Hi,

I would like to make text bends like in the images below using Inkscape. The best way I've found sofar is taking the 'Shagadelic' font, converting it to a path, bending the path and working the nodes by hand... there must be a better way!

If you have any suggestions or a nice tutorial which I can use please let me know.

Peace.

This could be done easly if you are usinig Inkscape from SVN:
1. Convert your text to path (Path -> Object to path) and select it
2. Path -> Path effects -> Path effects...
3. Add "Lattice deformation" or "Enveloper deformation" effect
4. Switch to node tool and deform your text. Note that you might need to click "Show next path parameter for editing" button on the top toolbar to be able to deform object.

Whilst the SVN feature sounds ideal for the job, I think sometimes it helps to remember that these sorts of graphics were being designed well before the age of computer drafting. Sometimes the best way really is to do it yourself. It's the apparent age of those posters that makes me say this. Inkscape already makes it easier with just than what it would have been in the days those posters were created.

For the Jefferson:Airplane -Style (the poster is not a font, the individual characters were done by hand) i recommend making rectangles with rounded corners ( - round corners by tugging at the circle in the corner of the new rectangle) then make some slender rectangles , put little circles at the end, Path->Union, make a few copies (should look like matches), distort them randomly. Use these "matches" to make the desired characters out of the rounded rectangles (Lay them on top, select both, Path->Difference). Align the rounded rectangles. Path->combine your text. Make your text the lowest object. Make a freehand curve that goes like you want your Text to curve. Select text and curve. Effects->Generate from path->Pattern along Path.
Distort some more.
This is rather quick, and because of the handmade characters the result looks as trippy as the original