How do i create text INSIDE of text? 1

[precisiondesigns]

I have a vector logo, that i need to duplicate inside. I'm going to be cutting this out in vinyl and say i have the letter O, there's going to be an outside layer which is going to be in chrome, but i need another O that fits inside the lines of the chrome O. Kind of confusing...im not too sure on how to describe it. I was wondering is there a fast way to do it? I have the original logo already done, i just need to make the same logo, inside the logo... Thanks in advanced for any possible help

 

[Foamcow]

If it's going to be vinyl the text will need to be converted to outlines anyway.

Do that by selecting the text item and then Text->Create Outlines.

Once you have your outlines, clone it (CTRL+F or CMD-F) so you have a copy in the exact same position.

Then with the copy selected choose "offset path" from the... (can't remember which menu it's under, but its the second or third reading from the left)

Enter a negative value, and click apply or Ok. This should bring the path inside the original one.

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[Raider1983]

Are you wanting to "cut out" the "O" inside the chrome "O"? If so, I'd like to know how to do that. I've drawn some letters from scratch and need to cut out the center of an "O" and an "R".

 

[Foamcow]

Select the inner and outer paths of the letter.

Press CMD+8 or CTRL+8
This will make a "Compound Path" (can't remember which menu this is under - not got Illustrator here)


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[Raider1983]

Foamcow,
Thanks! Worked like a charm. Guess I could've read the manual but they didn't have a listing for "cutting a hole outta things".
You get a "Star"!

 

[precisiondesigns]

what's the easiest way to vectorize a logo that i scanned into the comp? or even a jpg off the net?

 

[Foamcow]

There used to be an Adobe application called Streamline. If you have a copy, use that.

If you don't have it, you have to draw it I'm afraid, or use another application that has a "trace" tool.

I believe Adobe are including the Streamline functions into the next release of Illustrator.

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[Raider1983]

Illustrator CS (ver 11, I think) has an autotrace tool but haven't got try it yet.

 

[Foamcow]

Jeepers!
You are right.
I have Illustrator CS but don't use it that much really.
There is an auto trace tool!
I'm testing it now

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[Foamcow]

OK. It works, but it's not as good as Streamline was and doesn't seem to be controllable.

I just traced a bitmap of a world map and it rounded it off to an unacceptable degree. Perhaps it would be better if you used a very large bitmap (larger than you wanted the finished vector to be) and then reduced the vector.

Interesting... I should read the manual

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