Affinity Publisher: Create a Book Spine

[user099]

I am trying to create a book spine (let's say, 200 px x 1100 px and am having no luck.

If I create the canvas at this size, the text runs from left to right as if it were a standard portrait page. instead the text should run from top to bottom as shown. I used Acorn to produce this; not entirely satisfactory. This could be done in Affinity Photo as well, I could use either program. 

Note that this is just the spine and not the entire cover. 

 

 

[LondonSquirrel]

You can type in the text box, and rotate it afterwards. Or rotate the text box and type in it afterwards. That's up to you.

Select the text box (don't click 'in' the text box), and you will see the handles. The circular loop at the top centre is the rotate handle. Hold down the Shift key to rotate in 15 degree increments.

 

[user099]

The problem is that the canvas doesn't rotate:

1. Create a canvas 200 x 1100.

2. Create a text box to fill the spine.

3. Rotate the text box:  (you cannot type left to right).

See attached.

When you try to type in inside the text box when properly positioned on the canvas (see attached) the text does not run from left to right. 

You cannot rotate the canvas.

Let's say you start with A4 and rotate a text box--this works, but then the canvas is still A4 sized. You can't shrink the canvas to the text box. 

 

[LondonSquirrel]

9 minutes ago, user099 said:

The problem is that the canvas doesn't rotate:

I thought you wanted a vertical spine, from the image you showed. 

 

200x1100-AD.afdesign 200x1100-APub.afpub

[user099]

I do want a vertical spine.

How did you draw/create a text box so that the handle is on the right? 

When I created the text box, the handle was on the top of the spine.

[LondonSquirrel]

4 minutes ago, user099 said:

When I created the text box, the handle was on the top of the spine.

That's where it was for me too. After I typed in the words, I rotated the text box.

[user099]

Is it possible to create a text box without a canvas?

Or did you create a text box outside the canvas and then place it in the already-created canvas?

 

[user099]

So you created a 200x1100 canvas first?

If you draw a text box within the canvas, then the handle is at the 12 o'clock noon position, not at the 3:00 pm position. 

If you rotate it to the 9 am position, text cannot be entered from left to right. 

[LondonSquirrel]

4 minutes ago, user099 said:

Is it possible to create a text box without a canvas?

I am not sure what you mean when you write 'canvas'. Just create a document that is 200x1100 pixels and work from that. It doesn't matter that the text box does not fit at first - rotate it afterwards. See the very short film I attached.

[Old Bruce]

Create the text box and type, your text then rotate.

Use the Art Text tool to create an Art Text text frame, set the paragraph justification to Centred text. Type the first letter. hold Shift and hit return, type the next letter, repeat the red text instructions until you finish a word. Now hit Return without holding Shift, this will give you a new 'paragraph' do it again and you have a space between words.

You will have something like 

T

h

e

 

N

a

m

e

 

o

f

...

Or type without using shift + return and use the rotation after typing.

Be aware that different nations use different rotations for text on a spine UK is Clockwise and US is Counter-clockwise. Or vice versa, I can never remember.

[user099]

I think I found the issue: you cannot create the text box within the spine. You have to create it outside the spine, enter the text, and then rotate it and move it to the spine. 

The problem, though, is that when entering the text initially you are off the canvas and the text doesn't display. 

[Old Bruce]

Just now, user099 said:

The problem, though, is that when entering the text initially you are off the canvas and the text doesn't display. 

Ah, that is a different problem. Go to View > View Mode > Clip to Canvas and uncheck Clip to Canvas.

[LondonSquirrel]

9 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

You will have something like 

I thought that was exactly what was not wanted:

2 hours ago, user099 said:

instead the text should run from top to bottom as shown.