Distortion with Envelopes

Sometimes you want to distort an object using a specific shape. For example, you might want to squeeze some art into the shape of a circle. Although the Warp effect provides some simple distortion tools, it's limited, in that you can't customize the distortions themselves. That's where envelope distortion comes in. Almost similar to the way a mask works, you create a vector shape that will be the envelope. Then you place your art inside the envelope, but the result is that the art stretches or squeezes itself to conform to the shape (see Figure 7.187).

Figure 7.187. An envelope in Illustrator.

Illustrator can place any kind of art into an envelope, even raster image files. There are three ways to create envelopes in Illustrator:

• Make with Warp Select the object you want to distort and choose Object, Envelope Distort, Make with Warp. You're presented with a dialog box that looks similar in functionality to the Warp effect, except that when you click OK, you'll notice that an envelope shape was created for you in the shape of the warp you specified (see Figure 7.188). You can use the Direct Selection tool to move each of those points individually. You can also use the Mesh tool to add more points for better control.

  Figure 7.188. The envelope shape, created in the shape of the warp specified.

  

  
  

• Make with Mesh Select the object you want to distort and choose Object, Envelope Distort, Make with Mesh. Specify how many rows and columns you want for your mesh (although you can always add more later with the Mesh tool) and click OK. Again, you can use the Direct Selection tool to move the mesh points, which distorts the art inside the envelope.

• Make with Top Object Draw or select a shape you'd like to use as the envelope. Bring the shape to the front of the stacking order. Then add the art you want to distort to your selection, and choose Object, Envelope Distort, Make with Top Object.

As mentioned before, working with envelopes is similar in many ways to working with opacity masks. After you apply an envelope, you can access only the envelope itself, not the art that's inside it. If you need to make a change to the art inside the envelope, select the envelope, and choose Object, Envelope Distort, Edit Contents (see Figure 7.189). You then can make changes to the art itself. When you're done, remember to choose Object, Envelope Distort, Edit Envelope so that you can work with the envelope again.

Figure 7.189. Choosing to edit the contents of a selected envelope.