How to Use Text With Circles and Ellipses

[Ken10001000]

Hi.

This is my first post on this Forum. Yeah! 

I'd like to share with you some "methods" and Tools I made that can assist you when using Text with Circles and Ellipses.

Their aim is to determine the Text Width needed to encompass/surround a given Circle Diameter, or a given Ellipse Height and Width. And if you wish to know the width needed to cover just a portion of the Circle or Ellipse, that is included as well. You can create all kinds of designs utilizing Text (or Non-text) converted to Paths with these items.

Within the attached zip file are 4 Word files that detail these methods ... one using Inkscape only, and the other 3 that show how use the Excel Tool I've made along with Inkscape.

And within the zip file  is the Excel file called "Circle Ellipse and Text Tools" that is to be used with the Word files.

All the steps needed are pretty much straight forward. I do suggest, however, taking the time to read through and use the 4 Word files in this order:

01 FROM TEXT (SOURCE PATH) TO CIRCLE - Steps Using Only Inkscape
02 FROM TEXT (SOURCE PATH) TO CIRCLE - Steps Using Excel Tool and Inkscape
03 FROM ELLIPSE TO SOURCE PATH - Steps Using Excel Tool and Inkscape
04 ALTERNATE APPROACH - Steps Using Excel Tool and Inkscape

I think using this material can lead to some great fun and outcomes.

By the way - for those who do not have Excel, you can can use the free Google Docs, upload the Excel file there, and use it from within Google Docs.

Thank you.

Happy exploring and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you! 

Ken

[brynn]

Yay, you made it!  Welcome!

I've just downloaded your tutorials, but haven't read them yet.  I don't think I have Excel, but I can read the Inkscape parts.

[brynn]

Wow!  I never would have thought to use Pattern Along Path, to put text on a path!

Are you aware of Text menu > Put on Path?  That's traditionally how we put text on a path.  If so, I wonder if PAP has any advantages over that?

It's amazing, after all these years, there is still SO much to learn about Inkscape!

I probably can't use the others, since I don't have Excel, but I'll still look at them.

Thanks for sharing!

[Ken10001000]

Thanks, Brynn.

Yes, I'm aware of the standard Text On Path usage. I like converting it to a Path as one can Union/Combine it with anything else prior to converting it to a Path. One could use other "designs", symbols, numbers, Upper and Lower case characters, Fonts, etc. -- "unioning" them first and then using Pattern Along Path to open up all kinds of possibilities.

See above post -- one can use for free Google Docs, open the Excel file I shared in it, and and use the automatic calculations in the file. (Thus determining and pasting needed widths, circle diameters, ellipse widths and heights into Inkscape.)

I welcome anyone's ideas on improving and streamlining what I've shared.

The main thing is to grow in knowledge, feel free to explore and share, share, share.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

Ken

[brynn]

Very clever!

[Ken10001000]

In case anyone wishes to utilize the formulas on the Excel file, but does not have Excel … you can download and use for free LibreOffice or Google Docs to load and use the spreadsheet file. Also, within those 2 programs, you can read the Word files I’ve shared, in case you do not have Microsoft Word.

You can use a calculator to determine some things on your own also, bypassing any spreadsheet.

If the width of your original text (or source path) is X and your desired percentage to use of a Circle (to create your arched end-result) is Y, the formula you need to determine the needed Circle Diameter is:

Source Path Width Divided by Desired Percentage Multiplied by 31.831.

Example 1:
Width: 1000
Percentage: 50
Answer (Circle Diameter to use): 636.6203

Example 2:
Width: 1200
Percentage: 25
Answer (Circle Diameter to use): 1527.8887

Example 3:
Width: 900
Percentage: 75
Answer (Circle Diameter to use): 381.9722

And you can do the opposite. If you start with a Circle Diameter of X and you want to use a Desired Percentage Y of that Circle, the formula you need to determine the Needed Source Path Width (or Text Width) is:

Circle Diameter Multiplied by Desired Percentage Divided by 100 Multiplied by 3.14159

Example 4:
Circle Diameter: 1000
Percentage: 50
Answer (Source Path Width to use): 1570.7950

(1570.7950 will cover 50% of a Circle whose Diameter is 1000, when used with Pattern Along Path.)

Example 5:
Circle Diameter: 1000
Percentage: 33.333
Answer (Source Path Width to use): 1047.1956

Example 6:
Circle Diameter: 1000
Percentage: 80
Answer (Source Path Width to use): 2513.2720

Because the formula for calculating Ellipses is a bit more complicated (and not easily suited for most calculators), I won't share it here. But it can be seen on the Excel file.

Have a fantastic day.

Ken