adding some depth

**adwb** · 14 September 2007, 04:03 PM

Hi guys,
I have drawn out the attached file but want to add some depth to the text.
I tried both the bevel and the conture tools but I dont realy get the effect I want. Is it possible to import the the text into Xara3d6 and make changes there then re import back into Xtreme?
the logo is for a lady Aromatherapist whose company is called Secrets.
all comments and critical coments welcome.
I trust the attached zip .xar file is not to big
regards
alistair

**a4hire** · 14 September 2007, 07:24 PM

You can make 3D text in X3D then export it as GIF or JPG and then import that into Xtreme. You would have to match up your background color but it can be done.

**raynerj1** · 15 September 2007, 05:08 AM

I would say it could be done, but not too easily... The fade on the chalise would make it very hard to match up the background and the text.. particularily around the shadow. I would imagine the matchup can be done if you exported the portion of the drawing where the text needs to be and use it as a background (png maybe. And then built the text on top of that, then copied and pasted the text back into xpro...

I would think it would be easier to just use a blend of a clone of the text to get your 3d effect.... see attached example. I don't have your fonts installed, so I couldn't get an exact match.

**The Alien** · 15 September 2007, 09:59 AM

Here's what John did, with a bit more explanation.
This method I'm using is slightly adapted from what's explained here.
To create a shadow for the 3D-text, I guess you should create another (2nd) clone of your text behind the original text (which shows in the pic being behind the first clone) and set its wall shadow appropriately. Note that this text isn't part of the blend, but is there to create a shadow.

Not removing the bevel in your example resulted in the text's curve (above the text) becoming visible during the blend operation. Seems like a bug to me :\

**zee** · 15 September 2007, 12:45 PM

.....or you can go the easy route.

1. Copy & Paste from Xtreme into X3d.
2. Do your extrusions, etc. in X3d.
3. Copy & Paste from X3d back into Xtreme.

**raynerj1** · 15 September 2007, 03:02 PM

Awe, but the background is not a solid color which would make pasting the bitmap back in a bit of a pain... A blend is the much quicker approach.

**zee** · 15 September 2007, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by raynerj1

Awe, but the background is not a solid color which would make pasting the bitmap back in a bit of a pain... A blend is the much quicker approach.

Maybe I'm missing something. Why would pasting the bitmap back in be a pain?

**adwb** · 15 September 2007, 08:02 PM

Thanks everbody for the advice, Zee that is just what what I wanted to do
I did not realise i could just cut and paste.
Cloning also works well but using Xara 3d give me more creative scope.
thank you
Alistair

**raynerj1** · 16 September 2007, 04:53 AM

Pasting a bitmap (even a .png with alpha transparency) can and does cause issues... with the background (ghosting/jaggies). You also loose the quality... What is the DPI for a pasted bitmap from X3D (96DPI?)

**handrawn** · 16 September 2007, 07:40 AM

you can increase the point[ pixels] size in xara3D so that a 96dpi export is not an issue - any more than it would be in any other vector program

don't recall having had any problem myself

could do it either way quite happily