Engraving | How to make a skyline in Corel out of text?

OK guys, please clue me in to the secret. Here’s how I’ve been trying it:

Place the word TEST on the document (Arial Bold).
Convert it to curves. (CTRL-Q).
Select rectangle tool and put a rectangle above the text and drag the bottom of the rectangle halfway down through the text (cutting the word TEST in half).
Select the Weld tool (Arrange|Shaping|Weld).

It doesn’t matter whether I select Source Object or Target Object (or both), all that happens is I get a rectangle with the BOTTOM half of TEST sticking down from the bottom of the rectangle box. What I want is the UPPER half of TEST sticking up within the rectangle box.

You shouldn’t even have to convert the text to curves, although you can if you wish. Just select the text first and choose the weld command. Don’t have the source object or the target object selected because you want to make a whole new object. When it asks “weld to…” click on the rectangle. This should work.

Begin with typing your text. Then make the font as large as needed. Select the “pick tool” (top of row looks like an arrow head). Now go back and select the text you just inserted. With the text highlighted in a rectangle then go up to the color grid and left click on the box with the X though it. Mine is at the top of the selections and is white. This will take away the fill. Now right click on the black color square and you will have created the outline of the letters.

Go back to the tools and select the “rectangle tool”. With the tool highlighted create a rectangle in the general area you want the rectangle to be. Now you can click and drag on the solid little boxes on each side of the rectangle to move each side to the exact desired location. When happy, use the “weld” tool and you should have the landscape above the top of the rectangle. [To weld begin with using the “pick tool” and select either the rectangle or the text by left clicking with the mouse. Now hold down the “shift” key and left click on the remaining object. For this job as you only have 2 object to select you can use the “control A” and it will select all (both) objects.] This will provide you with ALL vectors so only the outline will be there.

If you desired to raster the text inside of the landscape outline, a few extra steps are needed. Upon beginning and creating the text to your desired size and clicking on the “pick tool” then duplicate the text, followed by clicking and dragging the newly created text out side of the original text area. This will be filled text. Complete the above procedures for making the landscape. Now click and drag the filled text back on top of the welded selections so they line up. Now the laser will raster the name and vector the outside. One last process you may choose and that is to make a little more of a border between the raster and the vector. This is done by use of the outline took on the filled text.

If you are familiar with Corel then you may be able to make a few short cuts in this process.

Thanks very much for the very clear response, but this solution leaves me with the outline of the text on the top of the rectangle, and I’, trying to get the text in the middle of the rectangle. I’ll upload an example of what I’m trying to accomplish within the next couple of minutes so you can see what I’m talking about. The example was sent to me by someone who got the desired result but doesn’t know how to actually repeat it step-by-step.

Sorry I misread your original post. If you are trying to put text inside a rectangle like say a business card first make the rectangle for the business card than make another rectangle the size you want your skyline to be and place it where you want it. Select the small rectangle and use the trim command without the source object or target object selected. Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created. Again without the target or source object selected use the weld command and weld it to the card. Also if you want your text to be on an arc of any kind you can choose the fit text to path command and proceed from there.

If you are trying to put text inside a rectangle like say a business card, first make the rectangle for the business card than make another rectangle the size you want your skyline to be and place it where you want it. Select the small rectangle and > use the trim command without the source object or target object selected.

OK, but what precisely am I trimming? When you click the Trim tool, you must point to an object to trim. So, when I point to the Small rectangle and click Trim, nothing happens because there’s nothing overlapping it to Trim. (or am I missing something here?)

Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created.

That’s the problem; there is no “hole” created.

Again, without the target or source object selected, > use the weld command and weld it to the card.

It just doesn’t work

Here is a tip that may help you see what is happening. Before trimming, fill the larger rectangle with a light fill color like gray or light blue.

You end up with the following steps.

Create a large rectangle the size of the business card.
With the rectangle selected, left button click a light background fill.
place a smaller rectangle inside the shaded larger rectangle.
With the smaller rectangle selected, choose “trim” then select the larger rectangle (”leave orignals” should NOT be slected). This should create a “hole” in the larger rectangle. You will see the hole appear in the shaded larger rectangle. Before engraving you will probably want to remove this fill color.
Continue with this step outlined in previous post by Jeff. “Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created. Again without the target or souce object selected use the weld command and weld it to the card.”

Another tip: It is a good idea to become VERY comfortable with the “undo” command. This will allow you to experiment and see what will happen without the fear of having to start over from scratch.

Ok you might try this I know it’s a few more steps but I find it works better for me. Draw the rectangle with a wider line. Next place your text convert the whole thing to bit map then send it to trace, then trace by outline, save trace result, import the saved file to draw and your all set.

You can then ungroup the whole thing and move stuff around change colors it makes for easy editing I made this bookmark in less then 3 minutes of setup time.

What you want is the Trim function. Create your rectangle and type your text. You don’t even have to convert the text to curves. Place the text over the box where you want it. Go to Arrange, Shaping, Trim. Have “Leave Source Object” checked. With the text still selected, click the Trim button, and then click the box. Delete the text. You should now have the effect you’re looking for.


			How to make a skyline in Corel out of text? OK guys, please clue me in to the secret. Here’s how I’ve been trying it: Place the word TEST on the document (Arial Bold). Convert it to curves. (CTRL-Q). Select rectangle tool and put a rectangle above the text and drag the bottom of the rectangle halfway down through the text (cutting the word TEST in half). Select the Weld tool (Arrange\|Shaping\|Weld). It doesn’t matter whether I select Source Object or Target Object (or both), all that happens is I get a rectangle with the BOTTOM half of TEST sticking down from the bottom of the rectangle box. What I want is the UPPER half of TEST sticking up within the rectangle box. You shouldn’t even have to convert the text to curves, although you can if you wish. Just select the text first and choose the weld command. Don’t have the source object or the target object selected because you want to make a whole new object. When it asks “weld to…” click on the rectangle. This should work. Begin with typing your text. Then make the font as large as needed. Select the “pick tool” (top of row looks like an arrow head). Now go back and select the text you just inserted. With the text highlighted in a rectangle then go up to the color grid and left click on the box with the X though it. Mine is at the top of the selections and is white. This will take away the fill. Now right click on the black color square and you will have created the outline of the letters. Go back to the tools and select the “rectangle tool”. With the tool highlighted create a rectangle in the general area you want the rectangle to be. Now you can click and drag on the solid little boxes on each side of the rectangle to move each side to the exact desired location. When happy, use the “weld” tool and you should have the landscape above the top of the rectangle. [To weld begin with using the “pick tool” and select either the rectangle or the text by left clicking with the mouse. Now hold down the “shift” key and left click on the remaining object. For this job as you only have 2 object to select you can use the “control A” and it will select all (both) objects.] This will provide you with ALL vectors so only the outline will be there. If you desired to raster the text inside of the landscape outline, a few extra steps are needed. Upon beginning and creating the text to your desired size and clicking on the “pick tool” then duplicate the text, followed by clicking and dragging the newly created text out side of the original text area. This will be filled text. Complete the above procedures for making the landscape. Now click and drag the filled text back on top of the welded selections so they line up. Now the laser will raster the name and vector the outside. One last process you may choose and that is to make a little more of a border between the raster and the vector. This is done by use of the outline took on the filled text. If you are familiar with Corel then you may be able to make a few short cuts in this process. Thanks very much for the very clear response, but this solution leaves me with the outline of the text on the top of the rectangle, and I’, trying to get the text in the middle of the rectangle. I’ll upload an example of what I’m trying to accomplish within the next couple of minutes so you can see what I’m talking about. The example was sent to me by someone who got the desired result but doesn’t know how to actually repeat it step-by-step. Sorry I misread your original post. If you are trying to put text inside a rectangle like say a business card first make the rectangle for the business card than make another rectangle the size you want your skyline to be and place it where you want it. Select the small rectangle and use the trim command without the source object or target object selected. Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created. Again without the target or source object selected use the weld command and weld it to the card. Also if you want your text to be on an arc of any kind you can choose the fit text to path command and proceed from there. If you are trying to put text inside a rectangle like say a business card, first make the rectangle for the business card than make another rectangle the size you want your skyline to be and place it where you want it. Select the small rectangle and > use the trim command without the source object or target object selected. OK, but what precisely am I trimming? When you click the Trim tool, you must point to an object to trim. So, when I point to the Small rectangle and click Trim, nothing happens because there’s nothing overlapping it to Trim. (or am I missing something here?) Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created. That’s the problem; there is no “hole” created. Again, without the target or source object selected, > use the weld command and weld it to the card. It just doesn’t work Here is a tip that may help you see what is happening. Before trimming, fill the larger rectangle with a light fill color like gray or light blue. You end up with the following steps. Create a large rectangle the size of the business card. With the rectangle selected, left button click a light background fill. place a smaller rectangle inside the shaded larger rectangle. With the smaller rectangle selected, choose “trim” then select the larger rectangle (”leave orignals” should NOT be slected). This should create a “hole” in the larger rectangle. You will see the hole appear in the shaded larger rectangle. Before engraving you will probably want to remove this fill color. Continue with this step outlined in previous post by Jeff. “Now create your text and place it where you want it to stick up out of the hole you just created. Again without the target or souce object selected use the weld command and weld it to the card.” Another tip: It is a good idea to become VERY comfortable with the “undo” command. This will allow you to experiment and see what will happen without the fear of having to start over from scratch. Ok you might try this I know it’s a few more steps but I find it works better for me. Draw the rectangle with a wider line. Next place your text convert the whole thing to bit map then send it to trace, then trace by outline, save trace result, import the saved file to draw and your all set. You can then ungroup the whole thing and move stuff around change colors it makes for easy editing I made this bookmark in less then 3 minutes of setup time. What you want is the Trim function. Create your rectangle and type your text. You don’t even have to convert the text to curves. Place the text over the box where you want it. Go to Arrange, Shaping, Trim. Have “Leave Source Object” checked. With the text still selected, click the Trim button, and then click the box. Delete the text. You should now have the effect you’re looking for. Possibly related: Outline an object Laser cutting text and outlines Double cutting Wooden business cards - alignment challenge Cutting letters