Create Single Line Text with Inkscape

This article explains how to create a single line text in Inkscape

Basics:

Open a new Inkscape file or the one you want to add text to.

  1. With the 'Text' tool (T) type the text you want to have. You don’t need to care about the font

  2. Select the text with the 'Select object' tool (S)

  3. Go to 'Extensions' > 'Text' > 'Hershey Text'Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_12.41.15.png

  4. Select the ‘Font face’. All fonts marked with 1-stroke or EMS are single line fonts. The others are also vector fonts, but usually created with two vectors. These are usable for engraving as well. Here is a short overview of some fonts available:
    Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_12.44.31.png

  5. When clicking  ‘Apply’, the text will be transformed to vectors and directly is cuttable with Origin.Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_13.07.39.png

Advanced:

  • If you have a closer look at the text that is added to your workspace, you can see that the vectors are not always connected. E .g this N will result in 3 lines on Origin.

  • Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_13.16.18.pngYou can fix this by using the 'Edit paths by nodes' tool (N)Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-09_um_15.32.29.pngFor fixing this first select the letter by clicking on it once. You’ll now see the nodes. Next select one corner by drawing a box around it with the tool, then the selected nodes will appear in a different color. Now click on ‘Join selected nodes’, this will combine the two nodes into one.

    Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-12_um_13.11.25.png

    Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_13.16.54.png

    Do this for all corners that are relevant and it will save you time when cutting it with Origin.

  • If you have a lot of the same letters, it’s easier to modify them first and then copy-paste your text from the letters. For this reason, it’s best to get all letters and modify them first. This can be done with the Action: 'Generate glyph table in selected font'.

    Bildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_13.29.34.pngBildschirmfoto_2020-10-05_um_13.32.05.png