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Reduce the thickness of a font

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VikViik Posted messages 3 Status Member -  
VikViik Posted messages 3 Status Member -
Hello,

I am in Illustrator and I have a font that I would like to reduce in thickness. In the font family, there is no "thin" or "light". Only "regular".
I was wondering if there is a way for me to vectorize my font and then convert it into a contour path or something like that, if you see what I'm getting at. Because when we vectorize, we end up with a vectorized outline and I was looking to achieve the opposite effect. Essentially, transforming a shape into an outline.
Thank you for not advising me to put a white stroke as that would only mask my problem and would be cumbersome for placing my font on backgrounds that are not solid.

Thanks in advance if anyone can help!

2 answers

  1.
    contrariness Posted messages 343 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   6 243
     
    Actually, that would be the method, but you need to go further...

    You vectorize your text, add a contour, and then vectorize the contour...

    Then you just have to dissociate the different traces and keep only the thinnest one (generally the inside)... but that doesn't take into account that any modification becomes impossible afterwards...

    It can work with certain fonts... but you'll definitely have problems with serif fonts....
    3
    1. Luke1 Posted messages 18751 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 436
       
      Good evening Contrariness,

      How are you?

      Do you know why I love everything that is vectorial so much? No? Just because it’s simple, simple like German engineering.... :D :D

      Have a good end of the evening. ;)

      Luke.
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    2. contrariness Posted messages 343 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   6 243
       
      Good evening Luke

      Simple as German mechanics?.. those from the 60s-70s then!!
      No vacation, so no time to get bored!

      Best regards.
      0
    3. Luke1 Posted messages 18751 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 436
       
      Would you like ladybugs?

      No, I'm talking about contemporary German mechanics full of horrible bits and pieces everywhere.... :-))

      No vacation means a lot of work, good or .......... bad... :-[ ]

      @+.

      Luke.
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  2. VikViik Posted messages 3 Status Member
     
    Thank you for your help.
    I just solved my problem.
    In fact, your idea is good except that we need to add one last step: the pathfinder.
    If we dissociate the two parts after vectorizing the outline, the middle part (the thinnest one) retains its basic thickness because the outline overlaps it. So we end up with the same issue.
    But I just did exactly that, adding just a 'subtract' pathfinder, and I got the result I wanted :) in some places, we just need to fix a few hiccups because the outlines are not super precise but nothing insurmountable.

    Thanks to you! ;)
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