inflate/deflate font shape

[balletcostumemom]

Can anyone share how to do the Inflate/Deflate style font/wordart on Inkscape? It's where you would type a word: DANCERS and the ouler letters would stairstep in height to the center letters. It is a form of words on a circle but the top of the words is flat. In wordart on word, they are called the inflate/deflate options.

[firstcut]

Convert the text to path, ungroup and path combine. Now go to path>path effect editor. On the right hand side pull down to envelope deformation and click add. Now you can click on each of the side's buttons and deform the boundary how you want it. In your case you would click the node edit button next to Bottom Bend Path and then go to the segment that is now on your text and drag it upward in the center.
For the record, I find it much easier to do this in wordart and then print it to svg.

[balletcostumemom]

Thanks Kay! You are correct, just doing Wordart is much easier and what I'll probably stick with.