On 10/25/2012 10:53 AM, komsinica wrote:

I am using Gimp to create worksheets for kids learning a foreign language. I would like to make my text dotted so kids can trace it to practice writing. I am using a Cyrillic alphabet so a dotted font is not an option for me. It would have to be done by manipulating the text.

Thank you very much.

Hi,

I would suggest completely rethinking your approach to the problem. Sometimes the answer is in simplicity.

Consider either printing the text in a _pale_ color, or if you only wish to use "black" printing, consider setting the "color" of the text to a light "color", but printing it on a black printer -- the result will be some shade of gray.

The students could then trace around the outside of the pale color / gray text.

Would this work and solve the problem without having to create anything special?

Furthermore, this solution does not involve Gimp or any image program. You can do this in any word processor program.

Best of luck. Educating children in different languages is very important work -- something that has been mostly forgotten in the USA.

Jay

As a partial answer to the original question, if you can get hold of a path version of your text (vector) you can paint the path with a brush using wide spacing between strokes. This creates dots along the path.

I just can't think of a way to get a single line path for text in the first place. My usual solution would be colour selecting the desired outline and turning selection to path. This would create an outline (double line) path, though, which is probably not what you want.

Or the lower transparency option as mentioned by Jay would make much sense and be less work too.

Good luck!

Xiella On 26 Oct 2012 04:03, "Jay Smith" wrote:

On 10/25/2012 10:53 AM, komsinica wrote:

I am using Gimp to create worksheets for kids learning a foreign language. I would like to make my text dotted so kids can trace it to practice writing. I am using a Cyrillic alphabet so a dotted font is not an option for me. It would have to be done by manipulating the text.

Thank you very much.

Hi,

I would suggest completely rethinking your approach to the problem. Sometimes the answer is in simplicity.

Consider either printing the text in a _pale_ color, or if you only wish to use "black" printing, consider setting the "color" of the text to a light "color", but printing it on a black printer -- the result will be some shade of gray.

The students could then trace around the outside of the pale color / gray text.

Would this work and solve the problem without having to create anything special?

Furthermore, this solution does not involve Gimp or any image program. You can do this in any word processor program.

Best of luck. Educating children in different languages is very important work -- something that has been mostly forgotten in the USA.

Jay ______________________________**_________________ gimp-user-list mailing list
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I can't think on a easy way to do this One option is to make your own quick&dirty font something like this: http://fhoerni.free.fr/comp/make_a_font.html

Other option is to use convert text to path and trace the path You'll now have a text outline with no fill Your kids could draw along and inside the two text "walls" instead a dotted line

On 25.10.12 at 6:15 pm Xes Garcia wrote:

Other option is to use convert text to path and trace the path You'll now have a text outline with no fill Your kids could draw along and inside the two text "walls" instead a dotted line

A good start. To draw a dotted line you just have to stroke with a dotted line style.

All steps together: 1. Type your text.
2. Select Layer/Text to path.
3. In the Layers tab hide the text layer and select the layer you want your dotted lines on.
4. In the Path tab select the newly created path. 5. Go to Edit/Stroke path. Select 'Stroke line', check 'Solid color', click 'Line style', from the Dash presets listbox select 'Dense dots' for instance.

You're done.

Kind regards,

Sven

On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 6:53 PM, komsinica wrote:

I am using Gimp to create worksheets for kids learning a foreign language. I would like to make my text dotted so kids can trace it to practice writing. I am using a Cyrillic alphabet so a dotted font is not an option for me. It would have to be done by manipulating the text.

Wrong choice of a tool, I'm afraid. You _can_do that with GIMP, but it would be counterproductive.

Use Inkscape. For text objects remove fill, use black stroke and dashed outline.

http://i.imgur.com/AEezO.png

Alexandre Prokoudine http://libregraphicsworld.org

On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 6:53 PM, komsinica wrote:

I am using Gimp to create worksheets for kids learning a foreign language. I would like to make my text dotted so kids can trace it to practice writing. I am using a Cyrillic alphabet so a dotted font is not an option for me. It would have to be done by manipulating the text.

Wrong choice of a tool, I'm afraid. You _can_do that with GIMP, but it would be counterproductive.

Use Inkscape. For text objects remove fill, use black stroke and dashed outline.

Inkscape is the better tool but also needed is a suitable font. The sort that CAD applications used to use.

http://i.imgur.com/c56HW.jpg

https://rapidshare.com/files/455993137/fonts_skeleton.zip

Inkscape is the better tool but also needed is a suitable font. The sort that CAD applications used to use.

For anyone searching a simple solution, since Inkskape 0.91 you can go to Extensions -> Render -> Hershey Text. Fill in the 'Text' box with desired text, and hit Apply. Then Object -> Fill and Stroke -> Stroke Style and set the line as dotted.

More info. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8JUAooUFA https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2011/hershey-text-an-inkscape-extension-for-engraving-fonts/

gliviu (via www.gimpusers.com/forums)