First, let's apply a Perspective shadow to some text:
- Create some artistic text (we've used PostaScript™ from the Sign Type CD)
- Select the Extrude Tool from the interactive tool fly-out
- With your Extrude Tool, click-and-drag your mouse pointer in the direction of your desired Perspective shadow
- Adjust the apparent length of the vanishing point with the slider bar that appears on the dashed line
- Choose the color for your Perspective shadow from the Color Wheel on the Extrude options on your CorelDRAW tool bar (top of your window, by default).
- Voila! Your text now has a Perspective shadow applied to it.
- But, it isn't vinyl-ready yet (unless you use CoCut Pro, which makes your designs vinyl-ready automatically). Scroll down to learn more.
Now, let's make the Perspective shadow vinyl-ready:
- If you view your design in Wire Frame (View > Wireframe) you'll see it's anything but vinyl-ready
- But no sweat; simply select the text portion of your design and make a copy of it to your clipboard (Ctrl-C). You'll need a copy later.
- Separate your Extrude (Arrange > Separate)
- Depending on the complexity of the object, you may also need to Ungroup it (Ctrl-U)
- Weld the objects (Arrange > Shaping > Weld) by selecting them, then click Weld, and finally, click the objects again
- Usually, some interior elements remain. To eliminate them, Break Apart (Ctrl-K) the element and hit Weld again; or remove them manually with your node editing tool.
- Now simply Paste (Ctrl-V) your text object, which was copied previously, and align it over your Perspective shadow
- If you wish to butt-register your vinyl, as opposed to laying it one on top of the other, you can use your text element to Trim (from the same Shaping docker you used to Weld) the Perspective shadow.
Here's what your vinyl-ready Perspective shadow will look like:
