Full Version: Vector filling fonts
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1]
1 Oct 2006
To: ALL
Is there any way in Corel Draw to fill a font so that it vectors instead of rasters?
Thanks
Becky
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2]
2 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 2 Oct 2006
I'm pretty new to Corel, so there may be a simpler way, but here's how I've done it:
1 - Create an area with vector lines (ie: an array of lines or some other group of lines)
2 - group all the vectors
3 - create text and place on the area of lines. Turn off fill for the text.
4 - select the text and the group of lines in the object manager
5 - Click the "Intersect" icon in the top toolbar
6 - delete the original group of lines (or move to another layer and turn off that layer)
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#3]
2 Oct 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2] 2 Oct 2006
Dave-
Ok don't think I'm nuts, you had me at all the steps except #1. LOL
When you say, create an array of vectors, are you essentially drawing a line, duplicating it and squishing them all together to make a black space? If that's what you mean, then I am good to go. Otherwise, a little confused.
Thanks for your help!!
Becky
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#4]
2 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#3] 2 Oct 2006
I am assuming you want a vector fill because you want some kind of hatch pattern or are using a roatary engraver. So, yes, you would just place lines in the pattern and spacing needed to do a solid area like you want and the the rest of the steps remove everything that isn't overlapping the text.
Also, I forgot to mention, iIf you only want the fill when done then you could also remove the text object afterward (or move it to another layer and turn off). If you leave the text then you have the fill lines plus the outline of the text.
You can create the field of lines by drawing one line and then in the Tools > Options > Document > General window set a horizontal and/or vertical spacing (ie: set horizontal to .010 and vertical to 0 to get lines that are 10/1000 of an inch apart side by side). Then just hold down Control D while it creates a lot of duplicates. Then select them all and group them.
EDITED: 2 Oct 2006 by DAVERJ
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5]
2 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 2 Oct 2006
There are two ways in addition.
You can use contour fill on the letters by first converting them to curves, removing the solid fill and setting up the contour fill.
You can convert to curves, save as a PLT and under the 'Advanced' tab of the PLT export set up as a line or hatch fill. Corel X3 has some bugs in this export filter. Even setting the pen width to '0' and then the hatch fill, the exact spacing between lines does not come out as expected.
From: Zelmon [#6]
2 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) 2 Oct 2006
You do not say whether you are using a rotary cutter or a diamond ?
These are the three methods I know about, but only use two of them, and for quite some time. I only use diamond drag. Infill using contour effect gives a different 'end look' to the engraving. It is quicker to configure than diagonal lines, and it engraves quicker. I tend not to use the diagonal lines in the export filter box, because to check whether the spacing is right you have to re-import it, and yes, it can be a problem with the export filter.
I create the text, make it outline ie no fill. Then make a single vector line, 45 degrees looks best I think, I set the duplicate to create the desired hatch then make enough lines to cover the amount of text. Next combine the lines. Place the text inside the box of lines you have made. Selct the lines first, then the text, holding down the shift key, then click on the trim button and pull the text away from the lines.
It engraves a nice pattern, but is slow compared to the hatch pattern created by casmate
Hope you follow, basically similar to one already described
Simon Cork
Sheffield UK
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#7]
3 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#6] 3 Oct 2006
Becky:
I would type the font, outline it, delete the fill and while it is still selected go to the fill tool, select post script, select hatching, set angle to 45 or whatever, set line to 1, set spacing to min. 60, max 60 or whatever you like just make both the same number and you're finished.
Incidentally, if you want to use this concept (vector line fill) for laser engraving expect it to take longer than raster engraving.
EDITED: 3 Oct 2006 by MIKEN
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8]
4 Oct 2006
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#7] 4 Oct 2006
Mike-
I am using it for laser engraving. I don't have a rotary and some of the terminology from some of the other posts left me a little confused. I didn't realize this was something rotary engravers did or else I would have clarified that a little bit better in my original post LOL.
Thank you for the short and sweet version. I will try it and see how it works.
And thank you to everyone else who sent in suggestions as well. I do appreciate the time.
Thanks
Becky
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#9]
4 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8] 4 Oct 2006
I have to eat a little crow here. Everything I told you works except that it will not vector on my machine and maybe not on yours.
The lines are fine enough and if you are engraving this is a good solution but if you need to vector something with that cross hatch it may not work.
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#10]
4 Oct 2006
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#9] 4 Oct 2006
Mike-
Thanks for your honesty. I will give it a try and let you know what happens. It's not going to be the end of the world if I can't figure this out. LOL
Becky
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#11]
4 Oct 2006
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#9] 4 Oct 2006
OMG!!! I just tried the technique you recommended, although I haven't tested the substrate yet. My goodness!! This is a whole new thing on Corel I didn't discover yet. (make it 4,987 on the list of things I didn't know about this program. LOL)
Anyway, at this point I wouldn't mind at all if this didn't actually work...discover the PostScript fill was good enough for me!!! LOL
Thanks so much!!
Becky
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12]
4 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#10] 4 Oct 2006
Mike-
Just to give you an update, your wonderful suggestion worked exactly as I wanted to. Thank you so so much for helping me.
This is perfect!!
Thanks
Becky
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#13]
4 Oct 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12] 4 Oct 2006
Becky:
Very glad it worked for you. It's a neat feature and it's kind of hidden away so not many people have found it.
We used it to create background for molds for spuncast medals.
EDITED: 4 Oct 2006 by MIKEN
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#14]
5 Oct 2006
To: ALL
Late breaking news!
We don't have a corner on bright helpful people on EEO. The people at the Corel forum came up with a work around that's too easy.
Just do the drawing as indicated previously. Save it as a PDF and import it as curves. You can change it to any color you want. You can also change each line thickness if you like.
EDITED: 5 Oct 2006 by MIKEN