: How do I give text an offset path in Illustrator? Okay, I am just trying out the offset path effect for a custom font. I followed this tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU2wDdLNTdE I

@Vandalay110

Your problem lies in the fact that the 'o' you are trying to give an effect is two separate paths, probably in a group. Effects like offset will not work properly, indeed. You will want to select all the o's paths and then make them into a Compound Path: Object > Compound Path > Make or right click > Make Compound Path.

Besides, this effect is more easily achievable using the Appearance panel:


Type your text. If you want part of the letters to have the effect, type them as a separate object;
Be sure the object is selected;
Open the Apperance panel, Window > Appearance or Shift+F6;
In the panel, select the Characters object and choose Add New Fill, either through the panel options or the filled square icon in the lower right:
With that fill selected, give it a different colour and choose Effect > Path > Offset Path. Use Preview to fiddle with the offset value;
In the Appearance panel, drag the new fill below the characters. The Appearance panel works just like a layers panel.
Repeat with different colours and different offset values to create a multi-stroke effect.


Be sure during the whole process that your object stays selected, or it will not pick up the changes you make in the Appearance panel.

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