Converting text to outlines transforms the text element into vector shapes. The glyphs become editable paths, losing all text-specific properties (font, kerning, text animation modes, etc.) in exchange for full vector editability.
Convert when:
Do not convert when:
Select the text element, then:
Ctrl+Shift+O)The text element is replaced by a group of vector paths, one per character (or one compound path per word, depending on the setting). Each path is fully editable in Vertex Edit mode.
Before converting, duplicate the text element (Ctrl+D) and hide the duplicate. This preserves the editable original as a hidden backup while the outlined version is used for design work.