Simple Double Border Tutorial

[kismert]

Sometimes it's the absurdly simple things that take the most time: I needed lettering with a simple solid-color double border, to simulate the letters on a varsity letter jacket.

Maybe it's because I'm so dense when it comes to Xara, but I found this to be surprisingly hard. I experimented for quite some time (see notes below) until I found something that worked.

These are the steps I took:

1. Create the basic letter using the Text tool:

I used a plain Varsity font, set the size to 100pix, and the background to blue:
http://www.vervex3.com/images/demos/border_step1.png

2. Create the first white outline using the Contour tool:

• In the Contour toolbar, use the Contour Width slider to set the width to 4pix
• Click the Steps icon, and set the number of steps to 1
• Click the Distance icon, and set the step distance to 4pix
• Click the Miter join icon to make the corners square
• Drag the white color from the color line to the letter shape to set the outline color

Now your letter should look like this:
http://www.vervex3.com/images/demos/border_step2.png

3. Add the second red outline:

The first step is the crucial one.

• Right click on the letter, and select Convert to Editable Shapes
• Using the Contour tool, follow the process in Step 2 to set a 4pix red outline
• Note: if the whole letter turns a solid color, you may have clicked on the Inset Path icon. Uncheck inset path, cancel the contour, and try again

The end result should look like this:
http://www.vervex3.com/images/demos/border_step3.png

Now you have a sharp-looking double border effect, which can be used with any complex shape. The trick is 'dumbing down' the contour tool enough to produce a simple outline, and converting the letter to an editable shape so it can be outlined agian.

I hope this will maybe save some time for you.

-Ken

Notes:

• Simply setting the line won't do, because the Xara border model centers the line on the shape boundary. This means that wide lines eat into the letter, making it appear too skinny. I needed outlines that grew around the letter shape.
• Using a font with a built-in outline doesn't work either, because it's nearly impossible to make the letters have 2 background colors, one for the outline, and one for the body.
• The bevel tool works similarly to the contour tool, but the bevel tool won't render true border colors, even with no contrast and the light angle at 90 degrees.
• Also, you can't contour a bevel, or bevel a contour, unless you use the Convert to Editable Shapes function in between.

[Soquili]

Thanks Ken. That works very well.

EDIT: Added a little texture.

[kismert]

Cool, Soquili.

With that realistic rendering and a virtual poodle skirt, we're back to the 50's!

[ss-kalm]

You can also use a glow shadow and set blur and transparency to 0 to get the second outline. Since you didn't do the "convert to editable shapes" the text is still editable with the text tool.

[kismert]

ss-kalm,

I tried that and it does indeed work. The drawbacks are that you only get a round join (contour offers miter and bevel as well), and I don't see a way to set the width of the shadow/border.

Nonetheless, using a glow shadow with zero blur and transparency is a great approach to getting a second outline, especially if you need the text to remain editable.

-Ken

[ss-kalm]

...and I don't see a way to set the width of the shadow/border...

Go into the shadow tool and drag the edge to the width that you require.

Note: You can recolour bevels by dropping a colour onto the bevel itself.

[kismert]

Cool -- right you are.

[ss-kalm]

Not only that ...... if you group the glow shadow and the object, (as has been discussed elsewhere), you can add a glow shadow to it, and if you group the glow shadow and the object, you can add a glow shadow to it, and... ad nauseum.

[steve.ledger]

Another method:
When building vinyl signs where borders are needed, layers of coloured material are used.
I use the contour tool, no need to convert to shapes.
Duplicate, select contour tool, select mitre, select inset path, outer contour, type contour width, hit enter - done. Steps not an issue this way.
Duplicate again and follow the same process.
Select all, center the lot.

[ss-kalm]

Steve,

I like your method as it maintains crisp angles. However, the alignment seems to go a little awry, not sure why. Take a look at the enclosed xar. Did I do something wrong?