Tech question for graphic experts

[Halgar]

I am having difficulty finding the info I need to do what I'm trying to do. What I need is a how-to on getting text to invert it's color in contrast to it's background. For instance, you have a "bullseye" that is black and white and you overlay text across the concentric circles of the bullseye. How do you make the text black over the white "circles" and white over the black "circles"?

What I'm actually trying to do is overlay text on an image and I want to invert the image colors throughout the text as needed so that the text shows up against similarly colored backgrounds. Any of this make sense?

[wts873]

Give the letters a pencil thin outline of the other color. I think Word calls it Varsity??

[Eau Rouge]

What program are you trying to do this in? The answer is different for each...

[Halgar]

Macromedia Fireworks 8 is my primary editor. It's very similar to Adobe, so what works in Adobe will probably be very close to what FW has to offer. And yes, I know that Adobe now owns Macromedia.

[Erich Reichert]

I can do it for you in Illustrator if you want. Takes about 5 seconds and thats if i get a phone call.

[Halgar]

I have the Adobe suite, Illustrator is part of it. How do you do it?













Please, please, please, purty please tell me!

[Erich Reichert]

Ok here is the step by step. Note the layers menu set up for each picture.

1. I made the bullseye with 3 circles filled 2 with black and 1 with white. Also set my type in a text box on a seperate layer BEHIND the layer with the circles.

Picture 1.png (92.83 KiB) Viewed 928 times

Picture 1.png (92.83 KiB) Viewed 928 times

2. Center all our circles to make the bullseye

Picture 2.png (128.53 KiB) Viewed 928 times

Picture 2.png (128.53 KiB) Viewed 928 times

3.Select your first two inside circles and make them a compound path (if you have more then repeat). Select your text box and create outlines.

Picture 3.png (117.49 KiB) Viewed 925 times

Picture 3.png (117.49 KiB) Viewed 925 times

4. Move your outlined text into position and use the single selection tool (white arrow) to select the letters to have this done to.

Picture 4.png (117.96 KiB) Viewed 924 times

Picture 4.png (117.96 KiB) Viewed 924 times

5. With the outline text left selected, select the entire circle layer. Create a compound path of all selected.

Picture 5.png (86.75 KiB) Viewed 922 times

Picture 5.png (86.75 KiB) Viewed 922 times

6. Here's your finished piece. All toasty warm like mom used to make... which is wierd that she knew you sucked even back then!

Picture 6.png (90.59 KiB) Viewed 921 times

Picture 6.png (90.59 KiB) Viewed 921 times

[Halgar]

That's mean, that's just mean!





So basically, do a text box, convert the text to an outline, drag/drop text over image of choice and the text picks up the converse color of the background. Got it!

I'm not doing image editing today, so I'll play a bit with it tomorrow. Thanks Erich, I'll let you know how it goes.

[Erich Reichert]

well sort of but a little more detail, you need to make things into compound paths (under the object menu).

[Halgar]

Well, there are enough clues here for me to at least get started. I'll post back when I have played a little bit. Thanks for the help, it's greatly appreciated.

[Erich Reichert]

Not a problem at all sir. PM me if you get stuck on anything.

[Halgar]

I guess this means I can't pick on you for a little while?

[Erich Reichert]

na feel free.