CompuServe Thread

#Import text from Corel

8 messages in this thread
#99673From: Andrew BichardMay 3, 1994 3:44 AM
Excuse me please if this is a case of RTFM <g>, but I am up against a deadline for a magazine article, and was up most of last night, struggling with the following problem: I had created some text with one of CorelDraw's more complex Truetype fonts, and wanted to bring them through to 3DS for use in a rendering of a carved wood signboard. I discounted DXF transfer early on because of the vast file sizes this created, and opted instead to export from CorelDraw as an Adobe Illustrator file, and then import this .ai file into the 2D shaper. My problems started when I tried to take the shapes into the lofter. At first, I received a warning that my polygons were not closed. That was easy to correct, using the 'create/close' command. My problem then changed to one I havn't yet solved – I now get a warning message telling me my closed polygons 'self-intersect'. I assume that the existing end segments cross over, and that the extra segments added, sometimes cross over figure of eight fasion. I suspect some kind of rounding error at work. It is true that I can find work-arounds, but I wanted to report in my article that the process is automatic and painless, and that CorelDRAW is an excellent aid to 3DS users. I am not certain this is true. Can anyone help? Is there a problem with Corel or 3DS's Adobe filters, with the Illustrator file format, or with me? Has anyone had similar problems. Andrew Bichard.
#99675From: nelson, george pMay 3, 1994 4:49 AM
Andrew, You might try using Corel's character spacing parameter to increase the separation between the characters. I've run into the polgon intersection problem with 3DS's own fonts, and basically have had to go in and adjust the spacing manually. – – – George.
#99677From: Paul MinniMay 3, 1994 5:02 AM
Andrew, I've run into the same problem with imported Corel .AI text. I had to tediously edit/delete POLY vertices and then reCONNECT them. Some letters are worse than others and so are some font styles, like serifed ones. But sometimes it has been automatic and painless process… FWIW, Paul
#99682From: Accu-WeatherMay 3, 1994 7:46 AM
If the problem is individual letters, you can Shape/Assign a letter and then Shape/Check to locate the offending part of the letter.
#99686From: david W. mennenohMay 3, 1994 8:02 AM
Andrew, Once you have your .AI text in the shaper select all the vertices (Alt-A) and then do a modify/vertex/weld (selected) this should take care of any coincident vertices that may exist. Hope this helps some. Dave Mennenoh
#99703From: Don LandisMay 3, 1994 10:27 AM
You're on the right track but you need to do a shape check to locate the offending verticies. This will light up those and now you can go in and correct them, usually by deleting the extras that cause this problem. I use Corel draw all the time to import hundreds of fonts and scanned logos. It's not real slick but then nothing ever is in the computer world. <g> If it were as simple as most of us desire then there would be no need for us specialists, nor your article, now would there? <BG>
#99704From: Yost GroupMay 3, 1994 10:31 AM
David has the answer for you. You were right in exporting from Corel as .AI. When you get the file into the 2D Shaper, select all the vertices, and then weld them. That will usually do it. When you use Create/Close, it simply drew a straight segment between the end vertices of the selected open polygon. If the polygon was, say, an open figure-eight shape, this would create a self-intersecting polygon. Incidentally, if you use the Shapes/Check command 3D Studio displays small squares around the offending areas of the polygons. Good luck on your article. – Jack
#99863From: Andrew BichardMay 4, 1994 4:13 AM
Jack, Dave & everyone else, Thanks. I will have another go at it this evening. For me, 3D Studio is SLEEPware! Andrew