So, I know that you can fit text to a path in inkscape (using text -> put on path).

However, I'd like to create text which follows multiple paths/shapes alla:



This is taken from tutorial http://www.graphics.com/modules.php?nam ... &artid=394 for illustrator.

Any ideas if this can be done in inkscape?

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

That can't be done very easily with Inkscape. Although it certainly would be a cool thing to have -- it would take someone who knows coding to offer to add the functionality. (hint, if anyone with coding skills interested ) Anyway, to do it with Inkscape, you'd have to convert the text to path, and then edit nodes to fit the shape. It would be really tricky keeping the text in proper proportions. It could definitely be done, but not without a lot of patience and time and skill

If you do decide to try it, you'll want to be aware of Node Sculpting http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... -Sculpting. It will help to sort of stretch the letters, but you would still have to do a lot of tweaking of individual nodes.

Edit
better comments below

As a matter of fact, this can be done with Inkscape ,)



You`ll need...
- text converted to paths
- Path effect editor and
- Envelope deformation applied
- Few drops of patience
- nice music in the background and
... full sails! ,)


p.s.
It`s not automated, but it is doable.

Maestral
Thanks for the example, and the brief description of the steps, I've wondered about doing this kind of thing to.
What do you do with the path effects?

After slicing the text into the paths...
- heat the Path effect editor till Envelopes start to deform
- disable left and right paths
- but use only top and bottom bend paths to fit the sliced text into the desired shape
- again, few drops of patience...
- music... preferable, not the same tune as before

Serve due to preferences ,)

thanks so much!

I used that technique on the "MOOO" in this comic:

http://www.peppertop.com/greys/2011/11/ ... ranslator/

Anyone who's interested can download the Inkscape file from that page so that they can have a look or poke around with it themselves.

I did think of that. I've had a hard time keeping the text proportional using Envelope Deformation LPE.

I didn't think of this before, but this might actually be a good use of the Envelope extension. In fact, that's how the AI tutorial does it!