LXI 26 brings decades of signmaking expertise in a new GUI with a host of new and updated features. Our topic for this article may be one of the most enjoyable aspects of sigmaking software. The Distortions Effects found in previous versions of LXI offered customers ways to warp and twist design elements into novel, eye-catching shapes. Since we’re talking about the most comprehensive update to LXI in twenty years, perhaps it’s fitting that, in LXI 26, this tool is called Transformation. We touched briefly on the Transform menu in the LXI 26 Text Tools article. Now, let’s take a closer look at the Transformations tool for text and graphics.
Overview: What is a Transformation?
First, a definition might be helpful. What is a distortion or transformation anyway? Bear in mind that LXI is primarily vector design software. Vector graphics are composed of points, paths, and fills. Shapes are defined by points in two-dimensional space connected by straight or curved paths and -usually - filled with solid colors or gradients. A distortion or transformation tool simply allows you to grab those points and paths and twist them in specific ways. Transformations are most often applied to text elements to create bold, eye-catching headlines or unique logos. Think of the arc of the iconic Superman logo, or the perspective applied to the text that crawls vertically across the screen in the opening seconds of Star Wars. These kinds of effects can also be applied to shapes, or ‘polyarcs’ in LXI 26. We’ll show you the tools in the LXI 26 Transformations toolbox and how to apply them to text and shapes.
Transform | Transformation Tools. What and How.
To apply a Transformation to a text element or shape in LXI 26, click to select the object. Then, from the top Nav bar, click Transform. From the drop-down menu, click Transformation. The LXI 26 Smart Bar loads the Transformations menu. There are 20 tools grouped in three categories. These are Bounding Box, Perspective, and Fit to Shape. Bounding Box transformations apply changes inside a virtual frame. Perspective transformations apply traditional two-dimensional perspective affects - like the aforementioned Star Wars crawl. The Fit to shape options warp or constrain the object to fit in a globe, cylinder, flag, or circle.
Most of these are divided into horizontal and vertical variants. For instance, the Bounding Box Transformations include three tools - Bounding Box Bezier, Linear, and Arch - in vertical and horizontal versions (FIG 1). The second group consists of Perspective Linear Vertical, Perspective Linear Horizontal, Arch vertical and horizontal, Perspective Curve, and Perspective Horizontal. Understanding that the 20 various Transformations are really just 10 or 11 different tools, each of which can be applied in two different ways simplifies the menu and makes it easier to learn how to use them. That sums up the summary. Let’s dive into the details and find out what the various transformations do and how to use them.
LXI 26 Transformations Tools & Process
First, let’s cover the how-to. Text elements can be transformed in three simple clicks. Four clicks apply these changes to shapes. Let’s start with the Bounding Box Options.
Place text on your desktop. Click to select it. Then click Transform. From the drop-down menu, click Transformation. Click the icon at the top left, which is the Bounding Box Linear Vertical tool. If you’re not sure which Transformation tool an icon represents, click one, then hover your mouse over the others. As you do, LXI will identify each tool. As noted above, the Bounding Box options are Linear Vertical, Linear Horizontal, Bezier Vertical, Bezier Horizontal, and Arch Vertical and Horizontal. The Vertical tools are in the top row, and the Horizontal variants are in the bottom row. This hierarchy applies to the Perspective and Fit to Shape tools as well.
Bounding Box Transformations
Bounding Box Linear: When you click the Bounding Box Linear Vertical icon, LXI 26 Places a bounding box around your text with handles in each corner, and one each at the top and bottom center. You can click the handles and raise or lower them - adjust vertically - to create straight paths from the corners to the center. Choosing the Linear Horizontal places the active nodes midway from top to bottom on the left and right edges. Pulling these distorts the object along its horizontal axis (FIG 2).
Bounding Box Bezier: The Bounding Box Bezier Transformations place the object in a similar box, bounded by a pair of active bezier tool nodes that can be used to warp the vertical or horizontal axis. Click and drag them to pull the object either upward or sideways. This produces something similar to a flag effect, but with more creative freedom to determine how the paths are distorted (Fig 3).
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 arc. 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 4).
Perspective Transformations
Like the Bounding Box Transformations, there are two sets of three tools in the Perspective Transformations toolbox. The options here are Perspective Linear Vertical, Perspective Arch Vertical, Perspective Curve, Perspective Linear Horizontal, Perspective Arch Horizontal, and Perspective Horizontal.
Perspective Linear: The Perspective Linear Transformation tools work much like the Bounding Box. The Perspective Linear Vertical Transformation places a single node in the center of the top and bottom of the object’s frame. Perspective Linear Horizontal adds the nodes at each side equidistant from the top and bottom. Dragging the nodes distorts the object in both directions creating a classic two-point perspective effect. Like the Bounding Box Arch tools, Perspective Vertical can be used to move both nodes in the same directions to create an upward or downward vantage point, or the nodes can be dragged in opposite directions, placing the virtual horizon in the center of the object (Fig 5).
The Perspective Linear Horizontal tool puts the active nodes left and right, creating an arrowhead distortion. Applying this effect to an ellipse is a quick and easy way to create a perfectly symmetrical valentine.
Perspective Arch: The Perspective Arch tool is based on the same concept. 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 6).
Perspective Arch Horizontal applies the same taffy-pull effect to squeeze or expand fonts and polyarcs. Applying a horizontal arch to an ellipse produces some interesting new shapes, some of which look like guitar picks.
Perspective Curve, Perspective Horizontal: Perspective horizontal is a simple application of symmetrical one-point perspective. You get two active nodes on the top corners of the object that allow you to create the Star Wars effect and narrow the top of the element.
Perspective Curve is a little funkier. It places nodes at the right side top and bottom corners that can be splayed away from each other creating an extreme one-point perspective. The node at the left allows you to bow the object outward, warping it into a one-point perspective view of a cylindrical object (Fig 7).
Fit to Shape Transformation Tools
The final set of Transformation tools in LXI 26 works a little differently, but they’re also arranged in sets of two. Here we have a set of transformations that warp and enclose the object in dynamic shapes. The shapes are globe, cylinder, flag, and circle. The fit to globe, cylinder, and flag tools have the same vertical and horizontal options seen in the Bounding Box and Perspective tool boxes. The Circle options are clockwise and counterclockwise.
Fit to Globe: The Fit to Globe Transformation tool actually has four variants. Fit to Globe Vertical places a node on a vertical axis that bisects the object. Dragging this node to the right distorts the object, making it convex. It expands outward- as if wrapped around a globe. Dragging the same node leftward applies a concave affect, squeezing the center of the object (Fig 8).
Fit to Globe Horizontal places the node in a horizontal axis from which you can drag it upward for a convex distortion, and downward to compress the object. But, globes being globes, it’s honestly hard to distinguish between the horizontal and vertical versions of this tool. You can create some cool effects by applying Fit to Globe transformations to shapes and arrows (FIG 8A).
Fit to Cylinder: The Fit to Cylinder Transformation is one of the more complex and hard-to-describe options in the LXI26 Transformations menu. There are vertical and horizontal variants, but they are a but counter-intuitive. Opting for Fit to Cylinder Vertical places a horizontal axis on the object with a node in the center that can be dragged vertically, upwards or downwards. Dragging it upwards seems to inflate the item within a bounding box defined by its original shape. Dragging it downward pulls the top of the object downward, as if it’s being deflated (FIG 9).
Fit to Cylinder Horizontal places a vertical axis in the center of the object with a node that can be dragged horizontally,left or right. The effect is a bit like turning text into taffy, with some unusual results. Applying this transformation to a polyarc will ‘inflate’ or deflate the bottom half of the object (FIG 10).
Fit to Flag: This is the simplest and perhaps most useful of all the Fit to Shape Transformation tools. Like the others, Fit to Flag can be applied vertically or horizontally. Fit to flag vertical creates a boundary around the object with a node on the top edge. You can click and drag that to create a bezier effect that creates a wave like that of a flag in the wind. This is especially useful if you need to create an actual flag graphic. Create your object on a rectangular field, group the elements, and apply the Fit to Flag Transformation (FIG 11). Easy peasy.
As you might expect, opting for Fit to Flag Horizontal places the active node on the left vertical border of the object. Dragging it applies the same bezier wave along the object’s vertical axis in a manner that simulates a flag anchored at the top and waving in the breeze (FIG 12). Yes, we know. It’s a bit confusing.
Fit to Circle: Instead of Vertical and horizontal, the options in the Fit to Circle Transformation are clockwise and counterclockwise. This transformation applies the text or object to a 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. Depending on the size of your object, you may need to zoom out to see the nodes and manipulate the width (FIG 13). Bolder fonts will suffer more distortion from this transformation than regular or thinner fonts. There is a text to path option elsewhere in the Transform menu, but if you just want to arrange a textual element in a circular arc, the Fit to Circle Transformation is the fastest and easiest way to do it.
The Fit to Circle Transformation isn’t just for text. Playing around with the default shapes in the LXI 26 Shape Tools menu can yield some pretty interesting effects too (FIG 14).
There are 20 Transformations in the LXI26 Transform Tools menu, but applying them to text and polyarcs can generate endless varieties of creative new effects for text and graphics. Some are great for creating bold headline elements, some are efficient ways to create popular flag and perspective effects, and some are just plain fun. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the Transformation tools to give your designs more visual impact.
