How to create rough or tattered looking captions.
Technique 1: Roughened caption
![](/tips/captions/rough1-1.gif)
In Illustrator, Draw a caption box with the Shape tool, and choose Filter > Distort > Roughen.
Check the “Preview” box, and set the “Size” value pretty low.
You can repeat the filter with command-E to add more roughness gradually.
![](/tips/captions/rough1-2.gif)
Grab some of the points and move them towards the center of the caption to create the “divots”.
![](/tips/captions/rough1-3.gif)
Set the caps and joins to “round” to get rid of sharp points and make it look more pen-drawn.
Technique 2: Drawn caption
![](/tips/captions/rough2-1.gif)
Draw a caption box with the Pencil tool. Grab points with the open arrow and move them around to make it more consistent if necessary.
![](/tips/captions/rough2-2.gif)
Draw a “divot” with the Pencil tool.
![](/tips/captions/rough2-3.gif)
Choose Object > Arrange >Send to Back (command-shift-[ ) to send the divot to back.
![](/tips/captions/rough2-4.gif)
Click “Minus Back” in the Pathfinder palette to subtract the divot from the caption box.
Set the caps and joins to Round if necessary.
More Examples
![](/tips/captions/rough_samples.gif)
Combine these techniques (along with the Scrolly Ends from page 42 of Comic Book Lettering the Comicraft Way) and there’s no end to the tattered caption styles you can create!