creating symmetrical arcs curves bends etc with path tool

[freestuffaddict]

subject line sums it up pretty much.
I did the text-to-path tutorial, got familiar with path basics, if that counts.

Such as that sweeping curve in the text of my signature image below, as an example.

Now,Visualize a clock. The hands at the 10 & 4 o'clock position. That is my plane. So I want to draw a curve which arcs spanning rainbow-style from the 10 to the 4 o'clock. Remember I want to use the Path-Tool because I want to Text-to-Path.

Well so far I have seen no other way besides manually inputting the path gradients. And for me it seems to be a crap shoot at getting any consistency with symmetry.

How can I create these curves symmetrically, whether 10 to 4 o'clock, 2 to 7 o'clock, or even along the ole X or Y vert or horz 12/6 9/3 axises. Sorry if I'm "over-explaining" a bit. This is a nuisance to me. I was surprised not to see some tool-assist feature built in addressing this. Please advise. Thanks.

-BEST WISHES-
....FSA....

[istarlome]

i'm sorry but i'm not visualizing are it. could you maybe draw what you want then scan and upload?

[freestuffaddict]

View my signature below. That's something I did freehand. The curvature looks fairly symmetrical from left to right. But its actually not. And I want to know, if it's possible, how-to create paths in which I am making a curve, an arc, a rounding, whatever you want to call it, that is geometrically symmetrical. If it requires a plug-in add-on download etc.. I want to know if this is possible, what I need, and how to do it. Thank You Again.

-best
-FSA-

[Arzoroc]

Hm....
The only thing I can think of right now would be guidelines:

http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-concepts-i ... uides.html
http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-concepts-image-guides.html

[Maffe811]

Hm....
The only thing I can think of right now would be guidelines:

http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-concepts-i ... uides.html
http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-concepts-image-guides.html

This ^is all i can think about...

[freestuffaddict]

I checked them out. Related but not quite my issue. I'm going to trace curves from images like Wilber (gimp mascot) and save individual traced curves as seperate individual layers, and then trace paths over them when I need to curve a path a particular way. thanks though

[istarlome]

i see. i would have to say that to get that result, the best tool would be inkscape. a vector program will do the job better. vectors are made to stretch without loss of detail.

that said here's how to do this or at least how i would.

type the text.
add a new layer and create a ellipse to use as a guide. stroke that selection by 1px.
in the text options there is a place to select "path from text"...click on that. that creates a path with nodes of the text.
if you open the path dialog you can see the path.
now click on the paths tool and then on the path...that will reveal the nodes.
go back to the layers dialog then pull the nodes from the top of the letters to the guide line.
when done click select>from path...that will create a selection from the path.
now add a layer and fill with the color of choice. then hide or delete the other layers you created.

[Rod]

Yes if you want to envelope text you can use text warp (a script by Saulgoode)
The downside is you can only create rectangular shapes with it.

Filters>Distort>Curve Bend will do it also.(but with a bit of distortion). After you distort the text do an alpha to selection and edit>clear.
Now do a selection to path and stroke that path.Then fill in the text with whatever you want.
Example


Curve Bend between paths may work also.Though i do not think it works as well as curve bend.
http://registry.gimp.org/node/19214
In Inkscape this can be done by following the directions in this HeathenX screen-cast video.
http://screencasters.heathenx.org/wp-co ... ep060.html

Good luck!

[Rod]

Here are the results with the HeathenX video instructions.The top text i just added more nodes.That gave it more of an arc.The bottom text i moved only the top and bottom center nodes.

[Arzoroc]

Aaaaaah nice one Rod, I didnt think about that filter