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Numbers-->Illustrator... Vector?

F

finnschi

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 30, 2008
460
0
Hamburg, Germany
Hey guys, i really need your help.

I am doing the t-shirt design for our Grad. Class of 2010 :cool:

The front is done, all as a Vector Gfx in Illustator, but Now I am stuck with the back side...

We have about 150 Names that need to be Printed in the shape of a Big 10, so that in the end all names together Look like a BIG 10 . (you get the idea?)

so now my Problem:

I have the list with all the names in Numbers(Excel). is there any way I can have Illustrator arrange this text inside of a shape(the 10) so i do not have to manually copy every single name over and make it fit? this would take forever, i am sure there is a better solution ...
 
Someone asked this exact question a few weeks ago, but I can't find the thread. The solution was to type the "10" in Illustrator and convert to outlines.

The "1" would be easy to use as a text frame, filling it with some of your 150 names, but compound paths cannot be made into text frames (making the "0" tricky).

You can use Pathfinders to essentially turn the "0" into a "C" by subtracting a very short (less than the leading of the text you'll fill it with) rectangle from the shape, and then it can be filled with text (which would need Justified paragraph alignment).
 
UTclassof89 said:
Someone asked this exact question a few weeks ago, but I can't find the thread. The solution was to type the "10" in Illustrator and convert to outlines.

The "1" would be easy to use as a text frame, filling it with some of your 150 names, but compound paths cannot be made into text frames (making the "0" tricky).

You can use Pathfinders to essentially turn the "0" into a "C" by subtracting a very short (less than the leading of the text you'll fill it with) rectangle from the shape, and then it can be filled with text (which would need Justified paragraph alignment).
Click to expand...

You could also ungroup the "O" compound path, fill the outer circle with text, and then turn the inner circle into and unfilled shape with text wrap applied. Works in CS5 and I think CS4, not sure about earlier versions. Although the other solution would likely work just as well.
 
It's always so tempting to do something cheesy like filling a 10 with 150 names.

Just typeset 150 names.

Good design can be simple and readable.

It really can.
 
citizenzen said:
It means stop reaching for gimmicks.

The best design doesn't rely on it.
Click to expand...

True enough the "cheesy" concept is a "gimmick" that has been used thousands of times already. However, some -- in fact most -- people are not aiming for the "best design." Like fast food, large segments on the population are completely satisfied with mediocre.
 
Kwill said:
Like fast food, large segments on the population are completely satisfied with mediocre.
Click to expand...

The crazy part is that they struggle by using techniques that are difficult to pull off, work 10 times harder than they need to, and still end up with only a mediocre product.
 
the quick and dirty basic workflow

speaking from experience, this is done a bazillion times a day in publishing, cheesy or not...

it's been forever since i've had to deal with this stuff (indesign cs2/ quark 4), but here's the basic tried and true (publishing world) workflow (specifics follow):

- create the "10" in illustrator as a vector shape (no fill)
- bring the vector shape "10" into a page layout program indesign (or quark) INDESIGN CAN PLACE WORD AND EXCEL FILES!
- in indesign, the "10" vector shape will become a TEXT CONTENT FRAME
- in indesign, make sure that the 1+0 text content frames are LINKED (when you place text into the 1, it will REFLOW into the 0, aka "threading" in indesign, "linking" in quark
- either PLACE the text file (Edit > Place...?) of names (cursor changes to a "loaded cursor" icon) OR just copy the text into the clipboard
- shift-clicking places all incoming text at once, flowing from one object to the next (text flows from the empty "in port" on the 1 to the "out port" on the 0)

***if you know someone who uses a page layout program (like your school paper editor) they should be intimately familiar with the procedure above, below are some specifics:

- you can easily create the "10" vector shape in illustrator using a nice classic block font, large font size, select the "10" > "Create Outlines", no fill, (and no stroke if that's what you want or do it later in indesign) use the selection tool to scale the "10" to the size you want
- ********when placing a text file (EXCEL or WORD) into the linked text content frames, be sure to check the "show import options" button or access this by pressing the option key when hitting "OK" to avoid some weird text stuff from happening

palettes to be aware of in indesign:

- if you placed a text file (EXCEL or WORD), note the "Links palette"
- type/ glyphs/ paragraphs palettes, beware of paragraph composer and other type options like wrapping/ optical kerning/ optical margin alignment
- select the entire text block to change TRACKING

congratulations on making it to graduation!:D
 
Kwill said:
True enough the "cheesy" concept is a "gimmick" that has been used thousands of times already. However, some -- in fact most -- people are not aiming for the "best design." Like fast food, large segments on the population are completely satisfied with mediocre.
Click to expand...

Why be mediocre when you can be great? You're lazy.
 
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