Expression - Image in Text

What we're aiming for

We're trying to end up with some text that contains a photograph, or some other image (artwork, generated texture, fractal)


Start with a blank document

Create a new document in Expression


Insert the image

Insert a bitmap (raster) image to act as the filling in the text



Select the text tool

Optionally, you can also set the font characteristics, or you can do that interactively while seeing the text in place


Type your text on the "canvas"

At this stage you can still adjust the text size and font interactively, and even adjust the text colour to see it better against the background image


Use the Object Select tool to move the text into place

Whlie you are moving the text you see an outline which can be helpful for seeing what will show inside the text


Use "Convert to Path" under the Object menu

When you do this the text is no longer editable, but gets converted to a set of curves, as if you had hand-drawn them


Ungroup the curves

At the moment all the letter curves are grouped, which can't be used for clipping, so you need to ungroup them using the Arrange, Ungroup command


Unite the curves

Use Objects; Path Operations; Unite to treat the letter curves as one unit for clipping, otherwise you would have to clip a different image againste each letter


Shift-select the background image

Holding down the Shift key, click on the image. This selects the image without de-selecting the letter curves. You should see the image grid appear, while the letter curves should stay highlighted


Clip the image to the text curves

Under the Objects menu, choose Clipper, then Make with Top Path.
You should see the results immediately


Use Skeletal Stroke for an outline

This looks okay, but I think it would look better with an outline around the text. Select the Skeletal Stroke button in the Paint Style panel


Change the stroke settings

Use the usual controls to change the settings for the outline around the text


Save as bitmap

If you're happy with your outline settings, save as a bitmap file for use in other software, web pages, etc.



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