Applying Vector Effects to Type

Apply the following vector effects to text objects: Envelope, Extrude, Rotate, Freeform rotate and skew, Flip, Shadow, and Path editing.

Use effects to add dimension to text objects and create striking designs. This section describes briefly how to apply each of these effects. (See Vector Effects.)

Before Applying Vector Effects to Type

Depending on the number and kind of effects you apply to text, you might not be able to edit the text afterwards; e.g., you can edit text after rotating and skewing, but if you also envelope the text, Canvas X Draw converts the text to vector objects. In addition, depending on the speed of your system, editing rotated and skewed text might be slow. Therefore, you might want to finish all text editing, formatting, and layout before applying effects.

Freeform and Rotate Effects

In Canvas X Draw, you can place a text object in freeform mode and then drag any of the hollow selection handles of the bounding box to rotate and skew text. Choose Effects | Rotate Right/Left | Other to perform exact rotations.

To Freeform Edit a Text Object:

Select a text object. Choose Effects | Freeform. Drag a circular selection handle to rotate the text object, or a square handle to skew the text.

To Rotate a Text Object an Exact Amount:

Choose Effects | Rotate | Other to open the Rotate dialog box. Specify the degree and center of rotation. Click Apply to see the effect of the settings, or click OK to accept the settings.

Flipping Text

You can flip text horizontally, vertically, or both. Choose Effects | Flip to create mirror-image copies of text.

To Flip Text:

Select the text objects. Depending on the direction you want to flip text, choose Effects | Flip | Horizontal, Vertical, or Both Axes. Canvas X Draw implements the setting immediately.

Shadow Effects

In Canvas X Draw, when you apply a shadow to text, the shadow is a separate object that you can color, edit, and apply effects to independently of the original text object. By applying the right combination of effects, you can achieve oblique shadows and other lighting effects.

Since Canvas X Draw creates a separate object for the shadow, changes to the original text object do not change the shadow. Finalize text before applying shadows to ensure that the text is the same for both objects.

To Create a Shadow:

1. Select the text objects to which you want to apply shadows.
2. Choose Effects | Shadow to open the Shadow dialog box.
3. Specify Object or Image. Image activates the Image Options area.
4. Specify the offset amounts as well as a color for the shadow.
5. In the Image Options area, specify Gaussian Blur, mode, resolution, and anti-alias.
6. Canvas X Draw creates the shadows and arranges them behind the original text objects.

Text Shadow Effects

Combine Canvas X Draw effects to create different types of shadows.

• An object shadow, slightly offset and shaded black.
• A black image shadow, slightly offset with Gaussian Blur.
• The shadow object was skewed to create an oblique shadow.

Envelope Text Effects

Use the Envelope effect to warp and distort type to create new character forms and stretch text like rubber. When you apply this effect to a text object, you can drag selection handles to reshape text. Depending on the type of envelope, text stretches in different ways. Using this effect, add perspective to text or simulate stretching type around a 3-D object. (See Enveloping Objects for more information about the Envelope effect.)

You cannot edit text after applying an envelope effect. However, you can apply an extrusion to an enveloped object.

To Edit the Envelope of a Text Object:

1. Select a text object and choose Effects | Envelope.
2. Choose a type of envelope effect in the pop-up menu and click Apply.
3. Drag the envelope handles to reshape the text.

Extruding Text

Extrude text and add lighting effects to make text appear three-dimensional. As with vector objects, you can rotate and scale extruded text to change the apparent depth, size, and orientation. For text, you can only use the Parallel option in the Extrude palette.

You cannot edit text after applying an envelope effect.

Canvas X Draw removes stroke and fill attributes before extruding text because they can interfere with the three-dimensional effect. Add color to extruded objects by choosing a fill ink from the Presets palette and a color for the light source in the Extrude palette. (See Extruding Objects for more information about the Extrude effect.)

Extruded text with lighting effects

To Extrude Text:

1. Select a text object and choose Effects | Extrude to open the Extrude palette.
2. Choose Parallel in the menu.
3. Configure the settings and click Apply.
4. Use the extrusion handles to shape and rotate the text.

Converting Text to Paths

Canvas X Draw can create path outlines of characters so you can edit the shape of each character. Once you convert text to paths, Canvas X Draw treats the paths as objects. You cannot edit the objects as text, (change font type, type size, or run spell check, etc.).

To Convert Text to Paths:

1. Select a text object and choose Path | Convert to Paths. If the text object contains multiple characters, Canvas X Draw creates a grouped object.
2. To ungroup the object and edit individual characters, choose Object | Ungroup. You can also use the Direct Selection tool to select individual objects without ungrouping.
3. Double-click an object to place it in Path Edit mode. To put several shapes in Path Edit mode at the same time, select multiple objects and choose Path | Edit Path.
4. Use path-editing techniques to change the object, and then press Esc to exit Edit mode.

Typing Text on Paths

Use the Path Text tool to type text so it follows the path of a vector object, such as a circle, polygon, or open curve. You can also use the tool to create text that flows along multiple paths.

To Type Text on a Path:

1. Select the Path Text tool. 

   In the document window, the pointer is an arrow. The arrow changes to an I-beam when you point to a vector object path.

2. Click the path to set the insertion point. Begin typing and the text follows the vector path. You can type multiple lines of text. To start a new line, press Enter at the end of the previous line.
3. When you finish typing, press Esc. The text object becomes selected.

Adjusting Text on a Path

See the section about adjusting bound text, starting with Binding Text to Vector Objects, for information on changing the text baseline, flipping the text, and adjusting the spacing between the text and the path.

See Also:

• Binding Text to Vector Objects
• Enveloping Objects
• Vector Effects