How to Outline in Illustrator

[MariaMartini]

I am making a cut vinyl banner for www.stewartsoriginalsilver.com. As you can see the S, O, and S all overlap. I would like to cut it as one big piece. In Gerber I knew how to do it, but in Illustrator I haven't been able to figure it out.

Thank so much!

 

[doublesky]

Weld it. In Illustrator use the pathfinder.

 

[MariaMartini]

Weld it. In Illustrator use the pathfinder.

Weld it?

Pathfinder and then what? The outline option didn't seem to work.

Sorry!

 

[cgsigns_jamie]

Try using "Expand"

 

[MariaMartini]

Try using "Expand"

Ok, I see what you guys are saying now, only I'm having an error.

I click that button and I don't see any changes nor does it allow me to press "expand."

Something I must have done to the file is not allowing the pathfinder to do it's job.. any ideas?

Thanks again!

 

[cgsigns_jamie]

Did you turn the text to outlines?

 

[MariaMartini]

Ok, I got it, I think

Not quite sure what I was doing wrong before.

Thanks for the help!