Today I’ll show you how to create an easy retro text effect in Illustrator.

Step 1: Type the word.

This effect basically works with any font, but a sans-serif works better. The font I used is Blackcurrant Squash (by Rian Hughes).

• Give the text a stroke and no fill.
• Make the color white.

Step 2: Building the effect.

1. Go to the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance):
   • Add 4 new strokes
   • Move the fill to the middle
   • Give the top stroke a white color and set the weight to 10 pt.
2. Second Stroke:
   • Weight 10 pt. and color 20 or 30% grey.
   • Add an effect: Transform: Move horizontal and vertical: 1px. / copies: 50.
3. Make the fill visible and the color is white.
4. Third Stroke:
   • Give it a 10 pt. weight and a different color.
   • Apply the Transform effect but this time set the copies to 70.
5. Last Stroke:
   • Color for this stroke is black. This will be the shadow.
   • Apply the Transform effect but this time set the copies to 120.
   • Set the opacity to around 25%.
6. Add a new fill:
   • Place the new fill above the white fill
   • Give it a pattern fill with strokes.
   • Set the opacity to around 12-15%.