Auto Layout Text

This option automatically sizes a block of text to fit inside the bounding box (width and height limits) of a selected vector. If no vector is selected the text is scaled to fit the size of the material.

Note: Pressing the Space-bar re-opens the last vector creation form you used. This is very useful when using other forms in between each bit of text you create.

When the Text form is open, the Dimensions for the Width and Height of the selected vectors or job dimensions are shown, and these are used to constrain the font size of the text.

Entering Text

The procedure for Drawing Text in the 2D Window is:

Select the vector inside which the text is to be fitted
Click the Draw Text icon
Enter the required text content
Select the font either True Type or Single Line as required and alignment options
Click Apply

Vertical Fonts

Fonts that start with the @ character are drawn vertically downwards and are always left justified.

Vertical Text

Engraving Fonts

The Single Line Radio Button changes the Fonts list to show a selection of fonts that are very quick to engrave.

This example shows text (in an Engraving Font) drawn in an ellipse. The bounding box of the ellipse is used for the layout:

Note: If no vector(s) are selected to define the bounding box, the text is sized to the material and positioned centrally

Options

The Larger Edit... button opens a larger text entry window that makes it easier to enter text that needs to run on longer line lengths.

Clicking OK accepts any text entered into the window and Cancel will throw away any changes.

Text Alignment

Positions text relative to the selected bounding box or material size with options for left, center and right aligned.

Bounding Box Dimensions

These are the actual size of the box into which the text will be fitted. If the text is scaled interactively (by left clicking twice on the text) or precisely using the scale tool, the new bounding box is updated and displayed as a light gray rectangle.

Margin Size

The distance between the text and the bounding box where:

None - Scales text to fit the rectangle width or height of the bounding box
Normal - Scales text to fit within 80% of the bounding leaving a 10% border to the left and right.
Wide - Reduces the size to 60% of the rectangle width leaving a 20% border to the left and right.

None

Normal

Wide

Note: The font size is automatically scaled to give the selected margin size.

Vertical Stretch

When the text fits the width of the box and there is space above and below it, the text can be made to fill that vertical space using one these methods:

Note: Vertical Stretch will have no effect when the text already fits the box vertically!

No Vertical Stretch

Stretch Line Space to fit

Stretch Characters to fit

Horizontal Stretch

When the text fits the height of the box and there is space at the sides, the text can be made to fill that horizontal space using one these methods:

Note: Horizontal Stretch will have no effect when the text already fits the box horizontally!

No Horizontal Stretch

Stretch Spaces between words

Stretch Kerning (space between letters)

Stretch Character size

Edit Text

To edit text properties or content of previously created text:
If the Create Text form is open, hold the Shift key down and click the text you wish to edit or
If the Create Text form is closed, click the left mouse button on the text in the 2D View to select it before opening this form. The form will now allow you to edit the properties of the selected text.

Click the Apply button to update the changes in the 2D View. Click the Cancel button to finish or cancel the editing and close the form.