Text Objects

Answers in this category:

1. How do I write TEXT in blender.
2. Where can I download additional Type 1 fonts?
3. How can I extrude a text?
4. How can I change the font of a text object?
5. How do I draw 3D text?
6. How do I use an external file as a text object

1 - How do I write TEXT in blender.

Contributed by B@rt.

In 3d-window: Shift-A -> Text

[from the discussion server]

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2 - Where can I download additional Type 1 fonts?

Contributed by B@rt.

Get 35 free Type1 clones of the most widely used fonts at:

ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp/fonts/

Also, tHe IcemAn has a bunch of fonts available for download at

https://members.yourlink.net/gruff/filez/PSFONTS.zip

If you know of more places, please let us know!

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3 - How can I extrude a text?

Contributed by B@rt.

(This works for curves too)

To extrude a text, create a text object and switch to the Edit Buttons Window (F9). Enter an extrusion depth in the Ext1 field - this will give the text object thickness.

To add a bevel to the object, enter a small value in the Ext2 field. You can control the smoothness of the bevel with the BevResol value (Bevel Resolution).

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4 - How can I change the font of a text object?

Contributed by B@rt.

Create a text object and switch to the Edit Buttons window (F9). Click 'Load Font' and select the Type 1 font that you want to use.

Read more about obtaining Type 1 fonts here:

https://helium.homeip.net/support/showitem.php?faq_id=985

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5 - How do I draw 3D text?

Contributed by Michael.

The fastest and easiest way to draw 3D text in Blender is to use 'add->>text' in the menu. To make 3D text open the menu 'Space Bar' add text 'add->>text' type what ever you want.

To make the text 3D exit edit mode 'Tab' (if you don't leave edit mode all key strokes will add text)in the 'Edit buttons' 'F9 key' on the right side there are four buttons that you are going to use to make your text 3D. I'm only going to use three of them;^) 'Ext1:0.050'adds depth 'Ext2:0.034'adds bevel to the edges 'BevResol:3' determines the resolution of the bevel.

For more control of the text it can be converted 'Alt-C key' to a 'Curve' object, that gives you control of the control points of the curve to change the shape of the text. From a 'Curve' object it can be converted 'Alt-C key' to a 'Mesh' object then it can be edited as a mesh. The other way is to make the outline of your text with a 'Curve' object then apply the 'Ext1:' 'Ext2:' and 'BevResol:'.

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6 - How do I use an external file as a text object

Contributed by Michael.

On a Linux system it's very easy to use a external ASCII text file as a text object.
Save the file you want to use as '.cutbuffer' in the tmp dir under the root dir. '/tmp/.cutbuffer'. to use it open the menu 'space->text' clear the default text 'shift-Bksp' then use 'Alt-v' to insert the file .cutbuffer.
For Windows users it's a little more work. This is a post from 'AK' on the Blender Q&A forum.
Blender.

It's actually fairly straight forward.

Step 1. Edit the .Bfs file in your Windows directory.

First, you may want to back this file up, by making a copy of it to some other directory.

Originally, I was going to use NotePad to edit the .Bfs file, but when you open up the .Bfs file, it
shows up with those solid black squares indicating that it doesn't recognize some characters. (It
may work, I didn't try it). Instead, I used EditPlus2 which is a much better text editor (and an
HTML editor to boot). If you have some alternative text editor try it, otherwise you can download
EditPlus2 (shareware) from: https://www.editplus.com
Right click the .Bfs file in Windows Explorer and choose "Open With..." and when the dialog box
comes up, first be sure that the "Always use this program to open this file" check box is NOT
checked. Then select EDITPLUS or your favorite text editor. You should see 2 lines:

/
/tmp/

Simply change the '/' characters to '\' characters to look like the following:

\
\tmp\

Then save it.

Step 2. Save a .cutbuffer text file in your C:\tmp\ directory.

Of course you should ensure that this directory does exist ;)
Open up any text editor (even NotePad) and type away. You can TAB align text as well, if you
like. Select "Save As..." from the file menu, then in the "Save as type:" field, switch from the
default "Text Documents" to "All Files (*.*)". Then in the above "File name:" field type
".cutbuffer" (type this in exactly as shown, including the double quotes). Then click the 'Save'
button.

Step 3. Paste the .cutbuffer file as a text object into Blender.

Open Blender.
Shift+[a] > Text
Shift+[Backspace] to erase the existing text.
Alt+[v] to insert the contents of .cutbuffer.

Now, simply re-edit the .cutbuffer file, the next time you wish to paste the entire text file into
Blender again.

Another small mystery solved. ;) >
https://www.blender.nl/discussion/read.php?f=2&i=24350&t=24350

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