How to create text with white outline?

[Anonymous]

I know this can be done because I have seen it on other consultants' drawings (see attachment for an example of what I mean). 

Is there a way to do this that does not take too much time? 

PS: Aware of text mask and that is not the look I'm going for. 

Cheers,

[ennujozlagam]

you can refer to this LINK and see if helps. thanks

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

with plain (Vanilla) AutoCAD I see this as a great suggestion by @Kent1Cooper : >>>click<<<.

Your screenshot might also be done with AutoCAD Map3D or Civil3D ... there you have FDO objects and the styles within the FDO functionality allows this without workarounds.

- alfred -

[BrianBenton]

In "regular" AutoCAD you can't do  this automatically. Also, judging from your screen shot, I would say the map you are looking at is from ESRI ArcMAP which does have this "halo" feature. I use AutoCAD, Civil3D and ArcMAP so I can recognize the Halo and the linetype being used in the image. In AutoCAD you would have to jump through some hoops to get this visual style. In the past I have tried by copying the text and making it a little bigger and white in color. But if the text changes you have to change it twice.

It's a feature that needs to be in AutoCAD.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> is from ESRI ArcMAP which does have this "halo" feature

Why are you sure it was not done with AutoCAD Map 3D or Civil 3D?

- alfred -

[tboehler]

A simple work around in regular AutoCAD is to use Swiss 721 BkOul BT font and Swiis 721 Bk BT fonts at the same insertion and same size.   Attached is a PDF and the text.

Both fonts are simple text and the "solid font" is a FEILD (Object - text - contents).  Make sure outlined font is moved up in drawing order.  Change layers colors to your desired look. 

When I edit the outlined font - the soild font updates on a regen.  only need to type contents once.

Cheers.

[Anonymous]

"When I edit the outlined font - the soild font updates on a regen.  only need to type contents once."

Can you please explain in some more detail how you got this to work?

Thanks again!

[tboehler]

Did the text I sent work for you?  If you inserted it as a block - you'll need to explode it.

Then edit the outlined text to your desired wording (use command "DDEDIT" or double click on the text). Type new text and close editor.

"Regen" will update the solid text to match.  (this is the field that is linked to the outlined text). 

Or are you asking how I created the text and field?

I use this all the time on photos.  you can make it work with attributes on a monitoring well block and so on.

[Anonymous]

I am asking how you created the text and the field to begin with. 

[Anonymous]

I didn't insert it as a block. So far all I have done is create two separate lines of text, one the solid, one the outline, and placed them overtop of one another to create the outline look. I haven't yet figured out what you mean when you refer to inserting a field. 

[tboehler]

Did the sample CAD file I sent you work?  It was ready to go - just edit the outlined text and the next command would be "regen" to make the other text (field update).

To make a field in the soild text:

Edit the solid text.  while you are in the editor r-click and select insert field.  The dialog is pretty straight forward  - start at the top left - see screen capture.  Under Object type: use "text" and select the outlined text by picking the crosshair icon (this will link the text).  When your done with the entire setup - the field is typically highlighted in a gray shaded box (like the file I sent in the first reply).  The solid text will have the field.  If you edit the soild text manually after you created a field the field will go away. 

Hopefully this helps - there are tons of tutorails out there as well.  Let me know.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! One more question. How do you get rid of the grey box in the background?

[tboehler · Accepted solution]

The gray box does not plot.  Lets you know there is a FIELD.  It's good to keep on.

But you can turn it off - I personally want to now where i have fields.

FIELDDISPLAY (System Variable)

Value Description 0 Fields are displayed with no background.  1 Fields are displayed with a gray background.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help!

[tboehler]

You are welcome.

[User_2011]

Is not working here, I tried in Autocad 2020, 2018, 2016

[User_2011]

Is not working here

[pendean]

It says you need to be in BEDIT command to use that one, it does not appear you are from your screenshot

[tboehler]

I just used text not mtext and Swiss and Swiss Outlined fonts worked best.  I'll attach the text.  2 seperate lines.

You edit (type) the outlined text and then regen - the fill text updates.  Nothing else.

Not the best option but pretty darn good for text on images.

BTW - your screen shot was not following the one I posted.  "Objects"

[User_2011]

Please see my next replay, ignore this one, I will delete it...