Easily Close Gaps Between Texts in Illustrator

Illustrator Text Effects

Creating text with a uniform appearance and no visible gaps between different lines of text can transform a design from simple to stunning. This effect, which closes spaces between lines of text, is ideal for projects that need a clean and professional finish—whether for logos, banners, product covers, and more. In Illustrator, there are several ways to achieve this look, each with its own advantages. For instance, you could close the gaps by applying a text stroke or even by manually filling each gap. However, these methods can be tedious and may not offer the precise control needed for some designs. Today, I’ll show you a more practical and efficient way to close those gaps using Illustrator's Appearance Panel. This tool lets you apply multiple effects and styles non-destructively, meaning you can make adjustments quickly and precisely without altering the base text.

Step 1

Open Illustrator and make a new file at any size you want. In this case I will make mine at 900 x 600 px.

Step 2

Select the Type Tool (T) and type your text separately, In this case I will simply write "Close" and "Gaps" using the Outrun Future font at 200 pt.

Step 3

Select both text objects and go to Object > Group.

Step 4

Go to Window > Appearance.

Step 5

Click on the "Add New Fill" icon twice to add 2 fill layers.

Step 6

Select the first fill layer and set any color you want for your text. In this case I will set mine to #ff0088.

Step 7

Select the second fill layer (which will become the outline and gap fill of your text) and set any color you want. In this case I will set mine to black.

Step 8

With the second fill layer selected, click on the "Add New Effect" icon and from the dropdown list select Path > Offset Path.

Step 9

In the Offset Path window apply the following settings and click OK.

Step 10

Again, click on the "Add New Effect" icon and from the dropdown list select Pathfinder > Divide.

Step 11

Click on the "Divide" effect in the Appearance Panel and then on the Pathfinder Options uncheck the "Divide and Outline Will Remove Unpainted Artwork" option.

Step 12

Lastly, select the Direct Selection Tool (A), click on any of your texts and drag it until it is close to the other text. You will see how the gaps between both text are filled with the color you choosed, which inthis case is black.