[abeall]

One thing you can't do with a simple filter in Fireworks is distort text, which can be used in some graphic apps to make typography a little more interesting at times. Well I just saw this clever Inkscape (opensource vector app) tutorial at Sixthings and thought: wow, that's really clever, you could use the same technique in Fireworks easily enough!

And attached is a quick walk-through on the distortion part in Fireworks (it's a Fireworks PNG so you can download to look at the final result in Fireworks.)

Attached image(s)

• 

[jdunning]

Reminds me of that old TypeStyler program that let you distort and style text like 15 years ago. It's back to the future!

[raja]

very nice thks.

[blue2x]

always wondered how to do that, =) so they use circles =) awesome

[blue2x]

heres my try, =)

[raja]

really cool blue.

[jdunning]

If it didn't require so much bezier math, I'd feel a command coming on. Must be code out there for finding intersections with bezier curves...

[DaveH]

If Microsoft can do it for Word Art in MS Office, it must not be that difficult...

jdunning, on Mar 25 2009, 12:34 PM, said:

If it didn't require so much bezier math, I'd feel a command coming on. Must be code out there for finding intersections with bezier curves...

[abeall]

Code for finding bezier curve intersections? Hehe... if you find it, let me know.

Hm, maybe a command wouldn't be too hard to get this specific effect if you just use some simple interpolation, translating each point's Y based on it's X position with applied interpolation, then decaying Y translation based on the point's Y distance from top of bounding box... hmmmm, I think I might...

[abeall]

Heh, okay, so here's a faster way attached. Just enter Strength (max amount of Y distortion) and Offset (horizontal center point) to arc the bottom of your vector selection.

It's a bit sluggish in processing for some reason, not sure why... but it's more accurate, too, because it deforms every point instead of just every path.

EDIT: To install, just copy the file to your applications Fireworks/Configuration/Commands folder.

EDIT2: Made an update, now the command will automatically convert text to paths if you have text selected (with a confirmation prompt, of course.)

Attached File(s)

•  Arc_Bottom.jsf (2.87K)
  Number of downloads: 609

[raja]

great one abeall

[Zoe20]

abeall, on Mar 26 2009, 09:44 AM, said:

Heh, okay, so here's a faster way attached.

It's a bit slow for some reason, not sure why... but it's more accurate, too, because it deforms every point instead of every path.

Tks a lot .How to install it ??

[abeall]

Just download the .jsf and copy/move it to your Fireworks/Configuration/Commands directory:

Win: Program Files/Adobe/Fireworks [version]/Configuration/Commands/
Mac (not sure): Applications/Adobe/Fireworks [version]/Configuration/Commands/

Or I'll package it as an MXP someday and put it on my site...

[raja]

abeall, on Mar 26 2009, 09:59 PM, said:

Or I'll package it as an MXP someday and put it on my site...

Great idea .Its cool one thanks a Ton.

[Brownspank]

Thanks for the credit, but moreover, thanks for the command: it works like a charm! Looking forward to the MXP version.

I think this deserves some linkage.

[raja]

Yes am also eagerly looking for the mxp version

[abeall]

Welcome Brownspank, glad you like it, and thanks for the linkage.

[SiamJai]

This is awesome! First, it's a great idea and a neat tutorial, but above all, the implementation from idea to command is what makes this so cool. Almost like we watch your design process in real-time.

Congrats Aaron, and thanks for sharing this cool technique and tool!

[raja]

any update on the MXP yet please?

[kelton]

raja, on Apr 27 2009, 04:31 AM, said:

any update on the MXP yet please?

as long as u follow abeall instructions above there is no real need for the MXP.. it only installs it easier for u in one package.. in fact the time i took to replied, i could have already installed it manually.

[hamo]

thanks very much

[Mmike]

This is my first post, and this thread made me register cause i want to thank you for the tutorial and command! good work

[zilli]

abeall, on 28 March 2009 - 01:12 PM, said:

Welcome Brownspank, glad you like it, and thanks for the linkage.

Good work!