I want to create a rather standard set of characters, but with "Stencil" types for A,B,D,O,P,Q. These of course needs "bridges" connecting the inner "islands" to the body of the letter.
To do this I downloaded a rather simple font. Now I want to create the bridges by subtracting out parts for the above characters. using "combine shapes subtract" does not do this. I have shown an example --I want to subtract out the rectangle and leave the rest of the letter, ending with a "stencil" format for P. However the editor completely deletes the inner island of the letter P as in the 2nd diagram.
Probably this relates to the inner island of the P being separate from the body of the letter but I could not "pre" combine them.
Any help appreciated -fritz
Hello! Yes, outlines in font design are slightly different than outlines in other vector editors. Negative space areas are not "compound shapes" - but rather just regular shapes with a different clockwise / counterclockwise direction.
You'll probably have to do a two-step process:
(I also noticed a bug here - the *order* you select the shapes matters to what gets cut out, when in actuality it should be the layer order that determines what gets cut out. I'll fix it in the next release)
https://preview.redd.it/ix9btfknkqpe1.png?width=1285&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ef4534a9a81bec2841251785a93dd1f481e2734
This is still not working. Here is what I have:
For step (1) do I leave the the base shape "clockwise" and the center island "counter-clockwise"?
Then I only select the base shape (not the island) followed by the rectangle and subtract?
For step (2) I do not understand--I have only 1 character at this point.
thanks-Fritz
Leave the shapes in their winding. First step is to select the base shape, then the subtraction rectangle (leave the center island unselected!). Do the subtract action on just those two shapes, it will split the single base shape into two shapes. Then, select the "D" part of the base shape and the original island shape, and do another subtract action, creating a backwards "C" shape.
AHA.. That worked and many thanks for your quick reply.
I am using open source fonts to create book-label stencils using a Cricut machine. I am very surprised that a good looking "stencil" type font is not to be found at any price--at least what I can find. All of the stencil fonts are the "military" style ...ones--where the cuts are added whether needed or not to letters like C, E and so on. Leads to a very funny looking label!
I will proceed to make my fonts.
thanks-Fritz
Fantastic!