Coreldraw Font size dilemma

[Russell Pavey]

Could this be that when text is converted to curves it measures its actual size – if you know what i mean 😕

[Graeme Harrold]

There has been mention of this in the past, There is sometimes hidden spaces above and below text and Corel uses the character "grid" to give you a size. I use Corel exclusively and if I have to provide a specific font height, I just draw a box and use that to measure the text. Once done, I simply expand it a little for a weed box!!!

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

[Colin Crow]

Yep, thats what I have done in the past when I had the default text size set to points, But I like the idea of using it as a weeding box!

Another work around I have found is just to Size a capital L to the size of the text required and check the equivalent of size in the text height box, then use this amended size for the work.

Bit cranky but it works.

Colin

[Graeme Harrold]

It all depends on the font design, If the cap L fills this invisible box, then all is well. Ive been using Corel for too long, plus I cant yet justify the jump to a dedicated sign software (cost and re-training).

[Alan Drury]

Colin, your method of sizing is as good as any, I use an H but any flat top and bottom letter will do. It is something that has been brought up signmakers in the past and I know Corel are aware. The way it is done now is the correct way of sizing for printers and is to do with assenders and descenders.
It is also worth noting text line length as well, ie type in a line of text and note the length reading, convert the text to curves and you will see it is slightly different, this is because of small space before each letter that Corel reports in the line length – obviously not there when text is curves.
Alan D

[Colin Crow]

Alan, I knew you would know the "proper" answer.

Thanks for the response and nice to know I’ve been converting correctly.

Cheers

Colin

[Simon Strom]

Agreed. I do it pretty much the same way but use inches. I use an E or X though. I make a duplicate of the text block and then I convert to outlines. Then I take 1" and divide it by whatever the actual height measurement came out to be. That gives me the exact amount to enlarge the copy to get it at a 1" cap height. I usually also make a box and then adjust the interline space (leading) to be half cap height (1/2" in this case). I really don’t understand the method for getting the leading right without using a box. ??? It makes my life a million times easier to do it this way than to deal with points and such. Now after I set the block I can type anything I want and enlarge or shrink it to an exact inch size with perfect leading. If I want a full cap height or more I just duplicate in place and move the duplicate down by the amount I want. I do wish these programs had a function to give you a more accurate Cap-X height though.

[Colin Crow]

I used Flexisign 14 years ago that had all of these features, including a whole variety of leading options including saving back individual leading values for pairs in a font, but to be honest I think I probably assumed these features were common across this type of program. Sign Lab now has most of these features too, though if I am really honest I don’t dig into them too much as the fonts supplied with SL sort most of the problems. I guess it helps to explain why you will pay 10x more for a "proper" sign package?

I use Corel more for print work which tends to be less text size sensitive than cut vinyl text where letter height and gaps are critical to the final layout. However, when SL is busy it makes a half decent effort with Graphtecs Cut Master plugin and for free!

Colin