GrafX Design Online Tutorials

Corel DRAW! Lesson 8 Cracked Text

One of the things that's so cool about vector drawing programs is that
certain effects that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to re-
create in a paint program are so easy to accomplish with a drawing
program.

This next effect, "cracked text", is no exception. This wouldn't be easy to

do in a paint program, but you can follow along and get this one done in
just minutes with Corel DRAW!

To get started, open a new file and use the Text Tool to enter some text. I
entered the word "Cracked" in 100 point using Arial Black (see figure
8.1).

Figure 8.1

GrafX
design
Copyright © 1998
T. Michael Clark
and GrafX Design
 GrafX Design Online Tutorials
Corel DRAW! Lesson 8 Cracked Text

You might want to zoom-in a little to work on the image. To do so, just
select the Zoom Tool and click on the image workspace until the text fills
the screen.

Select the Eraser Tool. It's in the second space from the top of the
toolbar. If you don't see it hold the mouse down for a moment until the
flyout menu appears.

Use the up or down arrows to adjust the size of the tool. How big or
small should it be? Why just the right size for the cracks, of course. All
kidding aside, it really depends on the size of your text and how big
you'd like the cracks to be. With the 100 point text that I used I set the
tool to 0.05 inches.

Now click-and-drag the tool over the text in short jagged moves so that
it breaks up the letters (see figure 8.2).

Figure 8.2

GrafX
design
Copyright © 1998
T. Michael Clark
and GrafX Design
 GrafX Design Online Tutorials
Corel DRAW! Lesson 8 Cracked Text

Continue until you've created cracks in all of the letters (see figure 8.3).

Figure 8.3

Now, here's where the cool tricks that Corel DRAW can do come in!

Choose Effects, Extrude.

In the Extrude dialog box set the Depth to 5 and click Apply.

Choose the Lighting icon and click on at least one light. Place it where
you'd like the light to come from. I chose the upper-right corner.

Click on the Rotational icon and position the text the way you want it
appear.

My final image is seen in figure 8.4.

Have some fun with this. You might even want to try it on images other
than text.

GrafX
design
Copyright © 1998 Figure 8.4
T. Michael Clark
and GrafX Design