Please help me with a design similar to this

[dwagner]

I have spent hours trying to get a page cut similar to the one I am attaching. I just can't seem to get the letters to attach to the rest of the page so they are not cut out. I had it working at one point but did some adjusting and lost it. I wasn't thinking so of course I didn't save it.

[(jecheck)]

I traced the image that you posted, and the letters are attached automatically to the frame (because it is a trace)... here's a quick how-to guide...

HOW-TO.JPG (97.67 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

[dwagner]

Thanks for your response. I am fairly new with SCAL so I am not quite sure how to get the first part of your insructions to work. Path back minus front is grayed out after I type in my letters. How can I activate it?

[(jecheck)]

on one layer you will need to draw a rectangle, then on another layer type in your letters. Arrange the rectangle and letters so that it approximately looks like the first step, select both layers (rectangle + text) and then path back minus front. if you don't have both layers selected, path back minus front will be grayed out.

[dwagner]

I was able to get it to look like it would work by looking at the preview but before I could finish SCAL continuously shuts down when I click on path back minus front. Any ideas? I have tried restarting the computer, reinstalling the update but nothing has worked.

[dwagner]

Ok, now that it is 1 AM for me, I am going to stop but I have one more question. When I cut my design, I would like to have the writing punched out but still attached to the page; not entirely punched out. What am I doing wrong? I tried layering a square on top of everything, sending to back so I could exclude but I can't seem to be able to click on the what is inside the square which are the words.

[(jecheck)]

Can you upload your file? - I am not sure that I understand your problem. if I could see what you are doing, I may be able to help you more.

As far as the issue with SCAL crashing, I haven't personally had any issues with it. I know a lot of people recommend using a previous update if it keeps crashing...

[pennsylvaniakate]

You have your three rectangles. The black background and the two white on top of it. Place your rectangles where you want them, and select the top white rectangle, press shift on the keyboard, and select the back black rectangle. With them both selected, go to Path/Front minus Back. Repeat that with the bottom rectangle. Type text, making sure to check the Weld box under Appearance. Also check the Weld box for your rectangle. Overlap the bottom edge of the text with the bottom edge of the top rectangle.

[dwagner]

Here is what I have so far. I would like to have the rectangles with the text attached to the page instead of being entirely cut out. Thanks sooo much for the help.

[Sweetness4713]

Okay now that you have your rectangle with the letters attached just outline what you have there with another rectangle to represent the outline of your image... the only part that is going to cut out is what is outlining your letters... the letters will still be attached.. Best thing to do is a test page...