LXI 26 is new from the ground up. That means our beloved Vinyl Express signmaking software has been overhauled from top to bottom with a new GUI and a simpler array of levels. But the new look is based on decades of continuous input from signmakers across the country. So there are some classic tools that are not only retained, but they’re easier to use. LXI 26 is offered in three levels instead of five. That means the most affordable version of LXI26 has more features than ever. This includes Arched text effects, which were not available in LXI Apprentice 22, but are supported in all levels of LXI26. Let’s drill down and talk about how to create Arc and Arched Text effects in LXI 26.
Overview: What is Arched Text and How is it Used
Arched text is a classic signmaking design tool that adds eye-catching impact to designs. There are several ways to tap into this essential sign design feature in LXI 26. LXI 26 offers five ways to apply arcs or arch effects to text, but they’re all found in the same menu. There are two in the Transform menu, and three more in the Transform/Transformations menu. The Transform menu offers Text to Arc and Text to Path tools. The Transformations menu includes Perspective Arch and Fit to Circle effects.
First, a word about terminology. Arcs and arches are similar terms, but they’re not identical. Fitting text to an arc means distorting the baseline of the fonts so that they follow a curved path. Arched text changes the height of the text and applies the arch to the top and/or bottom of the text. This may distort the edges, but it creates a three-dimensional warping effect that mimics the shape of an archway. Some of the tools here place text on an arc, and some apply an arched effect. The five effects discussed here apply arcs or arches in different ways. Let’s walk through the choices so you can decide which ones work best for different kinds of designs.
Transform | Text to Arc and Text to Path
The Transform Menu’s Text to Arc and Text to Path effects work the same way with one simple exception: the type of path to which the text will be applied. Text to Arc is pretty straightforward, and creates an invisible arc as it applies the effect to your fonts. Text to Path is more creative and will allow you to connect a text element to any closed path, no matter how it arcs, snakes, or stair steps across your desktop. Here are the step-by-step instructions for both options.
Text to Arc: This is the quick and easy way to place text on an arc. Just type out the text and click to select it. Then click Transform from the top toolbar. From the drop-down menu, click Text to Arc. The Smart Bar offers several handy options to fine-tune the placement of the text. You can decide whether it’s centered on top, move the starting point clockwise around the arc, and click the nodes to determine how large the arc is relative to the text. Enlarging it will apply a gentler curve. Shrinking it will apply the text to a tighter circular path.
You can also type in specific values in the arc angle tools boxes at the left side of the Smart Bar to enlarge or contract the art. This applies a running preview, so you can see how the text is affected (Fig 1).
The Arc center X and Arc center Y windows allow you to enter specific X and Y coordinates for the center of the arc on your desktop. This moves the arc and text left and right or up and down, all while updating your interactive preview in the Smart Bar.
The four Arc baseline tools allow you to place the text inside or outside the arc or at the top or bottom.
The Rotation tool allows you to type in a specific starting point along the 360° arc so that you can determine exactly where the text begins (FIG 2). Use the Apply button to preview the changes, then click Accept or Close to exit the Smart bar.
Text to Path: The Text to Path option works a little differently. To activate this effect, you must create the path before you call on the Transform menu. Add your text. Click to select the polyarc or shape. A simple circle or ellipse from the Shapes menu will work. You may also create a custom path using the bezier tool, as long as you close it. Once you have your closed path, select both objects. Then click Transform / Fit Text to Path . As with the Text to Arc tool, the LXI 26 Smart bar offers several widgets you can use to finesse this effect. The first determines whether the text moves left or right from its origin point on the path. Left to Right is the default. The next four widgets choose the Start Position for the text along the path. The options are Top, Bottom, Left, or Right. The four widgets below the Start Position options determine the placement of the text in relation to the path. The options here are Text inside Path, Text On Path, Text Through Path, and Text Outside Path. The Text to Path Distance window provides a minute adjustment for the offset of the text and path (Fig 3).
The Text to Path module lacks the interactive preview of Text to Arc, so you must click the Apply button, then close the Smart bar to see how the settings affect your design. If you’re unhappy with the change, use the good old Undo button and try another setting.
The other major difference between the Text to Arc and Text to Path Transform tools is the visibility of the second element. Text to Arc manipulates the text along an invisible arc. Text to Path preserves the visibility of both elements, so that the path remains an integral part of your design (FIG 4). You can still edit the text and path separately, and do things like apply a gradient fill to the path without disrupting the connected text. You can also edit the text, and even change the fill and font, without disrupting its placement on the path (Fig 5).
Transform/Transformations Bounding Box, Perspective, Fit to Circle
The other method for applying an arch effect to text in LXI26 is the Transformations toolbox. The Transformations toolbox includes three other tools you can use to create arched text effects. These are Bounding Box Arch, Perspective Arch, and Fit to Circle.
Bounding Box Arch: The Bounding Box Arch Transformation tool does just what you would expect. It places a pair of active nodes in the center of the vertical or horizontal axis that allows you to stretch the object into an arch. The nodes can be pulled in the same direction to distort objects upwards or downwards. Or they can be pulled in opposite directions to expand it in both directions. Using the Arch horizontal transformation can expand an object, shrink it, or arch it in either direction (Fig 6).
Perspective Arch: The Perspective Arch tool is very similar to Bounding Box Arch. Perspective Arch Vertical applies two-point perspective to an object and allows you to determine where the virtual horizon line is in relation to the bottom of the object. Since you can drag the horizontally placed nodes in both directions, you can create a convincing arched perspective effect looking up, down, or straight at the transformed element (Fig 7). As you can see, Bounding Box Arch preserves the characters better than Perspective arch.
Fit to Circle: The Transform/Transformation/Fit to Circle tool works much like the Transform/Fit to Arc effect. So, in a sense, we’re coming full circle. Pardon the pun. Like Fit to Arc, you don’t have to have a path pre-selected in your design to use this tool. And, like Fit to Arc, Fit to Circle applies the selected text or object to an invisible circular path.
The width of the default path is determined by the height of the object. This can be adjusted by clicking and dragging the nodes on the circular borders, or by entering specific values in the Smart Bar widgets. Depending on the size of your object, you may need to zoom out to see the nodes and manipulate the width (FIG 8).
The main difference between the Fit to Arc Transform effect and the Transformations/Fit to Circle tool is the completeness of the second path. If you need to arrange a text element in a complete, symmetrical circular motif, Fit to Circle is your best option.
An old adage says there’s more than one way to skin a cat. PETA may object, but the point is, in good graphic design software, there is often more than one way to create a desired effect. This is certainly true in a complete vector design suite like LXI26. It offers five different Transform Effect tools that can create arched text or place text on an arc. They approach the task from different angles, but each will get the job done. Take some time and tinker with these tools to find out which works best for you.
