June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

[stygg2003]

Same reply as Xtom. I read the tut. and have followed Frances's progress but for the life of me can't get the text on the page as she has done. So some extra curriculum on the mould tool would be great.

Stygg

[Gare]

Okay: There are two different modes for the Mould tool. I ran through the Envelope mode in the page layout tutorial, but a simpler mode—Perspective—can and is used to create text and graphics on planar surfaces.



In the attached Xara file, I locked the photo and roughed out a few areas in red dashed lines where a good sign could go. "Used Cars", "Stygg's Brewery -Free Samples", "Save the whales", you get the idea. What you do is create a roughly rectangular sign, and then use the freeform Perspective mode of the Mould tool to line up the four sides just inside of the dashed lines.

You can delete my own sign. In fact, you should, to use the brick wall area.

My Best,

Gary

[angelize]

On the old book of quotes I used the perspective mold to get the perspective I wanted quickly and then I deviated from the tutorial a bit. Over the page I drew a rectangle and sent behind the text. This rectangle needs to be longer than your text to give room above and below. I made this rectangle 99% transparent and grouped it with the text. I then went to the live effects > distortion> liquid colour with the draw selected and a large brush I gently pushed and pulled to get the text to conform to curves of the page.

The transparent rectangle gives you extra room to manipulate your group without the edges getting chopped off.

I like the sign on the wall idea I'll have a go at it later, when I have time to play!

[Gare]

There's another way to get perspective text seated within a space, although it's similar to what you mention, Frances.

Look at the target area, and then try to visually create a rectangular shape that's approximately the same dimensions. Give the rectangle no fill and a thin contrasting outline width. Add your design work, simplify stuff like Contours if you use them, and then group everything.
Then use the Perspective mode. When you're done, select inside the group (hold Ctrl and click with the Selector tool), and delete the original rectangle.



Play with the attached file.

My Best,

Gary

[Soquili]

I had fun with the add signage file.

[Gare]

Loki the SouthWestern Native American Trickster, eh?

Love it, Bill. And I see you went the extra step of using an image file of noise to mux up the lettering.

By the way, it's okay to take the dashed lines out of the finished file, friend!

Also, folks, use blending modes when you do this stuff and don't be afraid to use the fractal types to mess with the transparent areas, thus adding visual complexity.

When stuff is too perfect, it looks fake. The world is a visually complex place...pay homage to it!

-g

[Gare]

Hey, the black sign in the photo is partially hiding a really prime location in the image for another title in perspective.

So I retouched it out.



download and play with this file if you like.

Gary

[Soquili]

Thanks Gary.

Still on a nostalgia kick, so I thought an old fashioned 5 & Dime store would be nice.

[angelize]

I decided to give the Cereal box a go. I ran into trouble with this one something about the bowl of cereal is causing program errors and that bowl of cereal will not mold but I persevered and here is what I came up with.

[wizard509]

Yes please, I would be interested to see how you do it.