What You’ll Need to Create a Distressed Text Effect
You will need to download the following font in order to create this distressed effect in Illustrator:
1. How to Create a New Document
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width box and 600 in the height box, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.
2. How to Create a Distressed Font Effect
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and simply click inside your artboard to open the Rectangle window. Set the Width to 870 px and the Height to 620 px and then click OK to create your new shape. Remove the stroke color and change the fill color to black (R=0 G=0 B =0).
Make sure that this shape 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 move your shape to the center of the artboard.
Step 2
Make sure that your rectangle stays selected and go to Effect > Sketch > Chalk & Charcoal. Enter the settings shown in the following image, and click OK.
Step 3
Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the settings shown in the following image, and then click OK.
Step 4
Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and go to Effect > Texture > Grain. Enter the settings shown in the following image, and then click OK.
Step 5
Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and go to Effect > Distort > Glass. Enter the settings shown in the following image, and then click OK.
Step 6
Make sure that your rectangle is still selected and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Click the Image Trace button from the control panel, and then open the Image Trace panel using that small button.
Drag the Threshold slider to 254 and then click the Advanced button. Set the Path to 100%, the Corners to 0%, and the Noise to 1 px. Uncheck the Snap Curves to Lines box and check the Ignore White box, and then click the Expand button from the control panel.
Step 7
Turn your group of shapes into one compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make or Control-8) and change its color to R=207 G=181 B=94. We’ll use this compound path to create a pattern. Select it and simply drag it into the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to save it as a pattern.
Step 8
Pick the Type Tool (T) and focus on the control panel. Select your BoldenVan font, set the font size to 150 px, and align the text to center. Simply click on your artboard and type in your text.
Make sure that it stays selected, and click that [None] swatch from the Swatches panel to remove the existing text color. This should make your text invisible, but don’t worry—we’ll fix it immediately.
Open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and add a new fill using that same Add New Fill button from the bottom of the panel. Select the new fill and apply your pattern from the Swatches panel. This will be your distressed font effect.
3. How to Create a Grunge Distressed Font Effect
Step 1
Now that your distressed font is complete, let’s see how you can take the effects to the next level and create a grunge distressed font. Select the Type Tool (T) and add a new piece of text using the same settings.
Make sure that it’s selected and go to Type > Create Outlines, and then Ungroup (Shift-Control-G) the resulting group of letter shapes.
Step 2
Select all these shapes and go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and go to Effect > Sketch > Photocopy. Enter the settings shown in the following image, click OK, and go to Effect > Pixelate > Mezzotint. Select Fine Dots from the drop-down menu and click OK.
Step 3
Select one of your letter shapes and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Click the Image Trace button from the control panel, and then open the Image Trace panel.
Drag the Threshold slider to 250 and click the Advanced button. Set the Path to 100%, the Corners to 0%, and the Noise to 1 px. Uncheck the Snap Curves to Lines box and check the Ignore White box, and then click the Expand button from the control panel. Turn the resulting group of shapes into a compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make or Control-8).
Once you’re done, repeat the same technique for the rest of your letter shapes.
Step 4
Finally, you can color your text as you wish, or you can learn how to easily turn these letters into a font using Fontself and FontForge.
Check out this wonderful tutorial from Mary Winkler to learn how to create your own grunge font using these vector letter shapes:
Congratulations! You’re Done Creating a Distressed Text Effect in Illustrator
Now, you’ve learned how to add distressed texture in Illustrator. Here is how your distressed font effect should look. Hopefully, you can apply these techniques in your future projects.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make this distressed text effect your own.
5 Popular Distressed Font Effects From Envato Elements
Envato Elements is an excellent resource for grunge and distressed font effects. Here’s a short list of some of the most popular grunge font assets that you can find.
1. Grunge Styles: Distressed Texture for Illustrator (EPS)
Download this massive collection of styles and grunge distressed patterns to make it even easier for you to create a grunge distressed font effect. You’ll have a stunning distressed texture for Illustrator instantly.
2. Retro Gunge Graphic Distressed Pattern (AI, EPS)
Or try these 15 vintage and retro graphic distressed pattern styles, which are perfect for adding a smooth aging effect to any type of text or object.
3. Ghost Signs: Distressed Effects for Illustrator (AI)
With these carefully crafted distressed effects for Illustrator, you can transform your ordinary text into an astounding text effect in an instant.
4. Illustrator Distressed Textures (EPS, PNG)
Any of these ten Illustrator distressed textures can be easily turned into a distressed pattern and applied to text, as you learned in the tutorial.
5. Vintage Grit Distressed Text Effect (AI, EPS, PNG)
Give your design an old-time vintage feel with these crisp and detailed grunge textures. With these carefully crafted textures, creating a grunge distressed text effect can’t get any easier.
Want to Learn More?
We have loads of tutorials on Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!