Text Sculpting Help	(c) Copyright 2004-2008, Technion, Israel
Available topics:
Changing text options
Changing color options
Changing animation options
Changing surface options
Applying advanced options

Text Options >> Input Text

Click the Text tab to open the dialog box.

Type the target text in the Text combo box.

Changes will be applied automatically.

Text Options

Available topics:

Changing input string

Changing font

Text Options >> Font

Click the Text tab to open the dialog box.

Select the 'Font' type and 'Style' you want.

Note: If, when displaying the object on a computer other than the one on which       it was created, the selected font is missing, it will be replaced with (in that order,       with respect to availability) Times New Roman, Courier New or the       first available font in the system.

Changes will be applied automatically.

Color Options

Available topics:

Changing fill color properties

Using the multiple color option

Changing line color

Color Options >> Line Color

Click the Color tab to open the dialog box.

Check the Show Line check box.

Select line Color to use:

You can also set the line Width and line Style.

You can also set the background color. Texture display is disabled.

Changes will be applied automatically.

Fill Color Options

Available topics:

Changing fill color properties

Using the multiple color option

Color Options >> Fill Color >> Single Color

Click on the Color tab to open the dialog box.

Select Fill color. This color affects all characters:

You can also select the transparency percentage.

Changes will be applied automatically.

Color Options >> Fill Color >> Multi Color

Click the Color tab to open the dialog box.

Check the MultiColor check box. In this mode the characters' colors are        interpolated between colors of the base curve's control points:

On the base curve, right click on a control point to select this point's color:

Changes will be applied automatically.

Animation Options

Available topics:

Defining single surface animation properties

Defining multiple surfaces animation properties

Customizing surfaces in multiple surfaces animation

Animation Options >> Single Surface

This option allows you to animate the prescribed text along one surface over which it is   defined.

Click the Animation tab to open the dialog box.

Check the Automatic button to activate the animation automatically, or check        On Click to initialize the animation on a left mouse click, during a slide show:

You can pick the surface you want to use for the animation by selecting        it in the list of surfaces (surfaces) display at the bottom (i.e. "Step 1").

You can add some delay (in milliseconds) to the initiation of the animation        from the click or automatic starting time.

Check the Left to Right or Right to Left check box to set the animation direction.

Check the Two ways check box if you want the animation to play in two ways.

Time - Sets the time (in seconds) for one animation cycle.

Repeat - Set the number of times (animation cycles) to repeat the animation.

Text Span - Select what percentage of the base curve the text will        occupy at every moment of the animation.

You can test the animation by pressing the Play button.

Multiple Surfaces Options

Available topics:

Defining multiple surfaces animation properties

Customizing surfaces in multiple surfaces animation

Animation Options >> Multiple Surfaces >> First Steps

Click the Animation tab to open the dialog and select Mupltiple Surfaces:

In this mode, the text will be interpolated between several key-frame surfaces.

Interpolation could be made Smooth (C^1 continuous) or not (C^0).

To add a new surface, right mouse click on existing one and Duplicate:

One can also delete a surface or move it around (change its order). Note you        cannot delete the last surface and one surface must always exist.

Set surface options and edit the shape of the surface by manipulating its        base and shape curves. Repeat these steps for each new added surface.

See Single Surface animation for the rest of the animation controls.

Animation Options >> Multiple Surfaces >> Editing Surfaces

Click on the surface you want to change in the Surface Selection Window.

Rename the surface by double-clicking on its name and editing the text.

Drag control points/handles to modify the shape of the surface.        See Manipulating Controls for more information.

Apply changes to the surface's color and animation properties.        See Color Options for more information.

Surface Options

Available topics:

Defining surface type

Editing base curve

Editing shape curve

Manipulating Controls

Surface Options >> Surface Type

Click the Surface tab to open the dialog box.

Select a predefined surface type you desire. Some types will show up         immediately while others will require some additional parameters.

After selecting a predefined surface type, you can still manipulate the controls         of the curve to further manipulate the surface.         See Manipulating Controls for more information.

Changes will be applied automatically.

Surface Options >> Base Curve

The Base Curve of a surface is the curve along which the text is placed:

The Base Curve could be modified by draging its controls: points and handles.       Points will change locations:

and handle will change slopes:

One can add new controls to the base curve:

by simply dragging a location on the curve far from existing control.

One can also delete controls from the base curve:

Note the base curve must have at least two controls.

Surface Options >> Shape Curve

The Shape Curve is controlling the way the text is deformed vertically.

The editing of the Shape Curve follows the same guidelines as editing the        base curve.

Surface Options >> Manipulating Controls

There are two controls - Points and handles that affects the position and slopes         of the curves, respectively. See Base and Shape curves for more.

Advanced Options

Available topics:

Changing the base curve type

Change the shape curve type

Changing approximation accuracy

3D/Shadow modes

Advanced Options >> Base Curve

Click the Advanced tab to open the dialog box.

Select Base Curve -> Periodic to create a periodic (closed) curve.

Advanced Options >> Shape Curve

Click the Advanced tab to open the dialog box.

Offset - select this option to set shape orienattion to follow the normal direction        of base curve.

Translate - select this option to set all orientations        to the same direction:

Advanced Options >> Approximation

Click the Advanced tab to open the dialog box.

This feature designates the smoothness of the text outlines.

Static Approximation - Approximation while in static display mode.

Dynamic Approximation - Approximation while in animation mode.

Advanced Options >> 3D/Shadow Modes

Click the 3D tab to open the dialog box.

Check the 3D to enable 3D effects where you can control the direction of the 3D,         extension, its length and its color.

Check the Shadow to enable Shadow effects where you can control the direction         of the shadow, its length and its color.

Contact Information

Email: textsculpt@cs.technion.ac.il

WWW: www.cs.technion.ac.il/textsculpt

Phone: 972-4-829-4338

Mouse Transformation Options

Translation of the surface is achieved by a left mouse click and drag over         the transformation handle that is positioned at the center of the surface:

Similary, Scaling: of the surface is achieved by a middle mouse click and drag over         the transformation handle. Control left mouse click and drag will also apply scaling         for those with a two buttons mouse.

Finally, Rotation of the surface is achieved by a right mouse click and drag over         the transformation handle.

Keys in the Surface List Table

Move surface up: Move surface up in the list of surfaces by UP arrow.

Move surface down: Move surface down in the list of surfaces by DOWN arrow.

Delete surface: Delete surface from the list of surfaces by DELETE key.

Duplicate surface: Duplicate surface by INSERT key.