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan:

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  Understanding Adobe Illustrator’s Grid System

  

  Andrei Stefan

  14 Apr 2015

You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed. Now that you’re set, let’s start the work on the flower text effect.

2. How to Create the First Flower Design

Step 1

Focus on your toolbar and pick the Ellipse Tool (L), and then focus on the color settings. Select the stroke and remove the color, and then double-click the fill and set it to R=255 G=197 B=17.

Move to your artboard and simply click on it to easily create an 8 x 16 px shape.

Step 2

Use the Selection Tool (V) to select your shape and press Control-C to copy it, and then press Control-F twice to add two copies in front.

Select just the top copy and move it 3 px up. Keep in mind that you can have a look inside the Info panel to find out when you’ve moved your shape exactly 3 px.

Now select both copies made in this step, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click the Minus Front button. Replace the fill color of your resulting shape with R=235 G=137 B=0.

Step 3

Reselect the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 2 x 9 px shape, place it as shown in the first image, and keep the fill color set to R=235 G=137 B=0.

Pick the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click the top anchor point to turn it into a sharp point, and then switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Hold down the Shift key to select the left and right anchor points (highlighted in the second image) and simply drag them 1.5 px down, as shown in the third image.

Step 4

Select all the shapes that make up your yellow leaf and press Control-G to Group them, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.

First of all, make sure that you’re checking the bottom-middle reference point. Set the Angle to 72 degrees and the number of Copies to 4, and then click OK to apply the effect.

Step 5

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 6 px circle, fill it with R=182 G=99 B=29, and place it as shown in the following image. Remember that you can hold down the Shift key as you click and drag to easily create a perfect circle—the grid and Snap to Grid will also help.

3. How to Create the Second Flower Design

Step 1

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create an 8 x 13 px shape and fill it with R=226 G=77 B=117.

Switch to the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and focus on the top anchor points. Simply click and drag those handles just 1 px to the right, as shown in the second image.

Step 2

Add two copies of this pink shape (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F), select the top copy, and move it 2 px up.

Select both copies and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=124 G=53 B=137 and then focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) to lower the Opacity to 50%.

Step 3

Reselect your pink shape and add another two copies in front (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F).

Use the Selection Tool (V) to select the top copy and focus on the bounding box. Hover your cursor over the left (or right) side point and it should turn into a double-headed arrow. Now hold down the Alt key and simply click and drag inside your shape to squeeze it by 1 px on each side, as shown in the first image. Also, drag this shape 2 px up, as shown in the second image.

Once you’re done, select both copies made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=124 G=53 B=137 and lower its Opacity to 50%.

Step 4

Using the Line Tool (\), create a 9 px vertical path and place it as shown in the following image.

Apply a 3 pt stroke for this path, set its color to R=124 G=53 B=137 and don’t forget to lower the Opacity to 50%, and then open the Stroke fly-out panel to select Width Profile 4 from that Profile list.

Step 5

Select all the shapes that make up your pink leaf and press Control-G to Group them, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.

Again, make sure that you’re checking the bottom-middle reference point, set the Angle to 45 degrees and the number of Copies to 7, and then click OK to apply the effect.

Step 6

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create an 8 px circle, fill it with R=255 G=209 B=59, and place it as shown in the following image.

Move to the Appearance panel and click the Add New Fill button from the bottom of the panel to add a second fill for your circle. Select this new fill, set the color to R=254 G=163 B=0, and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -1 px and click OK.

Step 7

Make sure that your yellow circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel.

Select the stroke and set the color to R=254 G=163 B=0, and then open the Stroke fly-out panel. Increase the Weight to 2 pt and click that Round Cap button, and then check the Dashed Line box. Enter 0 pt and 2 pt in the first dash and gap boxes, and don’t forget to click that Align dashed to corners…. button.

4. How to Create the Third Flower Design

Step 1

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a 14 x 18 px shape and fill it with R=140 G=211 B=197.

Focus on the bottom side of this rectangle and switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Hold down the Shift key to select both anchor points and go to Object > Path > Average. Check that Both box and click OK to easily turn your rectangle into a triangle.

Step 2

Move to the top side of your triangle and make sure that the Direct Selection Tool (A) is still active.

Select both anchor points, move to the control panel, and simply set the Corner Radius to 4.5 px.

Step 3

Use the Selection Tool (V) to select your entire shape and go to Effect > Warp > Squeeze. Check that Vertical box and drag the Bend slider to 50%, and then click OK to apply the effect.

Step 4

Pick the Line Tool (\), create an 11 px vertical path and place it as shown in the following image.

Apply a 2 pt stroke for this path and set the color to R=10 G=171 B=157. Lower its Opacity to 30% and change the Blending Mode to Multiply, and then open the Stroke fly-out panel to select Width Profile 4.

Using the same tool, add two oblique paths, as shown in the next two images. Apply the same stroke color, but decrease the Weight to 1 pt. Lower the Opacity 50% and change the Blending Mode to Multiply, and don’t forget to select Width Profile 4 again.

Step 5

Select all the shapes that make up your cyan leaf and press Control-G to Group them, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.

Check that Reflect Y box and set the number of Copies to 1, and then drag that Move-Vertical slider to 18, which will move the added copy 18 px down, as shown in the following image.

Step 6

Keep your group selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform again. This time, set the Angle to 60 degrees and the number of Copies to 2. Click OK when you’re done.

Step 7

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 10 px circle, fill it with R=255 G=126 B=1, and place it as shown in the following image.

Move to the Appearance panel, select the stroke and set the color to R=255 G=197 B=17, and then open the Stroke fly-out panel. Increase the Weight to 2 pt, and don’t forget to check that Align Stroke to Inside button, which will move the stroke inside your circle.

5. How to Create the Fourth Flower Design

Step 1

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 5 x 12 px shape, and fill it with R=235 G=126 B=1.

Switch to the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click the bottom anchor point to turn it into a sharp point, and then switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Hold down the Shift key to select the left and right anchor points (highlighted in the second image) and simply drag them 2 px up, as shown in the third image.

Reselect the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 1 x 5 px shape, fill it with R=254 G=163 B=0, and place it as shown in the final image.

Step 2

Select all the shapes that make up your orange leaf and press Control-G to Group them, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform.

Check that Reflect Y box and set the number of Copies to 1, and then drag that Move-Vertical slider to 17 px. Click OK when you’re done.

Step 3

Keep your group selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform again. This time, set the Angle to 45 degrees and the number of Copies to 3. Click OK when you’re done.

Step 4

Make sure that your group is still selected, go to Object > Expand Appearance, and then go to Effect > Warp > Wave. Check the Vertical box and drag the Bend slider to -10%, and then click OK.

Step 5

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 7 px circle, fill it with R=255 G=126 B=1, and place it as shown in the following image.

Move to the Appearance panel, select the stroke and set the color to R=255 G=197 B=17, increase the Weight to 2 pt, and don’t forget to Align it to Inside.

6. How to Create the Fifth Flower Design

Step 1

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 22 px circle, and fill it with red.

Using the same tool, create two 19 px circles. Fill both shapes with R=252 G=165 B=23 and place them as shown in the following image.

Step 2

Select both orange circles and unite them using the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

Select the resulting shape along with the red circle, and this time click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 3

Reselect the Ellipse Tool (L) and use it to create a 14 x 9 px shape. Fill it with R=255 G=197 B=17, place it as shown in the second image, and then switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the bottom anchor point and simply drag it 10 px down, as shown in the second image.

Step 4

Add two copies of this yellow shape (Control-C > Control-F > Control-F), select the top copy, and move it 3 px up.

Select both copies and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=255 G=197 B=17 and change its Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 5

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 12 px white circle, and place it as shown in the first image.

Using the same tool, create two 10 px circles. Fill both shapes with R=111 G=169 B=33 and place them as shown in the following image.

Step 6

Select both green circles and turn them into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make or Control-8).

Select this compound path along with your white circle and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 7

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create two 12 px circles. Fill both shapes with R=141 G=199 B=63 and place them as shown in the following image, and then click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 8

Pick the Line Tool (\), draw a 5 px vertical path, and place it as shown in the first image. Apply a 1 pt stroke and set its color to R=141 G=199 B=63.

Switch to the Selection Tool (V), hold down the Alt key, and simply click and drag your vertical path to easily add a copy, as shown in the second image.

7. How to Create the Flower Brushes

Step 1

Pick the Selection Tool (V) and select your vertical path along with the flower design, and then use the bounding box to rotate your selection 90 degrees, as shown in the following image.

Once you’re done, select only the flower design and simply drag it inside the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save it as a pattern.

Step 2

Select only that green path, go to the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes), and click the New Brush button. Check the Pattern Brush box and click OK to open the Pattern Brush Options window.

Just click that End Tile box to open the dropdown menu, and select your saved pattern from that list. Once you’re done, you can click OK to add this pattern brush to the Brushes panel.

Step 3

Select all the shapes that make your yellow flower, go back to the Brushes panel, and click that New Brush button again. This time, check the Scatter Brush box and click OK to open the Scatter Brush Options window.

Set all four variables to Random, and enter the settings shown in the following image. Once you’re done, click OK and your new yellow flower brush will show up inside the Brushes panel.

Step 4

Move to your next flower design, select it, and return to the Brushes panel to save it as a new scatter brush.

Again, set all four variables to Random, and enter the settings shown in the following image. Once you’re done, click OK to add this brush to the Brushes panel.

Step 5

Continue with the next flower design, select it, and save it as a new scatter brush.

Set all variables to Random, and enter the settings shown in the following image. Click OK when you’re done.

Step 6

Move to your orange flower design, select it, and save it as a new scatter brush.

Set all variables to Random, and enter the settings shown in the following image. Click OK when you’re done. Now that you’ve got all these brushes, let’s put together the flower text effect.

8. How to Create the Flower Text Effect

Step 1

Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character).

Select the Wonder Boys font, set the size to 200 px and the tracking to 100, and then simply click on your artboard to type in “SPRING”.

Switch to the Selection Tool (V), make sure that your text stays selected, and focus on the control panel. Set the Alignment to Artboard and then click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons to easily move your text to the center of the artboard.

Step 2

Make sure that your text remains selected as we move on. Focus on the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches), and click the [None] swatch to get rid of the existing text color.

Move to the Appearance panel and click the Add New Fill button to add a new fill for your text. Select it and set the color to R=111 G=169 B=33, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Enter the settings shown in the following image and click OK.

Step 3

Make sure that your text stays selected, and keep focusing on the Appearance panel.

Select the stroke and set the color to R=141 G=199 B=63, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to 1 px, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Enter the settings shown below and click OK.

Step 4

Using the Add New Stroke button from the bottom of the Appearance panel, add a second stroke to your text and select it.

Apply your yellow flower brush and go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -5 px and click OK. Feel free to also change the stroke color to yellow. This will not affect your design, but it might help you to differentiate the applied strokes.

Step 5

Use that Add New Stroke button again to add a new stroke to your text, and select it.

Apply your second flower brush and go again to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -10 px and click OK.

Step 6

Add a new stroke for your text, select it, and just apply your third flower brush.

Step 7

Add one last stroke for your text, select it, and apply your orange flower brush. This will be your flower text effect.

Step 8

Pick the Brush Tool (B) and use it to draw several pairs of curvy paths around your flower text effect, roughly as shown in the first image.

Once you’re done, select all these paths, press Control-Shift-[ to send them behind your text, and then apply your pattern brush. Select only a path from each pair, move to the control panel, and lower the Stroke Weight to 0.5 pt to decrease the size of the applied brush.

Step 9

Select your text along with the curvy paths and Group them (Control-G). Keep this group selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow.

First of all, check the Darkness box and set it to 0% to use the same colors for your shadow that are used to fill the grouped objects. Enter the rest of the settings shown in the following image and then click OK to apply the effect.

Step 10

Finally, let’s add a simple background for this bold floral text effect. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a shape that covers your entire artboard. Fill it with R=244 G=255 B=213 and send it to the back (Shift-Control-[).

Congratulations! You’re Done!

Here is how your bold floral text effect should look. It’s an easy way to simulate spring typography. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future text effects.

Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to improve your text effects.

5 Popular Assets From Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an excellent resource for Illustrator text effects. Here’s a short list of some of the most popular assets that you can use to create text effects.

1. Pink Flower Text Effect (AI, EPS)

This Illustrator text effect is fully editable. This means that all you have to do to create a spring text effect in Illustrator is double-click the text and replace it with your own.

2. Garden Flower Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF, SVG)

Experiment with spring typography to create a floral banner text. Try different fonts with that pink flower text effect. This garden flower font would be a pretty nice alternative.

3. Flower Touch Procreate Brushes (BRUSHSET)

You can also use brushes to create a flower text effect in Procreate. This set of brushes could also help you get familiarized with brushes in Procreate. You can even create a beautiful spring banner text effect.

4. Aloa: Flower Font (OTF, PNG, PSD)

Keep it clean and simple with this decorative font and create mesmerizing flower text effects with just a few clicks.

5. Flexible Floral Brushes (AI, EPS)

Here’s another set of brushes that can be used to create and decorate a bold floral text effect.

Want to Learn More?

We have loads of tutorials on Envato Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!

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