Making transparent text?

[wolf427]

Attached is the header from a turn-based strategy game I play. I really like the look of the text, but I haven’t been able to replicate it in Xara. Any ideas on how to get this effect???

Thanks

Brad Hagen
Large Scale Planes
http://www.kithobbyist.com/largescaleplanes/
P-40 Warhawk
http://kithobbyist.com/p40warhawk/

[wolf427]

Attached is the header from a turn-based strategy game I play. I really like the look of the text, but I haven’t been able to replicate it in Xara. Any ideas on how to get this effect???

Thanks

Brad Hagen
Large Scale Planes
http://www.kithobbyist.com/largescaleplanes/
P-40 Warhawk
http://kithobbyist.com/p40warhawk/

[jens g.r. benthien]

the background is a bitmap, so it's easy.
Type your text, copy the bitmap, select the text and -> paste attributes. This will place the same bitmap onto the text. You might have to resize it -> same side and point of origin as the background bitmap.

Clone the text on top of the first instance, apply a white fill -> use the transparency tool and make the white fill 90% transparent.

Now select the first instance of the text using the ALT key, add a drop shadow and you'll be done.

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

[krelvin]

I'll have to try it that way....

I would have done it this way.

Type the text and place it on the image where you want it.

Next make the text totally clear (no fill color or lines). Select the background image and then holding the Shift key add the clear text image and Arrange -> Combine -> slice.

Now you can bring the slice forward which should be just the text with the background image as the fill and add a shadow to it.

[gwpriester]

place your text or image where you want it. It does not need to be transparent. Cut it to the clipboard (Ctrl x). Clone the background image (Ctrl k). Select the clone and the object and Arrange > Combine Shapes... Intersect Shapes. Now you can add your shadow.

The great thing about Xara is there are so many ways to accomplish the same thing. And no one has suggested Apply ClipView which also works for this.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


<a href="http://www.xaraxone.com">
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[jens g.r. benthien]

you are right! I always forget the clipview ;-/ - it's a fantastic tool and **a lot faster**.

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

[grap41]

...in the bitmap gallery are particularly good options as the text remains as, um text! You can still edit it, change font, size, weight etc... mmmm lovely!

So many ways to do this, Xara really is great!

R


business | graphitedesign.net
portfolio | graphitedesign.co.uk
personnal | richardcassidy.com

[wolf427]

Thanks guys!! A good number of choices to try...stil surprised at how many ways to do the same thing.

Brad Hagen
Large Scale Planes
http://www.kithobbyist.com/largescaleplanes/
P-40 Warhawk
http://kithobbyist.com/p40warhawk/

[Su Lawrence]

... if you use a bitmap fill in the text but then decide to move the text. Hold down the minus button on the number pad and when you move the text with the mouse cursor (not the cursor keys) the bitmap fill will stay in the same place. Also works for resizing the text.

Actually you don't need to hold the minus button down, you can just click on it whilst you have the left mouse button held down on the object and before you let go of it/finish dragging etc and this will have the same effect.

Finally, to match text with a bitmap background automatically - also keep it as text. Import the bitmap (but don't resize it). Type the text and use arrange -- alignment to centre the text to the bitmap. Go into the bitmap gallery and select the bitmap then click on fill. The text should then match the bitmap background, add shadow or other effect etc. You can then move the text using the minus button as above.

Regards

Su

[gwpriester]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Finally, to match text with a bitmap background automatically - also keep it as text. Import the bitmap (but don't resize it). Type the text and use arrange -- alignment to centre the text to the bitmap. Go into the bitmap gallery and select the bitmap then click on fill. The text should then match the bitmap background, add shadow or other effect etc. You can then move the text using the minus button as above. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's going in the Xara Xone Tip of the Moment page.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


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www.gwpriester.com </a>


<a href="http://www.xaraxone.com">
The Xara Xone </a>