Puzzle name step stool

The lettering looks to have been done by mixing/matching fonts and overlapping characters and then using Trim Vectors or some similar feature to offset one letter from another and remove the offset overlap from the other — the sort of thing which Glenn Reid’s nifty TouchType.app made quite easy to do.

Doing this sort of thing in Carbide Create would be a multi-step process:

  • set the text for the name — if using different fonts for different letters, use one text object for each different font one wishes to use
  • convert all text to paths, grouping any letters with counters (holes in them such as the d and e in the above)
  • arrange and re-size the letters as desired
  • offset the overlapping letters thrice, once by the desired separation distance, once half that, and by the desired surround
  • use Trim Vectors to isolate elements and create the appearance where desired of one letter being in front of another, c.f.,

(for the raison d’être for the halved overlap)

  • Join Vectors
  • assign toolpaths:
    • centerline gets a shallow pass with an acute V endmill to allow for painting as described above
    • letter outlines and desired surround get a V carving (after the painting)

It might be that one could make a spiffy OpenType font which would do this sort of thing automagically, but I don’t know of one.

hang on for a step-by-step…