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Trying to do something which seems so simple and failing badly. I have created a simple Type layer.
I need to add two strokes to the layer. But I would like the stroke to be on the outside of the layer, but the options for the stroke do not let me select that. The options are greyed out, I have the type layer selected in the appearance panel. What am I supposed to do?
Certain objects will not allow the stroke alignment options. Type is one of these objects. While creating outlines of type objects may work in some instances. I, myself, prefer to keep type live whenever possible.
In order to move a stroke applied to a type objects, simply do things how they were done prior to the stroke alignment options being added - with an effect.
Apply a new stroke to the type object via the Appearance Panel. Note you can't merely use the stroke which already resides within the Appearance Panel Characters level of the type object. You need to add a new stroke outside the Characters level. Then choose Effect > Path > Offset Path.
Remember that Illustrator centers all strokes. So if you have, for example, a 4pt stroke and you want it aligned to the outside, you need to move it +2pts (half the stroke width). If you want it aligned inside, you would use a negative value (-2pt) to move the stroke inward.
That being posted, if you simply want stroke outside of the type, just move them below the Characters item in the Appearance Panel and double the stroke width (since half the stroke will be hidden by the type).
Appearance panel, I don't see the options mentioned here. Illustrator CC2018.
Characters level" within the Appearance panel.
You will need ot right click on the text and choose Create Outlines from the drop down:
Now you will be able to choose the alignment for the stroke.
As the previous poster mentioned type won't allow for stroke alignment. However, you can always outline type (ctrl+shift+o) and then align the stroke by clicking the stroke link and selecting one of the three options. Going back and changing the text can be a hassle, as the previous poster mentioned, but for text you're not really changing all that frequently it isn't too bad.
Unfortunate and weird omission by Adobe, but you get used to these things.
The accepted answer is not the best one.
You can outline text more simply just by dragging the Fill style above the Stroke style in the Appearance panel:
The Stroke should be set to double the weight you're looking for as the Stroke is still aligned to the centre. However because the Fill style is now above it, the text will render over this and it will effectively be an Outside Stroke.
Simply create the style you want with borders and positions on any object, or on a letter outlined for example Object has no importance but used generating style. Then open Windows "Graphic style" and slide your new style on the style table Then apply this style on any text = it's working S
