How to Easily Interwine Live Text in Illustrator

Illustrator Text Effects

Creating intricate typographic compositions used to be a time-consuming process in Illustrator. Previously, intertwining text with other elements required manual techniques like masks, clipping paths, and duplicated shapes, demanding both time and precision. Fortunately, with the latest updates in Illustrator, this task has become significantly easier. Now, in less than five minutes, you can effortlessly intertwine live text while maintaining full editability—allowing you to adjust the typography, content, and colors even after applying the effect. Today, I will show you how to use this powerful tool to create dynamic, professional-looking designs with ease.

Step 1

Open Illustrator and make a new file at any size you want. In this case, I will make mine at 1800 x 1200 px and I will be using a light colored background just for you to better see the effect.

Step 2

Select the Type Tool (T) and using any font and color, type your first text. Here I will be using "Fabiola Capitals" with a blue color.

Step 3

Now, type your second text. In this case I will be using "Fabiola Script" with a red color.

Step 4

With your second text selected, go to Window > Transparency and select "Multiply" from the Blending Mode dropdown menu.

Step 5

Select both text objects and go to Object > Interwine > Make.

Step 6

Lastly, simply click on the areas you want to send to the back of your first text.

Conclusion:

As you’ve seen, intertwining live text in Illustrator is now easier than ever. What used to be a tedious process can now be done in just minutes, allowing you to experiment effortlessly with different fonts, colors, and compositions—perfect for branding, posters, or intricate typography designs.