Start with Basic Outlined Text

Save the image here if you want to use the color swatch shown.

This particular lettering was inspired by a combination of some cartoon lettering and a Mexican food packaging label I saw a while back. I encourage you to look around at packaging for ideas and inspiration for your own 'creative lettering'. Just don't make exact copies or you might infringe on copyrights. Put your own spin on it by using different colors, different fonts, etc.

Today's example uses a font called 'Pythagoras', all caps. Because of the constrained space I have here, I will type 'Cinco de Mayo' on 2 lines. If you have the space, it would probably look better all on one line.

Create a new image and enter the text in the center. Your choice for size (make it large, at least 500 wide) and your choice for raster background or transparent vector background. Text tool settings: Size=72 pixels, Anti-alias=Smooth, Stroke width=3, Create as Vector, Line style=Solid

If you are creating larger or smaller size text, adjust the stroke width accordingly.

Stoke color is dark yellow #3 from color swatch. Fill color is pale yellow #1.

Let's changle the fill color in our text to a 3-color gradient that we'll create with the 'Gradient Editor'. Start with the same stroke and fill colors previously set. With the Pick tool, select all your words (hold down Shift key to select more than one). Click on the fill swatch in the Materials palette to bring up the dialog box.

In the Material Properties dialog, select the Gradient tab and set Style to 'Linear' with 'Angle' and 'Repeats' set to 0 (Invert and Texture unchecked).

Next, click the Edit button in the dialog box.