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I am new to Xara, just trying for the first time. I want to create a simple graphic - a circle with text on the inside of the circle at the top and bottom, following the curve of the circle. I can create the circle, but cannot "curve the text". Can somebody give me a little tip please?
Thanks.
Hi Kanbun,
Welcome to Talkgraphics.
You can follow Gary Priester's intructions in his Workbook 10 http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook10/page_6.htm
Gary's XaraXone contains 10 years of monthly tutorials, webxealots and workbooks that cover multiple subjects in short tutorials, tips and tricks, guest tutorials, and featured artists. All for free.
You can also do a search on this forum. Use the Advanced search open and the key words text on a curve or text on a circle.
You'll probably find it eaier to fit the text to a curve than to the circle.Quote:
Originally Posted by kanbun
Just make the curved as per your circle.
Select line and text and see attached ..
The circle thing doesn't seem to work too well. I can't figure out how to select the text and line and fit it to a curve. When I select the text, the "fit to curve" command is greyed out??? What am I doing wrong?
You need to select both the line and the curve.Quote:
Originally Posted by kanbun
(Select one, then holding down the shift key select the other)
Then click on "Arrange" ...
The following two threads could be useful for you:
Regards,
Remi
No dice. I cannot seem to select both. Selected the text, cannot select the line. I guess I'm not very good at this. Ctrl key seems to have no effect for selecting the line.Quote:
Originally Posted by Intbel
The short answer: Shift + Click or drag around your objects.
If you like to learn how to use Xara Xtreme, take a look at the video tutorials delivered with Xara Xtreme:
Menu "Help" -> "Movies", Section "Getting started"
Regards,
Remi
Sure I wrote - use the shift key.Quote:
Originally Posted by kanbun
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.
Hi Kanbun,
Can you post an example of what you have been able to create? We can provide some specific information that may help you achieve the desired result.
There's another way of doing this also. First draw a circle and remove the inner colour by clicking on the crosshatch in the colour bar downstairs. Then, with the circle selected, convert it to editable shape. Then, with the circle selected, you take the text tool and when you are on the circle it changes from a cross to an i beam.....start typing. Now, to elimate the circle is another thing totally different.Your frustration is starting to show but you are blaming the wrong thing. I'll give you a hint.....the program is easy, is great, and does what it's supposed to. There is a learning curve with every program and you will have to play, play and play with the program to understand it. You were very lucky, Bill, Raymond, Remi all answered and they are all xteamly (chuckle, chuckle) expertised with the program, but still you are having problems. This is not about smarts, it is about newness. Play with the program enough and then...bingo...a light flares. Ramond said push shift, you push ctrl...then you blame the program. I hear your fustration, I have felt your fustration but believe me, it will come and when it does your going to be one happy camper.......frankQuote:
I'm disappointed as I had heard that Xara was not only an excellent program, but also easy to learn.
Just to assist you further I've created a video tutorial. You can view it by CLICKING HERE.
I also attach the xar file used to create the video.
I keep a template on file, and use it any time I need text on circles/ovals.
Just select the text change font etc, resize the circles to get what you want.
Template attached:
Text on a circular path will work when you change the circle to an editable shape, add two nodes and break at nodes. Then it will behave itself. See the diagrams.
Well done Sally. A good explanation.
The only change I would make to Sally's instructions is to rotate the circle 45 degrees (select the circle and then type in 45 in the rotation box in the Info Bar), this will eliminate the need for the guides and adding extra nodes).
OR you could draw the circle to begin with by holding the Ctrl-key while dragging the Ellipse Tool with the Bounds Creation option enabled.
And .... don't forget that once your text is on the curve you can still edit the text and move it back and forth along the curve with the text tool and can edit the curve itself with the shape editor tool.
Xara makes these things so easy to do.
Ah, I see what you mean, John, very clever.
Thanks Sally, I did a prt scr and pasted your diagram in Xtreme then printed it for a hard copy also named it and saved it to MyXara stuff folder.Quote:
Originally Posted by sallybode
And thank you Jclements for the tip of rotation.
Norman
Egg justs did a video tutorial on it, it is a must see, that and a few others. When does he sleep. Totally amazing.
Fits in this forum quite well, actually.
Well, since it seems we want to keep this thread going forever, here is a make-believe radial organizational org chart.
Spacing the text will drive you nuts after a while :-}
Heheh I like that.
You now going to make a fully circular one, animated, so that you can show what lines up with what when the discs are turned?
Great chart but maybe "3D Enhancement" should be Pamela Anderson.
cheers all
Terry
Pretty cool, clements. Pretty cool. :D
Yes, I agree, really nice! And the colors are great!!!
The gradients are very nice, but Charles, what is your job in there. You didn't get any billing but Dracula got some.
It had to be done.Quote:
Originally Posted by sallybode
I like the old 'Wagon Wheel' effect Intbel, the outer blue circle spins clockwise and the other two circles spin anti-clockwise.
Thank you Egg..Quote:
Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill
For info: cloned the original. flipped horiz+vert and grouped into a circle.
Cut the circle into component parts, animated it (only three frames) then removed the lower half on each frame.
Animation is so easy with Xara X I'm surprised more folks don't use this facility.
And Paris Hilton in Educational Training? :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by sallybode
Now there's a truly scarey thought...
It gives new meaning entirely to "Text on a Curve". I thought his was a "G"-rated forum.
What you've heard about Xara is absolutely true but getting disappointed? You gotta do some practice. Even now, its been over 2 years since I've been using this Masterpiece. Yet, I haven't perfected it yet. I do get frustation sometimes, but the mods here are so wonderful, they have the patience to teach even the smallest aspects. If you want some proof, just make a search on what questions i've asked. They are THE SILLY type for the Xara gods present here. Once I learn how to do it, I feel, oh this is it? Haha... its true what they say Practice maketh a man perfect :) And a thanks to all the mods here... You can see me asking silly questions here... lolQuote:
I'm disappointed as I had heard that Xara was not only an excellent program, but also easy to learn.
This text on a curve thing, I was a bit hesitant on asking Gary Sir, but I'm happy I foudn this thread. Thanks to the original poster of the question too...
Hi All,
I'm relatively new to Xara and have Xara Extreme version 2.0f March 24 2006. I'm trying to move the text on a curve as shown by Sallybode but the little control handle doesn't show up when I click on the curve and then the Text tool. Is this a bug in this version., It's driving me nuts!!!
Derek