Art directors always wanted the text to “sit” in the illustration. They wanted it to feel like it grew there, like moss on stone. And the final command was always the same: Add an underline. Make it feel grounded.
: Select your text with the Type Tool (T) . Go to Window > Type > Character (or press Ctrl+T / Cmd+T ). illustrator text underline
: Click and drag beneath your text while holding Shift to ensure a perfectly horizontal line. You can then change its color and stroke weight independently in the Properties panel. Art directors always wanted the text to “sit”
She sat in her studio, the glow of her tablet casting long, skeletal shadows. On the screen was a children’s book spread: a small fox staring into a dark forest. The text block sat below the illustration, a single, trembling sentence in a serif font: Make it feel grounded
For a "smart" underline that stays attached to the text while remaining highly customizable, use the . Open Window > Appearance .