Question: I need to find a tutorial (or just be pointed in the right direction) into learning how to make a design in Illustrator that is contoured. I'm basically trying to make a design for a cup. Here's the template I've been given:

![Template](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uaRLv.png)

I've got images and text that I want to put on it but it would appear that I need to curve the images to make it work on this template. What is it that I need to learn? I'm not very familiar with this kind of design and just need to read up on it. Thanks.

Answer: 
You'll want to create artwork in a rectangle which matches the entire width as if it were flat. You also ***must*** have a rectangle drawn in the background. It can have a fill of none or white, but you really want the rectangle there.

Then follow the steps in the image below.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/xLdOD.jpg)

A better showing of how the template grid matched the envelope:
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hArhK.jpg)
As Scott mentioned, Envelop Distort may do the trick. Sometimes I find it acts strange though. For the simple warp needed for a cup, you might also use `Effect` ⇒ `Warp` ⇒ `Arc`.