Curved Text~~Please help me

Tips, Tricks and Tutorials for using Sure Cuts A Lot
msmontecarlo3
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:47 pm

Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by msmontecarlo3 »

I am trying to make sligtly curved text. Our best friends son is graduating from college the 19th of this month and I need to make him some sweatshirts and tee-shirts. I have tried every tut for Inkscape and PSP8 and no matter what I do it warps the text way more that I need it too be. I am about crying over this because I have been working on it for 3 weeks and still cannot tweek it the way it needs to be. Here is my SCAL original Image




I need the words "Penn State and Forestry" to slightly curve around the logo, I am at my wits end. Can someone please help me? Thank You so much for listening.
firstcut
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Location: FL; SCAL1, SCAL2; Mac; Ink .47, AI CS4
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Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by firstcut »

In Inkscape, the secret to not getting distorted text is to use Text>Put on Path instead of Pattern on Path. draw an oval, type your text, click both then select text> put on path. If you want it on the inside, select the oval then path>object to path then path>reverse. To move the letters on the oval, select them, then alt-arrow. You can edit, resize and kern the text, and change the size of the oval all you want. When you are done, select the text then path>object to path and delete the oval.

I personally think the Word Art tool in MS word, powerpoint, publisher, etc. is the easiest way to do this, but there again you have to pick the right tool because the one with the thick half circle distorts the text while the one with the thin half circle curves it around without distortion.

If you have a lot of patience, just draw an oval in SCAL and rotate and align your letters to it one by one, then erase your oval.
ScrappyDew
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Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by ScrappyDew »

If you're going to use inkscape .47 I would suggest using the Path Editor and use Envelope Deformation or Bend feature.

Here's the tutorial on that if you're interested...
http://www.scrappydew.com/tutorials/fil ... e_text.php
http://classroom.scrappydew.com/courses ... r-training - SCAL Classroom over 40+ Videos geared towards beginners.
Funkay Monkay Mamma
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:24 am
Location: Nebraska SCAL 1,SCAL 2,MTC4.1,Ink.47

Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by Funkay Monkay Mamma »

Did you get it to work then?

I know someone had posted instructions on how to do it with MS Word an it was super easy.
I actually just got on the MB to search for it because I want to curve something.
If I find it I'll link to it just incase you haven't gotten it to work yet or if anyone knows what instructions I am talking about, please pm me or BTT for me.

Thanks.
firstcut
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Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by firstcut »

FMM,
It is super easy, but it is different depending on the version of word you have as far as getting started so you may need to search the web for your version of word plus wordart to find out how to invoke wordart. You are looking for an icon that has a slanted blue A to click. In my version of word it is under the draw tools. Then you type in your text, pick the first plain (first) text style, then choose the circle shape and resize.
Wordss.jpg
Wordss.jpg (43.13 KiB) Viewed 5435 times
Funkay Monkay Mamma
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:24 am
Location: Nebraska SCAL 1,SCAL 2,MTC4.1,Ink.47

Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by Funkay Monkay Mamma »

firstcut wrote:FMM,
It is super easy, but it is different depending on the version of word you have as far as getting started so you may need to search the web for your version of word plus wordart to find out how to invoke wordart. You are looking for an icon that has a slanted blue A to click. In my version of word it is under the draw tools. Then you type in your text, pick the first plain (first) text style, then choose the circle shape and resize.
Wordss.jpg

Thanks for the help!
ncbrunson
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:41 pm

Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by ncbrunson »

Thanks for the tip (I tired it and was able to do it).............but how do I save the file in order to be able to use it in scal?

Nancy
coocoo4cricut
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Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by coocoo4cricut »

Thanks firstcut. That works beautifully. I haven't tried the others yet.
Happy New Year Everybody
snoik
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:18 pm

Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by snoik »

Tried curved text in Inkscape and got it to work, but I can't import the SVG into SCAL.

Word looks to be an easier option, but how do I save the text (what format) to use it in SCAL, and what option in SCAL do I use (trace or import?)

Thanks!
Judy*
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Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 2:34 pm

Re: Curved Text~~Please help me

Post by Judy* »

I would be interested in knowing this as well. Thanks
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