Downloaded and installed Custom Font Single Path Stroker v002 or v002b
A file containing the character paths
A suitable animated (pipe) brush
A knowledge of using Paintbrush Dynamics.
If not you can download the accompanying pdf which contains a much more detailed guide to this topic.
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Guide to Plant Type Font.pdf # - (1.91 MiB) Downloaded 99 times
Step 1: Get the image file(s) ready
Open the character path file in Gimp:
File>>Open…
Click on the path tab in your tool dock to view the character paths in the file.
If you wish to create a temporary file to experiment with, create a new image document with:
File>>New…
This should offer to create a new file with the same width and height as the one containing all the character paths. If not, enter the width and height values to match those of the character path file.
Copy some paths to the new blank image by right clicking over one of the character paths in the Paths tab and choosing Copy Path.
If you intend to make use of the different size options choose a character from each group i.e. one letter character, one bracket character and one small character such as a full stop (period). (I actually used letter ‘Z’, ‘+’ and ‘.’.)
Make the new temporary image the active images and right click in the empty Paths tab and choose Paste Path. Repeat this process for each of the paths you wish to use. Three paths should be enough to allow for testing purposes.
Step 2: Set up the Paintbrush
If you have not selected the brush you want to use, do that now; Select the Paintbrush in the main toolbox (or use the shortcut keypress P) and click on your animated brush in the Brushes tab. I am going to use one called ‘tulips’ that I made earlier (see the full guide for help on animated brushes).
You may need to keep an eye on the Spacing associated with your chosen brush and increase the value, if you want to create a more natural look, where necessary.
Step 3: Set up the Paintbrush Dynamics
You will get a much better effect with the brush if you can make the Paintbrush tool apply the angle of the brush strokes in a random way: The Dynamics Options provide the mechanism for doing this.
If you have the Paint Dynamics tab in your tool dock available you can click on that to see if you already have a Dynamics style that may do (i.e. one with a name such as Random Angle). If not, you can quickly make your own dynamics using one of the icons (Create a new dynamics) situated at the bottom of the tab.
N.B. If you cannot see the Paint Dynamics tab in your tool dock you can add it by clicking on the ‘Configure this tab’ arrow and then following the ‘Add Tab’ arrow to select ‘Paint Dynamics’.
When you click on the icon to ‘Create a new dynamics’ you will be presented with an ‘untitled’ mapping matrix. Simply insert your own name for the dynamics and check the point where ‘Random’ and ‘Angle’ intersect (where the red circle is in my illustration).
You should now be able to choose the new dynamics from the list in the Paint Dynamics tab.
Step 4: Custom Font Single Path Stroker Settings:
Open the filter dialog:
Filters>>Custom Font Tools>>Custom Font Single Path Stroker v 0.02b
Use the following settings and click on ‘OK’.
If you are happy with the results, repeat the filter with the full set of character paths and save it as your new custom font.
(With an added drop shadow.)
