How to customize a font using Pencil Tool in AD?

[zea]

Hi,

I wonder if it's possible to do stuff like this: How to customize a font in illustrator! (& the tools I use) - YouTube

In Affinity Designer.

I have tried myself, but it's not working like in the video. The pencil tool just... Draw a line instead of making the font curves or whatnot.

Thank you,

Cheers!

 

[firstdefence]

What she did initially, was to convert the text to paths, in Affinity its called convert to curves from here you can edit each letter using the node tool and moving the nodes of each letter.

When you convert text to curves it creates a group with the individual letter shapes contained within that group, you can see this on the layers panel.

To convert text to curves, simply right click on the text and select Convert to curves 

[zea]

Thanks,

I understand that part. I was able to convert to Curves, but I still can't create actual font curves using Pencil Tool, like she did using Ai. Am I missing something?

Thank you,

Cheers!

[iconoclast]

1 hour ago, zea said:

Thanks,

I understand that part. I was able to convert to Curves, but I still can't create actual font curves using Pencil Tool, like she did using Ai. Am I missing something?

Thank you,

Cheers!

I think, that will not work exactly the same way as in Illustrator. But you can create separate curve objects and then subtract or add them to the single characters, using boolean operations ("Geometry"), and you will get similar results. You can do that with the pencil tool too, if you want, and it will only take one additional step each time: the boolean operation to add or subtract the objects to each other.

[GarryP]

Unless you can tell us, with a lot more detail (maybe with an example image), what you mean by “actual font curves” we can only guess at what you are trying to do.

[Andreas Scherer]

After converting the font characters to curves, you can create the wiggly effect (part 3) and the curving (sic!) effect (part 4) with the Node Tool. The fifth effect combining the 'L' and the 'A' can be done with the Pen Tool and the Pressure tab in the Stroke panel. Nothing really fancy about her designs.

PS: The rounded edges can be created with the Corner Tool.

[Old Bruce]

8 hours ago, zea said:

I understand that part. I was able to convert to Curves, but I still can't create actual font curves using Pencil Tool, like she did using Ai. Am I missing something?

In Designer the Pencil Tool is the wrong tool to use. Use the Node Tool, the little white arrow.

[Alfred]

5 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

In Designer the Pencil Tool is the wrong tool to use. Use the Node Tool, the little white arrow.

You could use the Pencil Tool in ‘Sculpt’ mode, but in general using the Node Tool is the better option.

[JGJG]

I didn't find my answer here.  I tried selecting the nodes, then pressing the pencil tool and using the SCULPT tool, I was able to make edits.  A bit finnicky, but generally am able to manipulate the font using a pencil in Adobe.

Edited March 16, 2024 by JGJG
additional detail