Create background fill for type on a path

[sPretzel]

Hi,

I would like to create a background fill limited only to the "type on a path". For example, that would be a rectangle fill that matches the length of the text, but does not extend all the way from one end to the other end of the path. So far, everything I've tried (like Convert to Shape>Rectangle FX for the text) extends to cover the entire path, way beyond the text on path itself. Even if I pull in the start and end brackets of the type on path, the background fill extends to the full path.

Any suggestions?

This is for CS4.

Thanks.

[Monika Gause]

Can you please show a sketch?

[sPretzel]

Hi Monika.

I've attached a picture that shows the start and end brackets of the type on the path. The path is a straight line here. I would like the background fill (which is yellow here) to extend only up to the start and end brackets of the type. But the best I can do is to have the background fill extend all the way from the end points of the path itself! Here, I created the yellow background fill by converting a fill for the path to shape (rectangle) and moving it into the Characters section of the Appearance panel. Obviously, this doesn't produce the result I want.

The top part of the picture shows the path with the text and start/end brackets. The bottom part of the picture shows the path, the text, and the yellow background extending to both ends of the path (sadly). The background fill, as is, doesn't even follow the path's contour but fills the path object.

[Monika Gause]

You could start with a horizontal line and then create that. Apply the Effect > Path > Outline object to the yellow fill. And then the effect > Convert to shape > rectangle. They need to be in that order in the appearance panel (top to bottom). Then apply the transform effect to rotate the thing.

[sPretzel]

Hi Monika,

Thanks. This works. Out of curiosity, is it possible to have the background fill follow the shape of the path? Here, the path was a straight line so a rectangle could follow the text on the path nicely (as long as a rotation was then applied, as you said). But what if the path was a crooked path or an arch or a circle? Could the background fill somehow follow the text on the path (which would now be bending)?

[Monika Gause]

No. You could try and apply a warp effect to mimic the path.

[renél80416020]

Salut!

de elleere

[sPretzel]

Hi rene. That's very clever. Thank you, I had not thought of it. In my case, Monika's solution would probably do the job but yours achieves the initial goal. The only problem is that it is destructive.

-I did not try it but I wonder if the points outlining the green background can be made to align precisely (snap) to the start/end brackets. From your picture, it seems they do.

-Also, it might be a bit difficult to offset the path to match precisely the height of the text. Are you eyeballing this or outlining the text and snaping to the point or using smart guides?

[sPretzel]

Hi rene. If you have a litte time, please explain the points I brought up with respect to the solution you described. It looks as though the modifications are final and there is no turning back (desctructive) at several stages of your method. I tried to reproduce it and bumped into some issues. Perhaps you can detail your steps as I wasn't able to get to the finish line!

-For the offset path to match exactly the height of the text, that would have to be measured prior to inputting exactly the correct amount of offset. Right?

-To erase part of the offset path, do you expand appearance first?

-Please detail the scissors and join stage.

Thanks.

[renél80416020]

Salut! je ne dispose que d'nue ligne (ce site est devenu vraiment infecte???)

enfin

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