Convert text to Curves
November 3, 2000
I'm not going to go into all of the options available for
coverting text to curves here, that's
better left for an article on Editing Vector Objects, but
I will give you a brief idea of some of the things you can
do.
You need to first convert text into a vector object to edit
it's path. You can convert
each letter to it's own object (As Character Shapes), or convert the
line in it's entirety into one object, (As Single Character). We'll
look at each of these options separately.
As Character Shapes
On a new canvas, create some vector text. You remember how to do
that, don't you? Well, just in case, with the Text tool, click
anywhere in the canvas. Select any of the options you desire in
the Text Dialog Box, but be sure to have the "Create As" Vector
radio button selected. Click OK.
The next step is to convert the text. Select the Object
Selector tool and right click the text. From the pop-up
menu, choose As Character Shapes.
Now the fun begins. Start by deselecting your text by either
pressing CTRL + D on your keyboard or selecting Selections >
Select None from the File menu. This is an important step.
If you don't de-select you'll be sitting there spinning your wheels
and wondering why in the world your program isn't behaving
according to this article.
Once you've de-selected the text you'll be able to select
a single letter with the Object Selector. This single letter
object can be moved anywhere on the canvas, deformed, rotated,
or individual nodes may be edited via the Node Edit
option.
Once everything's just the way you want it you can convert
the layer to a raster layer, add some effects, and finish
it off with a drop shadow. The example had an inner bevel
effect added.
As Single Shape
Converting text to curves as a single shape is begun much
the same way as converting it as character shapes.... but all
similarity ends there. Select the Object Selector tool and
right click the text. From the pop-up menu, choose As Single
Shape. Now right click on your object and select Node Edit.
Ok, similarity is over. Now you've got a line of
undecipherable text created by hundreds of nodes. You can
manipulate each of these nodes individually. You can get
fancy, create something stunning, or just make a mess.
A contour, (two or more nodes connected by a line or curve)
can be broken apart at a node while in the
Node Edit mode. To break a contour
you must first select a node, then right-click the image
to bring up the pop-up menu. Select Edit > Break or
press CTRL + K on your keyboard. The selected node will be
split into two separate nodes, a new start node and a new
end node. Once the nodes are broken you can drag them
around independant of each other.
What if you don't want to break nodes apart. What if you've
already got too many and would like to combine a few of them.
Not to worry.
Start and end nodes of one contour may be joined with start
or end points of another node.
To join nodes, press and hold the CTRL key while dragging
either a start or end node over another start or end node.
When the word "join" appears, the two are overlapped. Release
the button to complete the operation.
With a little imagination, and a lot of determination, you
can come up with some pretty cool effects using the break and
join features of node edit.
That just about wraps up creating text on a curve. With a
little practice you should be creating some awesome text graphics.
Don't forget, to add effects you have to convert the vector layer
to raster.
Additional Resources:
Fitting Existing Text to Object (Path)
Victory with Vectors; or How to Create Curved Text with PSP7
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