Effectively fix common text errors in Adobe Illustrator

In the process of graphic design with Adobe Illustrator, text-related errors are one of the common problems that users often encounter. These errors not only interrupt work but also affect the quality of the design. The following article will guide you on how to quickly fix common text errors in Illustrator, helping you work efficiently and save time.

1. Introduction to Adobe Illustrator and problems with text

Adobe Illustrator is the leading vector graphics design software, widely used in designing logos, banners, flyers, and many other graphic products. One of the powerful features of Illustrator is the ability to work with text. However, like any other software, Illustrator is not without text-related errors that can cause difficulties for users.

Text errors in Illustrator can come in many forms, from fonts that don’t display correctly, to text formatting errors, to issues with text alignment, size, or color. These errors often slow down work and frustrate designers, so it’s important to understand and know how to fix them.

With the ability to create sharp, flexible and easily customizable images, Illustrator is an indispensable tool for professional designers. However, when working with text in Adobe Illustrator, users may encounter some problems such as font display errors, difficulty in aligning text, or data loss when converting between formats. To overcome these problems, mastering text-related features and regularly updating the software are very important, helping to optimize the workflow and ensure the quality of the output product.

2.Common text errors in Illustrator

Here are some common text errors in Illustrator that you may encounter, along with effective solutions:

2.1. Font error not displaying correctly

This error usually occurs when the font you have chosen is not installed on your system or is corrupted. This results in the text not displaying as expected.

How to fix:

Check and make sure the font is properly installed on your system. If the font is missing, you can download and reinstall it.

Use the “Find Font” feature in Illustrator to replace a missing font with a similar available font.

Check to see if the file you opened contains an embedded font. If not, you will need to replace the font in Illustrator with a font that is available on your system.

Missing or incompatible font error:

Cause: The font used in the AI ​​file is not installed on your computer, or the font is corrupted and incompatible with the Illustrator version.

How to fix: Install the missing font, or replace it with a compatible font. You can search and download free or paid fonts on websites like Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, Dafont.

Error displaying distorted and broken fonts:

Cause: The font may be corrupted or damaged, or due to compatibility issues with the graphics card.

Solution: Reload the font, or check and update the video card driver.

How to embed fonts into AI files:

To avoid font errors when sharing AI files, you can embed fonts into the file.

How to do it: Select Type > Create Outlines (Shift + Ctrl + O). Note: When you embed a font, you will no longer be able to edit the text.

How to replace a corrupted font:

Select the corrupted text, then go to Type > Find/Replace Font.

Select the faulty font and the replacement font, then click Change All.

Update and manage fonts:

Regularly update fonts to ensure compatibility with the version of AI in use.

Use font management software to make font management easier.

2.2. Broken or unreadable text errors

When you open a design file in Illustrator and find that the text is broken, not displaying properly, or cannot be edited, the file may have a font error or incorrect formatting.

How to fix:

Convert text to outlines by selecting the text and going to Type > Create Outlines . This will preserve the shape of the text regardless of the font.

Double check your font file, make sure it supports Unicode if using special characters or other languages.

2.3. Vietnamese typing error

Error typing Vietnamese with font error, missing accents:

Cause: Unikey or Vietkey installation is incorrect, or fonts that do not support Vietnamese are used.

Check the encoding and typing style in unikey, and choose a font that supports Vietnamese Unicode.

Vietnamese typing error in Illustrator CS6:

Illustrator CS6 often has Vietnamese typing errors compared to newer versions.

Solution: run Unikey with Admin rights, and should use higher AI versions.

How to fix Vietnamese typing errors using Unikey:

Make sure Unikey is running in Unicode mode.

Select Telex or VNI typing method.

Run Unikey with admin rights.

Install Unikey correctly:

Download Unikey from the homepage.

Check Unicode encoding, and Tlex or VNI typing method.

2.4. Text display error

Text error is hidden or not fully displayed:

Cause: The text may be placed outside the working area, or hidden by other layers.

Solution: Check the layers, make sure the text is in the working area.

Overlapping text error:

Cause: Line spacing is not set correctly, or text is placed on top of each other.

Solution: Adjust the spacing between lines, or move the text to avoid overlapping.

Error of uneven spacing between letters and lines:

Cause: Incorrect kerning, tracking, leading settings.

Solution: Adjust the Kerning, Tracking, and Leading parameters in the Character panel.

View related errors:

Switch between different views, such as preview and outline view.

2.5. Text alignment error

Some users are experiencing text that is misaligned or misaligned in their designs. This may be due to incorrect text or object settings.

How to fix:

Check and use the Align tool in Illustrator to align the text to the correct axis (left, center, right, top, bottom).

Make sure you select the correct anchor point when aligning text with other objects in your design.

Use the “Smart Guides” feature in Illustrator for easy alignment and contrast.

2.6. Text error cannot be edited or changed

Sometimes you may encounter a situation where you cannot edit text in Illustrator even though it has been fully imported. This is mainly because the text has been converted to outlines or is locked.

How to fix:

Make sure that the text has not been converted to outlines, if possible, use the Object > Unlock All command to unlock all objects in the file.

Check to see if you are working on a locked or hidden layer. If so, you will need to unlock or unhide that layer before editing.

2.7. Incorrect border or shadow error when using text

Some designers may encounter problems when using effects like outlines or drop shadows on text in Illustrator. These effects do not display correctly or fail when printing or exporting files.

How to fix:

Double-check the text's Appearance settings in the Appearance panel . Make sure the effects don't conflict with other settings in the document.

If you want to export your file as a PDF or image, convert your text to outlines before exporting. This helps avoid any effects errors when printing or sharing the file.

2.8. Errors related to text effects

Text distortion error when using effects:

When using warp effects, and 3D effects, sometimes there will be display errors.

Solution: Increase the resolution of the effect preview.

Fix rendering related issues:

If there is a problem with rendering, switch the display mode to CPU Preview mode.

2.9. Other text errors and how to fix them

Error text converted to unwanted outline:

Fix: Press Ctrl + Z immediately to undo, or reopen a previously saved version.

Error # sign displayed in text:

This is a hidden character, and we can turn it off by: going to Type on the Menu Bar -> Uncheck Show Hidden Characters (Alt + Ctrl + I).

How to reset text settings in Illustrator:

Vào Window -> Workspace -> Reset Essentials.

Check and repair corrupted AI files:

Open AI files on different versions of Illustrator.

Use specialized AI file repair tools.

Check File access permissions.

Illustrator software update:

Software updates are a way to eliminate errors caused by software.

3. Some tips to help limit text errors in Illustrator

In addition to fixing common text errors, here are some tips to help you limit similar errors while working with Illustrator:

3.1 Using Paragraph Styles and Character Styles

Helps you format text quickly and consistently! This is one of the most effective ways to save time and ensure consistency in your designs.

Paragraph Styles: Allows you to store paragraph formatting such as font, size, line spacing, alignment, and more. When you change a Paragraph Style, all paragraphs assigned to that style will automatically update. This is especially useful when working with long or multi-page documents.

Character Styles: Allows you to store character formats such as font, size, color, and effects. Character Styles allow users to change the format of one or a few characters in a paragraph without changing the format of the entire paragraph.

For example: Create a Character Style for words that need to be bold or italicized.

How to use:

Mở bảng Paragraph Styles và Character Styles (Window > Type > Paragraph Styles hoặc Character Styles).

Create a new style by clicking the "Create New Style" icon.

Format the text as you like, then save the style.

Apply a style to text by selecting the text and clicking the corresponding style.

3.2 Check spelling and grammar
Spelling and grammar errors can detract from the professionalism of a design.

Illustrator has a built-in basic spell checker:

Go to Edit > Check Spelling.

This tool will flag words that are suspected to be misspelled.

Use online spelling and grammar checkers:

Grammarly, LanguageTool, and similar tools can help you check your grammar and suggest improvements.

Copying content from Illustrator and passing it through online checkers allows users to check more thoroughly.

Read the text carefully before exporting the file:

Sometimes, small errors can be missed by automated tools.

Always double check numbers, and proper names.

3.3 Optimize AI files to reduce size

Large AI files can slow down workflows and make sharing difficult.

Use as few fonts as possible:

Each font increases the file size.

Use common fonts.

Embed images in AI files instead of linking:

Embedding images helps ensure that images will always display properly, but also increases file size.

If using high resolution images, consider linking the images to reduce file size.

Remove unnecessary objects:

Hidden objects, empty layers, and redundant objects should be removed.

Use the "Object>Path>Clean Up" feature to remove the extra points.

Using Symbols:

For objects that repeat many times, convert them to Symbols.

This will significantly reduce the size of the AI ​​file.

Reduce file size: When you use a Symbol multiple times, Illustrator stores the definition of that Symbol only once.

Easy editing: When you edit a Symbol, all copies of that Symbol are automatically updated.

Optimize work, with repetitive details.

3.4 Notes on text color

Text color should match the background to ensure readability.

Use text colors that match the background:

Dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background, is often easier to read.

Ensure sufficient color contrast for text to be readable:

Use color contrast checker tools to ensure text meets accessibility standards.

Avoid using colors that are too bright, and colors that are too close together in hue.

Color contrast is the difference in brightness between text and its background. High contrast makes text easier to read, especially for people with low vision.

Contrast checker tool:

You can use online contrast checker tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker to ensure contrast meets accessibility standards (WCAG).

Using these tools will give clear parameters of contrast, making it easy for users to align.

General principles:

Dark text on a light background (for example, black text on a white background) typically has high contrast.

Avoid using colors that are too close together in brightness (for example, light gray text on a medium gray background).

Avoid colors that are too bright like neon colors.

Color notes for users with low vision:

Some users may have difficulty distinguishing colors.

Consider using high contrast and avoid confusing color combinations.

Using Symbols:

Symbols in Illustrator are reusable vector objects. Using Symbols can help reduce file size and speed up your workflow.

Benefit:

Reduce file size: When you use a Symbol multiple times, Illustrator stores the definition of that Symbol only once.

Easy editing: When you edit a Symbol, all copies of that Symbol are automatically updated.

Optimize work, with repetitive details.

How to use:

Select the object you want to turn into a Symbol.

Open the Symbols panel (Window > Symbols).

Click the "New Symbol" icon.

When you need to use it again, just drag and drop the Symbol onto the Artboard.

 For example:

         Logos, icons, repeating backgrounds.

         Buttons, and user interface components.

4. Conclusion

Text errors in Illustrator can occur in many different situations, but knowing how to identify and fix them can save you a lot of time and effort in the process. Understanding the common causes of errors and how to fix them will help you maintain your work progress and improve the quality of your design products.