Convert text to shape

[atfitzy]

How do I convert this (Seahawks) to this (screenshot)? 

Edited January 9, 2018 by atfitzy

[MEB]

Hi atfitzy,

Welcome to Affinity Forums

Which program are you using Affinity Designer or Photo?

[atfitzy]

I'm using Designer but I have both. 

[Alfred]

You can do this quite easily with the Mesh Warp Tool in Affinity Photo.

 

[John Rostron]

You could also use Filter > Distort > Equations and for the y parameter enter:

 

y=y+a*h*x*(w-x)/w/w

The a parameter controls how much the curve extends upwards (as a fraction of the height, h).

The expression x*(w-x)/w/w varies from zero at 0 and 1, to 0.25 when half way.

You would need to rasterize the text first.

[Alfred]

5 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

The expression x*(w-x)/w/w varies from zero at 0 and 1, to 0.25 when half way.

 

Unless I'm misreading it, that expression is equivalent to x*(w-x)/(w*w), which seems marginally less confusing than having two division operations in quick succession.

 

[John Rostron]

3 minutes ago, Alfred said:

 

Unless I'm misreading it, that expression is equivalent to x*(w-x)/(w*w), which seems marginally less confusing than having two division operations in quick succession.

 

Yes, /(w*w) might be marginally less confusing, but /w/w is quicker to type! Especially on a tablet.

John

[Alfred]

1 minute ago, John Rostron said:

Yes, /(w*w) might be marginally less confusing, but /w/w is quicker to type! Especially on a tablet.

John

 

Fair point, especially with reference to tablets!

 

[firstdefence]

That equation just bends the text it doesn't arch the text? unless I'm missing something?

[carl123]

44 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

....You would need to rasterize the text first.

The Equation filter automatically rasterizes text so no need to do it first

[John Rostron]

1 hour ago, firstdefence said:

That equation just bends the text it doesn't arch the text? unless I'm missing something?

Yes, I think that it should be a y instead of h at the beginning. It will also depend on the proximity of the text/shape to the bottom line. I will have a further play.

 

51 minutes ago, carl123 said:

The Equation filter automatically rasterizes text so no need to do it first

Yes it does, but I always think it tends to get in the way. I prefer to rasterize it myself, especially if this was to be part of a macro.

John

[John Rostron]

@atfitzy. I thought that I had created a suitable filter using Distort > Equations, but ran into a problem. I have posted this separately here. 

[MikeW]

Using, or needing to use, formulas to do this task for a wing-it type of design process seems rather archaic. I'm sure it may be fun to some, but designs such as this are simply best to do in something that can at minimum have an envelope distort feature, export it, then bring it into AD if one desires.

 

The below was made in another application (in less time than it took to start AD), and copy/pasted into AD.

 

 

Mike

[John Rostron]

28 minutes ago, MikeW said:

I'm sure it may be fun to some, 

Quite right! Would you deny me my simple pleasures? It is very much what you feel comfortable with.

John

[MikeW]

Knock yourself out. I'm the last person who would deny anyone taking pleasure in such endeavors.

 

On my off time, I too do things that others would consider a colossal waste of time, I'm sure. But I generally don't do so to make a square peg fit a round whole.

 

Oh, wait. I do that too in quite a literal sense: making pegs for pinning tenons in furniture...