Edit: This source has been uploaded to GitHub for anyone to fork or modify if they want to contribute to the tool.
It is simply an HTML file that uses JavaScript to generate an SVG of the text you type into the textarea. There are several options available to allow you control how it is generated. You can control Size, Line Spacing, Alignment, Tracking (space between characters), Italic (and its Angle).
If you get really adventurous you can even edit the Kerning table used and make it your own!
This is great, Bill. I’ve been watching the interactions back and forth about this. Didn’t participate because I’m clueless, but sending my thanks for your hard work and perseverance to get it done. Great idea!
Advanced feature contributed by @drvegetable allows you to modify the kerning settings in memory! If you like your changes and want to save them, press F5 (while focus is in the textbox) and you will be prompted to download the settings. Be sure to replace the default “kerningtable.data” file with your new version.
With this feature you can even create several different setting files and just swap them out as you need. The HTML file will use the file in the same directory with the name “kerningtable.data”. If no file exists, no problem, the application will still work, but no kerning adjustments will be made when the setting is turned on.
To be clear, my contributions to this project were minimal. I spent a couple hours here and there helping to incorporate the the excellent feedback he received from beta testers. I never even saw this until it was in the very last stages of development. I had fun and learned a lot from being able to get involved at the 11th hour.
All of the credit goes to @bill.m.davis for conceptualizing this app, designing a very readable vector font, and sharing his elegant code with the community.
thank you but I have to wait for them to send me a new glowforge before I can do anything cuz the one that I got in did not work but if you have any thing else you can send to me to help me learn that would be great I really appreciate it
He also helped make the “Italics” setting possible. He is modest about his contributions, but he did a lot to help and was very involved! I was about to give up on the italics, until he found an easy way to implement it!
If you are new to laser cutting, you can learn a lot by reading about the projects people post in the Made on a Glowforge category. People share pictures and design techniques there, and it will give you a good idea of what you’ll be able to do once you learn how to use your machine.
Next, you could browse the Free Laser Designs category to find some nice starter projects. This is where people share files that anyone can download and use to build some really neat objects. This also will give you an idea of how to design flat parts that can be assembled into real, useful, or even whimsical objects.
If you run out of interesting topics to read in those two areas, you’ll find some good ideas for how to go further with your designs in the Glowforge Tips and Tricks section, which is where you found this discussion.
Of course, the other areas of the forum are loaded with great information, but these are three areas you could start with for inspiration.
I have been asked, “Why use this? Get Inkscape and use Hershey Text.”
This was not intended to replace other vector text generators (like Inkscape’s Hershey Text). It was only intended to be easier and quicker to use.
Here is a comparison between a Text2Vector (left/top) SVG and one generated by Inkskape (right/bottom):
If you want something prettier, or more refined, you will probably prefer Hershey Text. But, here are some differences between these two generated SVGs:
Size
Hershey Text: 9,596 bytes (9.37 KB)
Text2Vector: 1,819 bytes (1.77 KB)
SVG objects (complexity)
Hershey Text: 29 paths (6 groups)
Text2Vector: 4 paths (0 groups)
Load Time
Hershey Text: For me, Inkscape loads fairly fast (a couple seconds), but then I have to find text setting and remember how to convert it.
Text2Vector: Instantly loads in a browser and you are ready to type.
I am not saying that I will never use Hershey Text ever again. But, if I am just labeling something and I am trying to avoid creating something that is “too complex” to print. I will continue using this simple HTML tool.
Edit: It has been five months now. I have never again used Hershey Text, and at this point I see no reason to ever go back to it.
