Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.

In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
(inside or out) and the like.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Matt

Post a reply to this message

There are ways to do these things. Do you mean as actual features
internal to POV-Ray or as scripted in a file? Take a look at this URL
here if you haven't already.

 http://www.xs4all.nl/~remcodek/softtext.html


Matt Swarm wrote:
> 
> Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
> package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
> 
> In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
> illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
> (inside or out) and the like.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Matt

-- 
 omniVERSE: beyond the universe
  http://members.aol.com/inversez/homepage.htm
 mailto://inversez@aol.com?Subject=PoV-News

Post a reply to this message

Hi Bob:

While I have greater aspirations for POV-Ray than eye-candy typography
(Hey... I LIKE candy!), my most immediate need is to produce gooey, shiney,
sparkling, fancy and eye-catching titles and logos for web graphics.

Crude starting example at:  http://member.aol.com/ideatoys/logos.htm

Sure, there are plenty of $10 programs out the which bevel, level and
dishevel fonts, then coat, color and wet them down.    I want to do ALL
those naughty things to letters, and then some-- I just want to do it under
programmatic control.

If I can do the grunt work in Moray or somesuch, fine--  so long as I can
change the text string, color, size, etc., using a parameter file.

I'll study the link you kindly provided.  My choice at this point, however,
because of the vast number available, would be to use TrueType fonts as
starting points.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Matt


Bob Hughes wrote in message <379e51db@news.povray.org>...
>There are ways to do these things. Do you mean as actual features
>internal to POV-Ray or as scripted in a file? Take a look at this URL
>here if you haven't already.
>
> http://www.xs4all.nl/~remcodek/softtext.html
>
>
>Matt Swarm wrote:
>>
>> Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
>> package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
>>
>> In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
>> illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
>> (inside or out) and the like.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Matt
>
>--
> omniVERSE: beyond the universe
>  http://members.aol.com/inversez/homepage.htm
> mailto://inversez@aol.com?Subject=PoV-News

Post a reply to this message

If the softtext utility outputs triangle meshes, you could use the PCM
macro to do even more transformations to the fonts (like adding spikes or
growing hair to them or morphing them) which are not possible with softtext.
  See http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/1434/pcm.html

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

Post a reply to this message

You can curve, twist and bend text any way you wish with Chris Colefax's
Object Bender.

I'd like to learn edge sculpting and face rounding myself. I think, but am
not sure, that POV treats the font like a spline sweep so it might be a bit
tricky rounding the face out.

steve


Matt Swarm wrote:

> Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
> package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
>
> In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
> illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
> (inside or out) and the like.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matt

Post a reply to this message

Steve <ste### [at] puzzlecraftcom> wrote:
: You can curve, twist and bend text any way you wish with Chris Colefax's
: Object Bender.

  I think that bending ttf's is SLOW.

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

Post a reply to this message

Nieminen Mika wrote:
> 
> Steve <ste### [at] puzzlecraftcom> wrote:
> : You can curve, twist and bend text any way you wish with Chris Colefax's
> : Object Bender.
> 
>   I think that bending ttf's is SLOW.

I would agree with you on that.

-- 
Ken Tyler
  
mailto://tylereng@pacbell.net
http://home.pacbell.net/tylereng/links.htm

Post a reply to this message

Someone had done a bevelling include here someplace, most likely found
in one of the scene-file groups dating back to last summer or fall I
believe, not sure. It deformed the ttf text somehow. Looking at that
logo you gave the link to it didn't seem too difficult to do that at
least. You can easily difference shapes from the text to achieve some
new looks, I did the English alphabet letters individually once,
subtracting a inversed sphere from them. The existence of a complete
text changing include file of the sort you suggest is unknown to me.
Like you say, there are certainly programs which manipulate it though,
but it wouldn't be difficult to do the basics via macro or such I'm
sure.


Matt Swarm wrote:
> 
> Hi Bob:
> 
> While I have greater aspirations for POV-Ray than eye-candy typography
> (Hey... I LIKE candy!), my most immediate need is to produce gooey, shiney,
> sparkling, fancy and eye-catching titles and logos for web graphics.
> 
> Crude starting example at:  http://member.aol.com/ideatoys/logos.htm
> 
> Sure, there are plenty of $10 programs out the which bevel, level and
> dishevel fonts, then coat, color and wet them down.    I want to do ALL
> those naughty things to letters, and then some-- I just want to do it under
> programmatic control.
> 
> If I can do the grunt work in Moray or somesuch, fine--  so long as I can
> change the text string, color, size, etc., using a parameter file.
> 
> I'll study the link you kindly provided.  My choice at this point, however,
> because of the vast number available, would be to use TrueType fonts as
> starting points.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> 
> Bob Hughes wrote in message <379e51db@news.povray.org>...
> >There are ways to do these things. Do you mean as actual features
> >internal to POV-Ray or as scripted in a file? Take a look at this URL
> >here if you haven't already.
> >
> > http://www.xs4all.nl/~remcodek/softtext.html
> >
> >
> >Matt Swarm wrote:
> >>
> >> Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
> >> package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
> >>
> >> In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
> >> illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
> >> (inside or out) and the like.
> >>
> >> Any thoughts?
> >>

-- 
 omniVERSE: beyond the universe
  http://members.aol.com/inversez/homepage.htm
 mailto://inversez@aol.com?Subject=PoV-News

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 16:53:37 -0700, "Matt Swarm" <ide### [at] aolcom>
wrote:

>Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
>package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
>
>In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
>illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
>(inside or out) and the like.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
IMO the easiest way to bevel the text is to export text to a modeller
and bevel it there (IIRC there way a simple modeller called "VSPOV" or
similar which could take in a 2D DXF object - as produced by Corel
Draw exporting text - raise it into 3D and bevel it).

However, what you're left with is meshes rather than true text...


Cheers,

Cliff Bowman
Why not pay my 3D Dr Who site a visit at http://www.who3d.cwc.net/
PS change ".duffcom" to ".net" if replying via e-mail

Post a reply to this message

Nieminen Mika wrote:
> 
>   If the softtext utility outputs triangle meshes, you could use the PCM
> macro to do even more transformations to the fonts (like adding spikes or
> growing hair to them or morphing them) which are not possible with softtext.
> 

Why wouldn't those things be possible? Have you tried it?

Remco

Post a reply to this message

Remco de Korte <rem### [at] xs4allnl> wrote:
:>   If the softtext utility outputs triangle meshes, you could use the PCM
:> macro to do even more transformations to the fonts (like adding spikes or
:> growing hair to them or morphing them) which are not possible with softtext.
:> 

: Why wouldn't those things be possible? Have you tried it?

  Actually yes. I downloaded it and tried it. I couldn't do anything but
type the text and save. I was unable to do ANY transformations to the text.
  Am I missing something?

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

Post a reply to this message

Nieminen Mika wrote:
> 
>   Actually yes. I downloaded it and tried it. I couldn't do anything but
> type the text and save. I was unable to do ANY transformations to the text.
>   Am I missing something?
> 
> --
> 

You could have a look at the example(s), like the verbal image. Source is in the
scene-files group.

Remco

Post a reply to this message

Thanks Cliff:

Second time this weekend I've encountered notion of using Corel to map and
output text for use in other programs.  Will have to give it a try.

Gave SoftFont a brief whirl a few days ago.  Could not find a way to change
the font to another TT face-- I may have missed something in my brief
tryout.  Otherwise, it did indeed map out the glyph data into a textfile
array for use in an .inc file.  Would be a great starting point if I can
make it see other fonts.  Otherwise, I may have to write my own code which
uses font API calls.

I'll reinstall Corel and give that a try, too.

Matt

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 16:53:37 -0700, "Matt Swarm" <ide### [at] aolcom> wrote:
>Can't seem to find much on working with text as graphic objects.  The POV
>package has an example which, blissfully, uses True Type fonts.
>
>In addition to color and texture, I would like to bevel, round the face,
>illuminate from inside, wrap the line of text around a sphere or cylinder
>(inside or out) and the like.

If you don't mind the letters being straight, you can wrap them around a
sphere or cylinder using a macro (though you may find the "Object Bounds"
part of the superpatch exceedingly useful here).

Bevel text with the following macro:

//creates beveled text
#macro bevel_text (bevelFont, bevelText, bevel_depth, text_depth,nbr_of_objects)
   union {
      #local i = 0;
      #while (i < 1)
      //This is the bevel itself
      text { 
         ttf bevelFont, bevelText, bevel_depth, <bevel_depth,0,0>
         matrix < 1, 0, 0,
               0, 1, 0,
               cos(i*2*pi), sin(i*2*pi), 1,
               0, 0, 0 >
      }

      //This is what is behind the bevel. 
      //Set text_depth to 0 if you only want the bevel.
      #if (text_depth > 0)
         text {
            ttf bevelFont, bevelText, text_depth, <bevel_depth,0,0>
            translate <cos(i*2*pi)*bevel_depth, 
                  sin(i*2*pi)*bevel_depth, 
                  bevel_depth>    
         }
      #end
   #declare i = i + 1/nbr_of_objects;
   #end
}
#end



Don't ask me how it works, I didn't create it. I just converted it to work
as a macro :*)

Jerry

Post a reply to this message

Matt Swarm wrote:
> 
> Thanks Cliff:
> 
> Second time this weekend I've encountered notion of using Corel to map and
> output text for use in other programs.  Will have to give it a try.
> 
> Gave SoftFont a brief whirl a few days ago.  Could not find a way to change
> the font to another TT face-- I may have missed something in my brief
> tryout.  Otherwise, it did indeed map out the glyph data into a textfile
> array for use in an .inc file.  Would be a great starting point if I can
> make it see other fonts.  Otherwise, I may have to write my own code which
> uses font API calls.
> 
> I'll reinstall Corel and give that a try, too.
> 
> Matt

I'm not sure but if you're referring to SoftText (SoftFont) the problem with the
font is rather silly. In screen-resolutions below 1024x768 not all of the
program window was visible and you couldn't resize it. Someone else brought this
to my attention yesterday. I've changed the program so you'll be able to see the
whole window with other resolution-settings too (and resize it). 
I hope this helps.

NB the program is still far from flawless, (useful) comments are welcome.

Regards,

Remco

Post a reply to this message

>Don't ask me how it works, I didn't create it. I just converted it to work
>as a macro :*)
>
>Jerry

Looks great, Jerry, but how does it work?   :-)

Looking forward to trying it out.   As for how it works, my next
experimental approach would involve joining compound text objects, so I'm
wondering about that 'union' directive.

Maybe a guru could lend some 'expert-tease' here?

Matt

Post a reply to this message

Remco de Korte wrote in message <37A602E9.1A29D554@xs4all.nl>...

>I'm not sure but if you're referring to SoftText (SoftFont) the problem
with the
>font is rather silly. In screen-resolutions below 1024x768 not all of the
>program window was visible and you couldn't resize it.

>NB the program is still far from flawless, (useful) comments are welcome.


Thanks.  That possibility occurred to me.   I'll have another try ASAP.

It always pays to program for the LRCD- 'Lowest Reasonable Common
Denominator.'    In the case, that would be 640x480.  Millions still use it-
much easier to see so long as most monitors are CRT instead of LCD.  I
suspect the resolution will begin to disappear when LCD screens become
ubiquitous.  Or at least ubiquitouser.  :-)

Matt

Post a reply to this message

Matt Swarm wrote:
> 
> It always pays to program for the LRCD- 'Lowest Reasonable Common
> Denominator.'    In the case, that would be 640x480.  Millions still use it-
> much easier to see so long as most monitors are CRT instead of LCD.  I
> suspect the resolution will begin to disappear when LCD screens become
> ubiquitous.  Or at least ubiquitouser.  :-)
> 
> Matt

Normally I do so if I know the program is meant to be used on other systems then
just mine. This was something I made because I needed it for some things and
when the subject of using text in POV came up I thought it might be a friendly
idea to share it. Some people seem to object but I still hope (and know) there
are some others who can see the use of it. It's not really the program that is
great or the idea behind it, just that it gives you a heap of raw data on which
you can unleash your own creative genius using POV. I'm very curious about what
others have done with it, because I think working with text(objects) in POV can
give much more interesting results than the eye-candy-type 3D-text programs.

Regards,

Remco

BTW who is Mr. Whipple?

Post a reply to this message

Can't see why anyone would 'object' to the program, unless on the grounds
that one is making use of the intellectual property of another in the data.

But since fonts are actually meant to be USED, this argument gets a bit
thin.  Legally, if the creator of a font knew the font data was used
initially- but the result looked nothing like the font after processing-
there would be few grounds for action.  The original data has become little
more than 'inspiration.'

BTW, Mr. Whipple is a old character-- making a comeback-- on American
commercial ads.   He specialty was squeezing soft toilet tissue.

Matt

>Normally I do so if I know the program is meant to be used on other systems
then
>just mine. This was something I made because I needed it for some things
and
>when the subject of using text in POV came up I thought it might be a
friendly
>idea to share it. Some people seem to object but I still hope (and know)
there
>are some others who can see the use of it. It's not really the program that
is
>great or the idea behind it, just that it gives you a heap of raw data on
which
>you can unleash your own creative genius using POV. I'm very curious about
what
>others have done with it, because I think working with text(objects) in POV
can
>give much more interesting results than the eye-candy-type 3D-text
programs.
>
>Regards,
>
>Remco
>
>BTW who is Mr. Whipple?

Post a reply to this message

On Mon, 2 Aug 1999 01:06:24 -0700, "Matt Swarm" <ide### [at] aolcom>
wrote:

>Thanks Cliff:
>
>Second time this weekend I've encountered notion of using Corel to map and
>output text for use in other programs.  Will have to give it a try.
>
No problem. I've tinkered around with the "Beveled Text" macro Jerry
supplied, and Superpatch POV, and got some quite interesting results
(actually boring but.. well, you know). It *looks* loke the macro
might actually be faster than using a mesh generated via Corel -> DXF
-> 3D Bevel. In some ways the quality is higher too (and in some ways
lower - there's never a win-win scenario).


Cheers,

Cliff Bowman
Why not pay my 3D Dr Who site a visit at http://www.who3d.cwc.net/
PS change ".duffcom" to ".net" if replying via e-mail

Post a reply to this message

Thanks, Cliff-- been there and plan to return.

Matt


>Why not pay my 3D Dr Who site a visit at http://www.who3d.cwc.net/
>PS change ".duffcom" to ".net" if replying via e-mail

Post a reply to this message