Welcome to TalkGraphics.com
Page 2 of 14 FirstFirst 123412 ... LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 136
  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Urmston, Manchester,England
    Posts
    2,527

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Liverpool, N.Y.
    Posts
    6,112

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	xone-on-a-wall.jpg 
Views:	253 
Size:	81.2 KB 
ID:	90337

    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
    Attached Files Attached Files

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sunshine Coast BC, Canada. In a beautiful part of BC's temperate rainforest
    Posts
    9,864

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    My current Xara software: Designer Pro 365 12.6

    Good Morning Sunshine.ca | Good Morning Sunshine Online(a weekly humorous publication created with XDP and exported as a web document) | Angelize Online resource shop | My Video Tutorials | My DropBox |
    Autocorrect: It can be your worst enema.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Liverpool, N.Y.
    Posts
    6,112

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	cereal.jpg 
Views:	251 
Size:	85.9 KB 
ID:	90341

    Play with the attached file.

    My Best,

    Gary
    Attached Files Attached Files

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
    Location
    Red Boiling Springs TN USA
    Posts
    19,208

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    I had fun with the add signage file.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	signage.jpg 
Views:	237 
Size:	138.4 KB 
ID:	90343  
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Soquili
    a.k.a. Bill Taylor
    Bill is no longer with us. He died on 10 Dec 2012. We remember him always.
    My TG Album
    Last XaReg update

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Liverpool, N.Y.
    Posts
    6,112

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Liverpool, N.Y.
    Posts
    6,112

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	stuff.jpg 
Views:	230 
Size:	57.1 KB 
ID:	90344

    download and play with this file if you like.

    Gary
    Attached Files Attached Files

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
    Location
    Red Boiling Springs TN USA
    Posts
    19,208

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    Thanks Gary.

    Still on a nostalgia kick, so I thought an old fashioned 5 & Dime store would be nice.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	5-n-dime.jpg 
Views:	220 
Size:	137.2 KB 
ID:	90348  
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Soquili
    a.k.a. Bill Taylor
    Bill is no longer with us. He died on 10 Dec 2012. We remember him always.
    My TG Album
    Last XaReg update

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sunshine Coast BC, Canada. In a beautiful part of BC's temperate rainforest
    Posts
    9,864

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    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.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	cereal perspective.jpg 
Views:	246 
Size:	89.0 KB 
ID:	90350
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    My current Xara software: Designer Pro 365 12.6

    Good Morning Sunshine.ca | Good Morning Sunshine Online(a weekly humorous publication created with XDP and exported as a web document) | Angelize Online resource shop | My Video Tutorials | My DropBox |
    Autocorrect: It can be your worst enema.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    StPeters, MO USA
    Posts
    10,819

    Default Re: June 2012 Tips and Tricks - Using Text as a Shape

    Yes please, I would be interested to see how you do it.
    Larry a.k.a wizard509

    Never give up. You will never fail, but you may find a lot of ways that don't work.

 

 

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •