I'm trying to model 3D text to a curve and I've accomplished it with the PATH DEFORM modifier, but it aligns the bottom of the text to the curve and this results in the top of the text being wider than the bottom. Is there a way to set the constraint/justification of the text to be in the center so that the letters aren't distorted?
I've attached an image to help describe what I'm talking about.
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Proably the easiest way is to select the Path Deform Gizmo (in the Modifier Panel, click on the [+] next to PathDeform) and move the Gizmo so that the path aligns with the middle of the text.
That does mean that you'll most likely have to reposition the path but it shouldn't be a problem based on the image you posted.
Tell me if that works.
Hi Ben,
Thank you for your response. Perhaps I just don't know enough about Max to figure this out, but I can't seem to find the '+' sign next to the Path Deform modifier as you suggested. Here's another screenshot to show where I'm at. I have the text object selected for this. I tried moving the path itself, but it didn't adjust the "distortion" of the text.
That's because you used the WSM version (World Space Modifier) when you needed the ordinary Object Space one (a lot further down the list of Modifiers).
Well now it's obvious I'm way over my level of 3DS Max understanging 😞 I played around with the little understanding I have and I think I need to research some more. I made my ellipse an editable spline and erased the bottom half based on how I model in other software. Maybe that was a mistake, but whatever it is, I'm not making progress. The text isn't that bad distorted, but just wondered if I could get it to be "perfect".
Cutting the ellipse in half was not a good idea I think. I've now got things back to what they're supposed to look like, but still not sure how to move the ellipse to the center of the text to prevent the deformation.
I'm pretty sure I can answer this one but just to make sure that there isn't something that I'm overlooking, can you post an archive (Application menu > Save As > Archive) of your scene so that I can test things out myself?
Hi Ben,
Thanks for taking a look at this. I'm really new to 3DS Max so there could be a few things done incorrectly, but my biggest concern is how the text is distorted.
Thank you again
Thanks for sending the file. So after playing around a bit with it I think the best course of action is to center the pivot point of the text and redo the path deform. There are other ways to fix this but since the path deform is based on the pivot point it makes more sense to fix to root of the problem. Perform the following:
You will have to scale up the elipse a little since the text will end up closer to the center due to the pivot point change. Reapply the Path Deform and you'll see what I mean.
Tell me if that works for you.
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the instruction. I'm pretty sure I was able to follow it, but as you can see, it still seems to be deforming the text from the center of the ellipse more so than just rotating the individual letters along the arc. (Most visible in the letter U and the letter M). It's not the end of the world if it can't be done, but am down for trying whatever. I went back to the WSM version of the pathdeform because it worked better for keeping the text within the rings. I did try it with both though and the text was distorted both times.
I have a workaround, but it utilizes additional software. If I create the text in Illustrator it looks proportional and not distorted. I can then export as a DWG. I then can import to 3DS Max and clone the linework and add an extrude modifier. This gives me the results I'm looking for. I'm still interested in being able to do it within 3DS Max though.
thaner9 wrote:
I have a workaround, but it utilizes additional software. If I create the text in Illustrator it looks proportional and not distorted. I can then export as a DWG. I then can import to 3DS Max and clone the linework and add an extrude modifier. This gives me the results I'm looking for. I'm still interested in being able to do it within 3DS Max though.
Ok I understand what you want exactly. Like what PROH said you can't use the Path Deform then since it will treat the words as a whole rather than individual letters unlike what Illustrator does. I think your workaround is the best option in this case.
You can do it in Max by creating the text (including Extrude), add an Edit Poly and Detach each letter (Element). Apply a Path Constraint to each letter and move it into position using the % Along Path spinner (turn on Follow as well). The final result may or may not be better than what you have (noting that I didn't spend too much time positioning them). You can see just how much the Path Deform deforms the object, in this case your text, compared to the unmodified (Gold colored) letters.
Thanks Steve! I think you're on to EXACTLY what I want to be able to do. The problem with my workaround is that exporting from Illustrator to DWG loses "font crispness". At this scale it probably doesn't matter, but I'd like to not only clean up the final product, but clean up the file size and effort in making it.
Problem is, I'm completely lost on what you told me to do. Max just isn't in my quiver yet... I understood adding an Edit Poly modifier, but then I couldn't figure out the rest. I also don't know the order of things. I can google and probably figure out, but if you felt inclined to dumb it down a bit, that'd be great.
Ok, I watched a couple YouTube videos and I get most of what I need to do, but I have one question: Should I be creating each letter individually? When I follow what it is I think you're suggesting, it moves the whole TEMEKU OPEN "phrase" to the path. I can see how this would work if I did each individual letter, but not sure that's what I'm suppose to do. I also sense I need to apply Ben's advice first and change the "pivot point" (right?) to each letter so it's in the center of the letter, not the bottom edge...
thaner9 wrote:
Should I be creating each letter individually?
There are a couple of ways to do it but yes, in the end each letter must be a separate object. The easiest way would be to just use the Text tool to create one letter at a time.
thaner9 wrote:
I also sense I need to apply Ben's advice first and change the "pivot point" (right?) to each letter so it's in the center of the letter, not the bottom edge...
Yes, you'll still need to do that.
Remember that you must use a "Path Constraint" (Animation > Constraints > Path Constraint) and not the "Path Deform" in the Modify panel. If you use the Path Deform you'll just run into the same problem you had in the first.
Also I'll probably just render everything I said above moot by saying this but you can just import the .AI from Illustrator. You need to do the following though:
Now just import the .AI into Max
Because the text already exists in the scene, I took a copy of it rather than creating each letter individually - both ways will work.
For the "separating" of the letters I simply selected Element sub-objects, clicked on a letter, clicked Detach on the Edit Geometry rollout - the default is to detach the selected polys to a new object, and yes you would need to centre the Pivot Point as Ben explained.
One final little point - for something like this where the letters don't really need to be absolutely smooth (you're not likely to get close enough to see any slight imperfections) I would turn on Adaptive on the Interpolation rollout rather than setting it to 48 which is very high and creates way more polys (when extruded) than are necessary.
Thank you Ben and Steve,
I'm heading out of town so I won't be able to work on this until next week, but I'd like to give all of these options a try and will. I'll respond next week with how things turn out. Thank you, thank you, thank you though for all this advice.
Hi Ben/Steve,
Here's the final, printed model, followed by a rendering of what it was supposed to look like. Definitely need to inquire with a professional 3D printing company to find out how to get more detail to show up. Thank you so much for all the help. Hopefully I can keep learning in my spare time!