Part 38 – Using The Distort Tool

This article accompanies the thirty-eighth video in a series on my YouTube channel. If you’re not subscribed to my channel, here’s a link. Come on by and check it out. Hopefully you’ll find something you like.

In the video, I’ll introduce the Distort tool and demonstrate its basic use.

Folks who have been following me for a long time will no doubt remember my mini-series on Applying Text to a Curve. Although I thought I had completed the series, it wasn’t until I was asked about curving a rectangle that I realized I had left one method out of the series. In the video, I’ll show you how I used the Distort tool to curve a rectangle with text inside it. I’ll then show you how I distort text to follow a straight line at the top, while following an arc at the bottom. Finally, I’ll show you how to modify a standard vector object, then use it to distort some text to change the perspective of the text.

FOR THE ABSOLUTE CNC BEGINNER

Don’t stress over any of this. It’s supposed to be fun, remember? You CAN learn this. You CAN do this. It’s not always super easy, but it’s never really super difficult, either. Just like anything else you want to do, there is no replacement for experience – and the only way to get that experience is to practice. Get into your CAD/CAM software, and learn it. Draw in it. Calculate toolpaths. Generate g-code. You don’t’ have to cut anything with it – it’s more important that you learn how to use the software than it is to start making chips.

That’s enough out of me. Below is a link to the 38th video in the series that’s geared toward the absolute Vectric software beginner.

I use Aspire version 10.019 in this video, but all of the information in the video applies to VCarve (both the Desktop and the Pro versions,) and Aspire software.

As usual, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to comment! If you don’t wish to make a public comment, click this Contact Us link, and submit it to me privately. I read ALL of the messages I get through my website, and I answer as many as humanly possible – unless you’re a spambot. Spambots get blocked – so there.

Remember, beginners – relax, take your time, and enjoy the process. It’s supposed to be fun, remember? You can do this. I’m living proof.