Any tips or ideas on how to execute this effect?

I figured out a really hard way. I do an object to path on the text. Draw some rectangles across the text. Cut the rectangles out of the text (path difference), so I have nodes at the same height clear across the text. Remove the the lines added from cutting, and join the end nodes with a straight line. Split the straighline with a new node and drag that node left. Not very fun.



A better method would be appreciated. Thanx.

I would keep the text unmodified and draw a series of wedge shapes. I would then make copies of the wedges and use the path difference/union functions modify the shape of the text.

Made a small tutorial for you on this. It covers off adding the effect you are looking for onto the LEFT edge of the TEXT objects. This tutorial should give you the information you need to edit the right side of the text as well, just no step-by-step instructions..

-vw

1.Create a straight line using the Bezier Tool, set the Tool Ctrls Bar to Shape: Triangle Out

2.Convert shaped line to a Path (Shift+Ctrl+C), reduce the Height (F1) as it is a bit too thick

**3.>Edit >Clone >Create Tiled Clones...
- Shift Tab: Shift Y [ -7.5 ] (Per Row) (this is only to make the clones easier to see)
- Scale Tab: Scale X [ 15.0 ] (Per Row)
Scale Y [ 10.0 ] (Per Row)
- Color Tab: make sure the 'Initial Color' is not set to white (again, so we can see the clones on the canvas)
- Check Rows, columns: [ 8 x 1 ]
- Click Create

4. Reassemble the Clones & Align the Right Sides (Shift+Ctrl+A)
My example has 3 main clusters with 2 to 4 clones per cluster (streaks)

5. Select All the objects & Unlink the Clones (Shift+Alt+D)

6. Select each of the Clusters (Streaks) & Union the Paths (Ctrl++)

7. Create your Text, Convert it to a path (Shift+Ctrl+C), Ungroup (Shift+Ctrl+G) the paths.

8. Copy & Paste the Streak objects on TOP (Z-Order) of your Text,Set Fill to RED. Place them over the 1st Character for now. Select
all three Red Streak paths and Combine them (Ctrl+K). I lined up the very top line's two nodes of the Streak. Adjust some of the nodes so they overlap into the Text Character.

9. The Left Edge of each Text Character will need to have some of its area removed. I did this by drawing 3 Blue Rectangles over the area where the Red Streaks overlapped the Character below it. Select the 3 Blue Rect. and Combine (Ctrl+K) them.

10. Duplicate (Ctrl+D) the Red Streaks & Blue Rect. (do not Group them) & place them on TOP (Z-Order) of each Character. Drag (F1) with Ctrl to lock horizontally

11. Select the Blue Rect. and its Character & Difference (Ctrl+-) them, repeat per Character/Blue Rect. set.

12. Select the Red Streaks and its Character and Union them, repeat per Character/Streak set.

Done, with the left edge of the text anyway!!

**bug resizing the page will cause the cloning feature to NOT work correctly

A very quick and dirty alternative to the much better previous ideas:


Basically use the add nodes extension to add a bunch of nodes (1184, for example), tme hen select two nodes at a time by using the node tool and drawing a very thin selection rectangle across each of the zoomed in letters in turn selecting only two nodes, one on each side of the letter, use shift to keep adding nodes from other locations to the selection, then when you have enough selected, use the tool control to convert them all to cusp nodes (important to get, then use the arrow keys to move all of them the same amount to the left.
If the streaks are too fat at one end then you add more add nodes to make the streaks sharper.
What d'ya think?

Thanx. I replicated the old sign face relatively accurately. I should have spent more time talking the guy into doing something different. From a distance the streak effect washes out, and you can't really tell it's there. I spent a lot of time cussing at who ever did the origional.