Variable web-to-print text frames can form some basic shapes. This technique is based on CorelDRAWs Envelope tool. Learn how to turn a web-to-print user text into a distinct shape.

Before you start

• Add a page frame (Layout/Page Setup/Add Page Frame). This will create a rectangular shape with the exact same size as the paper size of your template and place it as a bottom layer.
• Create an artistic text frame, set its font alignment to Force Justify and turn it into variable web-to-print field called “Text”.

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In a nutshell, we’re going to use the envelope tool to shape the text frame into some basic but recognizable shape (Ex. a fish).

Envelope

Select the dummy text and activate CorelDRAWs Envelope tool from the toolbox menu on the left.

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You should see the Envelope bounding box with 8 nodes around the text frame.

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Select nodes and drag them to the desired position.

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The result should be similar to this.

Things to consider

To make sure that the text fills the envelope as much as possible, use upper case letters when creating your template and after uploading the template in your catalog.

Keep it as simple as possible. Enveloping a text frame to resemble some complex shape will make the text too distorted and ultimately unreadable.

Read more about CorelDRAWs envelope tool in web-to-print templates.

A shape may be hard to recognize if it’s taken out of context. You can simple clues, such as using a hint word as the dummy text, adding some other elements to the design, etc to help viewer’s imagination tune into the same wave as you.

All done!

Our web-to-print software can handle this effect easily! Upload the template into your catalog and test it.

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Try this web-to-print template.

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Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Variations

You can use the same technique to shape the text into different basic shapes.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW file	Try this web-to-print template
Download the FREE CorelDRAW file	Try this web-to-print template