Help, How do I?

[kate3]

Can someone please tell me how to make text thicker in Inkscape? I have done this so many times but my brain has gone on strike. Thank you.

[Angel135612]

After you have converted it to a path, you can use the Path>Outset. To change the amount that it changes each time you apply it you can go to File> Inkscape Preferences, select Steps, and change the Inset/Outset to the number of pixels (or fraction there of) to what ever you want.

[kate3]

Diane, I thought I had converted it to a path. You might have to explain that part to me because I really cannot think today. After I thought I had converted it and then I tried outset several times.
I had this problem with a different issue yesterday. I walked away for an hour and knew how to do it but I am running out of time on this one. Thank you.

[Angel135612]

Kate, Type your text... make sure it is selected, then go to Path>Object to Path. That should convert it to a path (I always check and click on the tool right under the arrow, and see if I get all the nodes, then I know it is a path). Then just select the Path>Outset. Instead of doing it multiple times, you can change how much each step will be (if you know how much larger you want it) by going into the Properties like I stated in my first post.

[kate3]

Kate, Type your text... make sure it is selected, then go to Path>Object to Path. That should convert it to a path (I always check and click on the tool right under the arrow, and see if I get all the nodes, then I know it is a path). Then just select the Path>Outset. Instead of doing it multiple times, you can change how much each step will be (if you know how much larger you want it) by going into the Properties like I stated in my first post.

Thank you so much. I am off to try it again. I think I panic if I have to do something fast. Then I just can't think and a couple of days notice would have been good. I will return if I still don't have it but I think I will even if I have to start with new text. I have a feeling I did stroke to path.

[kate3]

No, it won't work. Maybe it isn't me as they have nodes and will not change thicknesses. I think it may be the font as it is a weird one ending in ITC and not TTF. It is the only nice script font I have in Inkscape.
Any ideas on how to put another one in? I can't remember that either.

[whizzy]

all the ITC stands for is International Typeface Corporation. What script are you trying to use?

[MaryP]

All that one normally needs to do with a font to outset it is to select it and use Ctrl+). If you look at the little dialogue box on the bottom of the Inkscape screen it should change from text to path once you have used Ctrl+) once. If you use Path>Object to Path you will also need to ungroup to get the outset to work. I don't have any ITC fonts but I would be surprised if they worked differently unless for some reason Inkscape blocks them.

[kate3]

All that one normally needs to do with a font to outset it is to select it and use Ctrl+). If you look at the little dialogue box on the bottom of the Inkscape screen it should change from text to path once you have used Ctrl+) once. If you use Path>Object to Path you will also need to ungroup to get the outset to work. I don't have any ITC fonts but I would be surprised if they worked differently unless for some reason Inkscape blocks them.

Mary,
Thank you so much. I tried new fonts and they wouldn't work. So I finally tried another new font and did it your way and it worked. There is a problem with the first font I tried and I thought I was going crazy. I have done this about 100 times. You saved my sanity.

[Angel135612]

That is strange Mary.... I do object to path all the time and never have to ungroup my letters before making them thicker. (I even did it before I told Kate how to do it so I got the steps right. It worked for me just fine).

[MaryP]

Sometimes Inkscape can be quirky. For ages I could not organise layers by using Shift and Page Up or Down to move them into the correct order. I redownloaded .47 and it then worked a treat. Are you using .47 or .48? I cannot outset in .47 unless I ungroup. A bit strange if you can. As long as it works one way or the other we all will be fine .

[kate3]

Sometimes Inkscape can be quirky. For ages I could not make layers by using Shift and Page Up or Down to move them into the correct order. I redownloaded .47 and it then worked a treat. Are you using .47 or .48? I cannot outset in .47 unless I ungroup. A bit strange if you can. As long as it works one way or the other we all will be fine .

Umm Mary, I am using 0.47 and I didn't ungroup to make it work. I think my computer hates me.

[Angel135612]

I'm using .47 and you are right, it doesn't matter if something works one way on one computer and another on a different computer.. as long as it works.