Wavy Text in Illustrator

Wavy text in designs is super popular right now, which is why we’re excited to show you just how easy it is to do in Adobe Illustrator. There are two methods we will be covering in this tutorial: using the wave effect and typing on a path.



To get started choose the font you want to use. We will be using the Awesome Font, but there are tons of great Retro Fonts available from Font Bundles. Once you have downloaded your font you will need to install the font, and then open your program.

Method 1: Use the Warp Effect

Step 1: Edit your text

Depending on the font chosen you may need to increase your leading, or the space between the lines. In the Character Panel you can edit this.

Step 2. Warp the Text

Select Effect > Warp > Wave.

When you change the Bend percentage it will automatically create the wavy text effect. Make sure you have the Preview box checked!

Play around with the warp settings until you get the exact look you want. For this tutorial we kept it at a 40% bend, but we will show you what the other options do. This is what horizontal warping looks like:

This is what the vertical warping does:

Step 3: Expand Appearance

Right now, your text is editable. With the text tool selected you can click into your text box and change the wording if needed.

However, if you want to use your design for SVGs or need the text to be outlined, you’ll need to expand the appearance. Click Object > Expand Appearance.

Method 2: Use the Pen Tool

To get started with the second method, you’ll want to use the Pen Tool to create a wavy line. This is what your line will look like.

Then use the Text Tool and click on the line. Follow our in-depth guide on typing on a path in Illustrator.

You can go in and fix the letter spacing if needed by using the Option/Alt key plus the Arrows to bring the letters closer or farther apart. With wavy text, this is sometimes necessary. Your results will look similar to this:

Click on the text and create a copy by pressing Option/Ctrl on your keyboard and drag down while holding Shift. This will create a trendy wavy text design.

And there you have it! You now have learned two methods of creating wavy text in Illustrator. What are you going to make?