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I would like to know how to put text between an oval and a larger oval. I need the text at the top and the bottom so I have to be able to make the text curve both ways. I also need the text to be centered between the lines.
Please keep in mind that I don't know much about the software in your explanation.
Thanks
please study this thread
Like this?
yes but the oval lines need to be the same distance all the way around and the text needs to be centered between them. this is close. thanks I wish I could get that far. I am very frustrated with this software. I love it yet I am frustrated
I know how to build the ovals the way I need them but do not know how to do the text portion
Take a look at this thread for some excellent advice and samples for text on a curve. http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=25858
And this movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns9jreRjY7A
Hi Rookie:
Create a line (either with the Pen Tool or the Freehand and Brush Tool). Then with the line still selected, click on the Text Tool button, then take your cursor and it should become an I (eye) bar over the line. With that click on the line and type in your text, it will conform to the shape of the line. Highlight the text to edit any text formatting you need to do. You can drag or nudge the line to fit over part of the oval whose curve you want to duplicate and use the Shape Editor Tool to shape the line, the text will conform to that shape. You can edit the line before or after you place the text on it. Then place the text/line combo where you want it. Then deselect all by click off the working area. Then with the Selector Tool (the arrow) click on the line, go up to the drop down "set line width" menu and select "None". The line disappears, the text should remain. If you need to find the line again use "select view quality" all the way down and you can view everything as outlines. You can do the same thing using shapes as the path for text, vanishing them by using "no colour fill" and setting the line width to none after you've placed the text.
As for being frustrated with the program, I'll offer some additional advice. First, be patient with yourself, you'll get on to it as fast as you can. Second, if you can, don't bang your head over a project, and I personally keep several projects going at once and switch if I feel stuck. I'll come back to it, later and often figure out the answer, myself. You can always ask, as you just have on this forum. Third, if you are familiar with other image editors and vector drawing programs, such as Illustrator and Photoshop, get ready for a change. I know both of those and more. My overall impression is that this works as I feel this type of program should, never felt that way with the Adobe programs and most, if not all, of the others. So think of the way the others work, then do it the simple, easy way.
If you're still not getting it, try to ask more specifically what part you're not getting. I or someone else with have the answer.
Hope the rest of your project goes well,
Scott
Here's a quick tutorial. Hope it helps.
To DDURAN
The black and green oval, by chance did you save this imagine, if you did you could please email it to me in a xarx extreme file, where I could edit what you have done, because I am a true Rookie at this. I just really need some help, thanks!
gator14221@aol.com
Excuse me Rookie, but that's nearly the same principle as asking for freebies here.
Why aren't you willing to try and learn something? Please try the tutorials in this thread or in the other threads about "rounded text". You'll also find some .XAR files in the other threads. The only thing you need, is a little bit patience to try these examples.
Remi
Rookie,
No. How will you ever learn if you don't give it a try.
Post up what you've done so far and we can help and point you in the right direction.
With little time spent you'll get the hang of it.
I have tried to do what was written. As I said, I have VERY limited experience with this software and have something I need to get done. I have tried to do it and I have seen other post where people had a lot of trouble with it after trying these tutorals. The problem with tutorals are that most people who make them, know what they are doing and the describe how while leaving out certain things that they assume everyone already knows. This is a weakness in this software. I have seen too many complaints about it. Unfortunantly I saw them after I purchased the software. several things that I have been told to do, do not work. I guess will contact xara.
I wholeheartly disagree.Quote:
The problem with tutorals are that most people who make them, know what they are doing and the describe how while leaving out certain things that they assume everyone already knows. This is a weakness in this software. I have seen too many complaints about it.
There are SEVERAL sources for assistance on this and other issues.
Between the printed MANUAL, several IMAGE-MINI tutorials and even the MOVIES that have been done on this topic, some of which I gave you links to view, the topic has been WELL COVERED by many individuals of differing skills.
Like ALL drawing or photo software, there is a learning curve.
The BEST way to learn is to try step by step through the process. If one of the tutorials does not work for you, try another. Some people are better at explaining than others. Don't give up on the first one. Try another! Don't blame Xara, or the kind folks that create tutorials on their own time. Try it and then ask for help if you get stuck!
The CURVED text areas are WELL DEMONSTRATED on this tutorial and I highly recommend you play/pause it and walk through the same steps as shown. Works GREAT. He shows WHICH tools to use (watch where he clicks) and talks you through each step! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns9jreRjY7A
I have NEVER done curved text until tonight....this is the one I made following the instructions from the movie. I added a shadow. If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!
NOTE: The ovals in the background are made like this:
Draw one oval. Color it the way you want for the ring.
Draw a second oval on TOP of the the first one. Color it white.
Adjust each to the size you want.
Select BOTH ovals (hold down SHIFT key and click on each oval to get both at the same time)
Then choose ARRANGE, Combine Shapes, SUBTRACT and you will have a donut.
Hang in there. Learning new software takes awhile to get your mind wrapped around it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookie
The first time I saw Paint Shop Pro years ago, I thought to myself, "...iggg...so many menu selections, boxes that are crypic...
It's like going to a foreign country and ordering from the menu. First you just point at an item, then you try and pronounce the words (I usually butcher the words) and then after a bit of time, it rolls off your tongue like a native with a slight accent of course. :)
what does choose the base line shift mean?
I can clearly see from reading that you already have a clear understanding of the software that I don't. I really needed this badly and I have worked a 12 hour shift today and I have to work one tomorrow. I am way too tired to figure it out. I simply asked someone here to save the image and send it to me. This is no more a freebie as the moderator suggested than someone who has taken way more time to make a tutoral and offer it for free. What some would call a freebie, I would call an act of kindness. I dont understand some of the lango that people are using because I dont know the basics of this software and because I am on a time frame and the software claimed to be easy, I made the mistake is buying it. I can assure from what others have told me. This is a flaw in the software to have to do so much to do something that should be so simple. I am coping a post left by someone who used the same stuff I have been sent.
I have gone over the movies, and looked over the other posts, searched posts, and tried the things you have suggested. Seems that what I want to do, which is relatively simple in the scheme of things, is near impossible without a bunch of tricks. I have been able to put the text in the circle, but only to a very limited extent (e.g. cannot get on top and bottom of same circle). I'm disappointed as I had heard that Xara was not only an excellent program, but also easy to learn.
Baseline shift means you want to move something from its normal base. If you hold your hand in front of your eyes and move it downwards so you can see, you are shifting the baseline of your hand (the bottom of your hand.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookie
In the case of text and this example you want to move the text downwards with the baseline tool, so you can have the text between the two ellipses.
I assume you already know how to do a text to line, so didn't cover that here.
Once you have your text highlighted, go to the baseline tool and in this case choose the downward pointing arrow. If you were on the bottom of the ellipse with text, you would use the upward pointing arrow.
Here's a short tutorial image.
You do not know me. Otherwise you would know that I am a NOVICE with this software!(My JOIN date for the forum was for other Xara products, not the drawing software!) My skills are only SLIGHTLY better than yours with this software. I have a background with RASTER graphics not VECTOR graphics so I am learning from scratch like you. Xara and other vector graphics programs are totally different than my comfort zone (Paint Shop Pro = Raster graphics). Xara's tutorials, forums, movies and documentation is far superior to that of Adobe's Illustrator. And as to learning curve....if you find Xtreme's difficult, you would be totally unable to use Illustrator! Take it from a novice that has tried both programs! This one is much faster to learn new tricks!Quote:
I can clearly see from reading that you already have a clear understanding of the software that I don't.
My tiny glimmer of understanding of this program comes from actually playing with the software. Like tonight. I did not NEED to do curved text. But I decided to actually TRY to duplicate what was in the movie step by step as I suggested to you. I found the movie EXCELLENT.
You did not say if you even tried to make the curved text. Did you play/pause/play/pause the movie like I did?
You asked a question about baseline shift.
Jamesmc posted info on another way to do the curved text (yes there is more than one way to do it).
The movie does not go into baseline shift. It cuts a circle in half and puts text on each half of the circle. You can then put those halves on a donut like I did.
That's the beauty of it. You don't have to FIGURE IT OUT.Quote:
I am way too tired to figure it out.
The movie has AUDIBLE words to assist combined with a VISUAL demo that literally walks you through step by step, you could SEE where to click. When to drag. I find that better than just a list of words typed out (step 1, step 2,etc). It would take less time to try it than to write your long post, and copy in text from a previous poster. My little donut and text took less than 10 minutes, pausing the 5 minute movie several times to do the same thing and even back up again when I needed so I could make my own image at the same time..
As to being able to give you step by step instruction on how to make a doughnut (overlapping ovals with missing middle), that was the first thing I learned when I opened the software. Not from any tutorial. I learned it by playing...what if I do this.... I tried ADDING the ovals, SUBTRACTING and other functions listed in the menu.... That's how I learn. Test, try and mess up! UNDO try it again. Did that in Paint Shop Pro and many other programs.
I have been working 70 hour weeks. It's very difficult to try to learn something NEW when you are tired and frustrated. You have my sympathy on that because I KNOW how it feels! I guess that's why I am surprised and confused that you will not take advantage of the personal training movie I mentioned. It is DIRECTLY ON TOPIC for EXACTLY what you need. And that's a RARE thing.Quote:
I really needed this badly and I have worked a 12 hour shift today and I have to work one tomorrow.
It's an act of kindness to help coach you to make something, to do it yourself, rather than just handing you a file.
I know you don't think so, but for the basics, it is better to teach a man to draw than to give him a drawing already made.
Better understanding of the tools and the program are gleaned from MAKING the file than just SEEING the completed file.
Hope you get some good sleep! :)
Samantha is right, Rookie...
When I first started in this forum, I knew vaguely what vector graphics were, but hadn't a clue about how to make them.
When I asked questions, the members always told me how to do things, but didn't offer to do them for me. As frustrating as it was, I am now grateful for that, since it truly did help me to learn.
And believe me, when you read some of the lengthy descriptions you have been given, you have to recognize that it would have been far easier and less time-consuming for the writers to just do the job for you and go on about their business.
When you succeed, you will be, justifiably, proud of yourself. Just don't give up. And post your efforts, so others could spot where you went wrong and tell you how to fix it!
I'm now creating work that I'm not ashamed to show in the forum, and I owe it all to the tutorials and the help and advice from the members.
Just be patient...
---
Will
Will,
Very well put.
Danny
I have to agree with Rookie on the difficulty issues, and I am an educator of 15 years. I watched the video by EggBram and arrghhhhh...it was so hard to follow. Although I can appreciate his efforts, his instructions were all over the place and he was clicking on things that he wasn't telling the viewer how to do. I forced myself to watch the whole thing but got very little out of it. Are there any easier 'step-by-step', as in numbered, instructions to follow in creating text that follows a curve but doesn't touch it??? I basically am looking for a
1. ***
2. ***
3. ***
type of instruction. Like Rookie, I already have the artwork done on my shapes and whatnot, now I have to stick in the text. And it is not as intuitive as I was lead to believe that tasks are in Xara.
here is a basic method
:)
For the benefit of Rookie etc.: attached is a Xar which allows you to dissect step-by-step how to achieve this goal. It is a multi-page file (so I hope you have Pro rather than standard). Hope it helps.
I sometimes find it concerning that genuine abstract help seeking shown here is so poorly judged by people (including moderators!). Genuinely ignorant (meaning unknowledgeable) new comers are jumped on and accused of being freeby-seekers. If people ask to be given files with some abstract work done for the purpose of learning, it is perfectly acceptable! If people ask for files to be given to them after they've made requests that things be tailored for them: e.g. can you make the object blue and purple, add some stars and then give it to me; then that is freeby-mooching. It would be better for all if people (in particular those with authority) could look more carefully before passing judgment; it makes these forums very sour otherwise.
Xhris
Handrawn & Xhris,
THANK YOU!!
Thank you for posting some simple and to the point instructions on how to do this popular task. Your instructions should be made a sticky.
Xhris or Handrawn,
If you could help, I would appreciate it. I have read and followed both of your instructions. I am still running into some problems. I have included the file. The top logo is what I am recreating, the bottom is as far as I have gotten. I am now working on the text that needs to follow the curve of the inner, centrus banner. The file will tell all. I am having problems getting it centered and having the bottom text NOT read upside down. I don't want anyone to do it for me, but I would appreciate some instructions on how to fix the problems that I am having. It is best that I learn how to fix these myself so that I know what I am doing with future projects, not to mention being able to help someone else someday.
Thanks...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuerza
I preempted this question; I covered the process of how to get the text curving the other way on the inner side of an ellipse on page 5 of the xar file I attached above. The trick is to press the 'reverse paths' button on the shape editor tool infobar. The text flips to the otherside of the curve, but you may need to re-adjust the curve to get it to fit as you want it.
Alternatively, you could just draw another new arc-curve and type onto it as before, and shape it as you want.
Oh, and you don't need to tread on eggshells anymore. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuerza
heres my take on how you do it - hope it makes sense, reckon I learn as much doing this as anyone :D
Handrawn & Xhris,
Once again, thank you!!
I followed your directions (Handrawn, excellent detail on how to do it all step by step) and it turned out great!
You guys rock! You should think about doing your own video tutorials.