Does anyone have a good template for a Diploma?

[ehbowen]

All right. My sister's eight kids have all been home-schooled. It's legitimate schooling; they're part of a co-op where they learn Latin, rhetoric, history from ancient through modern, and so on. The oldest ones have graduated college by now.

Number seven, my next-to-youngest niece, has gone as far with home schooling as she can. My sister and BIL want to present her with a Diploma. I first tried purchasing an Etsy template on line, but AFTER purchasing it I found out that it required a Canva account to be usable. I don't have, or want, a Canva account. I first tried a similar design in Affinity Designer, but try as I might I couldn't create a symmetrical arc for a text path. I could create half an arc, and mirror it, and join the two arcs together...but whenever I tried to use it as a text path the text would go halfway, then flip over and follow that half of the arc upside down. Sigh.

Anyhow, I've GOT to get this put together by tomorrow evening. (Did I mention I have to work a full day boiling water tomorrow, too?) Asking any kind souls here for help with proper formatting and making it look pretty. I'll put in names, text, Bible verse and such...I just need layout help. Thanks.

[NotMyFault]

Please upload the afdesign file, and a screenshot of the template showing what you try to achieve.

specifically the two half arcs - no idea what actual shape you want to achieve, and how the text should flow. Arc can be anything from straight line to half circle, and combining can be horizontal or vertical or whatever.

diploma and other documents are very specific to countries and cultures. Which country are you from?

searching the web I found only images showing one arc for the school name.

[Alfred]

You don’t need to join two mirrored arcs to create a symmetrical arc. A half ellipse is already symmetrical and is easily achieved by drawing an ellipse, converting it to curves, and then splitting it at two opposite nodes.

[NotMyFault]

Instead using text on path, consider the live warp group, or mesh warp filter (in pixel persona).

[str_a]

 

 

[ehbowen]

15 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

Please upload the afdesign file, and a screenshot of the template showing what you try to achieve.

specifically the two half arcs - no idea what actual shape you want to achieve, and how the text should flow. Arc can be anything from straight line to half circle, and combining can be horizontal or vertical or whatever.

I was attempting to create an arc which was concave up on the ends and concave down in the center. Attaching the file here.

15 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

diploma and other documents are very specific to countries and cultures. Which country are you from?

 

United States.

Test2.afdesign

[ehbowen]

Okay. I've abandoned my attempt at a complex arc and I'm very close to a layout which will look good. However, I'm wanting to add some color to it, especially around the graduate's name. I'd like to add a halo or shadow effect to the text, and I'm not seeing how to do that right off. Hints?

CharisDiploma.afdesign

[Ldina]

1 hour ago, ehbowen said:

I'd like to add a halo or shadow effect to the text, and I'm not seeing how to do that right off. Hints?

Not sure what you want, but you can use Layer FX (i.e., effects). 

First select the layer you want to apply the FX to, in this case the name. (I hid a few layers so it's easier to see, and also I don't have your fonts loaded on my system so the fonts will look different). In the Layers Panel, click on the FX at the bottom (see screenshot). This will open the FX Panel. Below, I added 3 different FX...Bevel, Outer Glow, and Outer Shadow. All three show a checkmark directly to the left of the FX. I chose a yellow-gold color for the outer glow to match the Gold seal. The Bevel rounded the text somewhat and made it look a bit 3D. The outer shadow added a soft shadow. You can try other FX too, such as Outline, 3D, etc. You will have to experiment with the settings in each FX until you find something you like. Make sure the desired FX box is checked, and ALSO be sure it is highlighted, which will give you access to the various sliders and options for that specific FX.

You may be looking for something entirely different. If so, explain it as fully as you can, or better yet, upload a sample of what you want. This will get you get best help. 

[ehbowen]

56 minutes ago, Ldina said:

Not sure what you want, but you can use Layer FX (i.e., effects). 

First select the layer you want to apply the FX to, in this case the name. (I hid a few layers so it's easier to see, and also I don't have your fonts loaded on my system so the fonts will look different). In the Layers Panel, click on the FX at the bottom (see screenshot). This will open the FX Panel. Below, I added 3 different FX...Bevel, Outer Glow, and Outer Shadow. All three show a checkmark directly to the left of the FX. I chose a yellow-gold color for the outer glow to match the Gold seal. The Bevel rounded the text somewhat and made it look a bit 3D. The outer shadow added a soft shadow. You can try other FX too, such as Outline, 3D, etc. You will have to experiment with the settings in each FX until you find something you like. Make sure the desired FX box is checked, and ALSO be sure it is highlighted, which will give you access to the various sliders and options for that specific FX.

You may be looking for something entirely different. If so, explain it as fully as you can, or better yet, upload a sample of what you want. This will get you get best help. 

Well, I've got to get it to my sister, but I'm content with the way it turned out. Personal identifying information and all so I don't want to post the final result, but look for a PM.