[Woodcarver] Aligning letters on an arc

[Clive Goss]

Ivan, what can I say, simple yet brilliant.... Wish I'd thought of it.
Take care,
Clive.


> Here's another way to manually align letters on an arc.  Print the desired
> phrase in a single line on the very top of a page (or pages), leaving the
> area below the letters blank.  Let the computer space them for you.  Now
> draw a line through the center of each letter (and the center of each
space
> if you wish) and extend the line through to the bottom of the page.  That
> creates a stem below each letter.  On your work piece or a sheet of paper,
> draw your desired arc (circle) with a compass, making the top of the arc
> correspond to where you want the top of the letters to be.  Now, using the
> same setting on the compass, set the point of the compass at the top of
the
> letters and make a mark below the letter on the stem, the line you drew
> through it. This forms an X on the stem which  should correspond to the
> center of the circle.  Cut the letters apart. Leave the stem attached to
the
> letter down to  just below the X.   Stack them in order, first letter of
the
> phrase on the bottom  of the pile.  Run a tack through the stem at the
exact
> point where the straight line and the compass line intersect.  You should
> have a stack of letters held together by a tack.  Push the tack into the
> compass hole at the center of the circle.  Now fan the letters out,
spacing
> them as you wish.  The letters are held in place by the tack, keeping them
> on the exact arc you drew with the compass.  Tape across the stems of the
> letters to hold them in position.  Don't tape across the letters
themselves.
> You can then (1) slip graphite paper under the letters to trace them onto
> the work piece, or (2) use spray glue to attach them to the workpiece, or
> (3) use tracing paper or a copy machine to make a pattern.
> Ivan Whillock Studio
> 122 NE 1st Avenue
> Faribault, MN 55021
> Visit my website at
>  http://www.whillock.com
> Visit my Picturetrail album at
> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve
>
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