That is to say, the visible part of a character in an outline font is the area enclosed by the shape. In these, the font file describes a filled vector shape. Most modern font systems (truetype, postscript, opentype, etc.) are examples of outline fonts. We’ve mentioned outline fonts and engraving fonts, but let’s be clear on these.

The trouble is, many CAD packages and most illustration packages (including our favorite, Inkscape) do not come with engraving font support, because it’s such a specialized requirement. For this very reason, many professional-level CAD tools include some form of engraving font. If you design for any of these on a regular basis, you’re likely to come across a case where you’d like to efficiently create some readable text with your tool, and “engraving” fonts are often the best choice. Thirty years later, low-cost and easily available computer-controlled manufacturing tools have created an exciting realm for exploration that’s even open to most hobbyists: Laser engravers, 3D printers, CNC routers, vinyl cutters, embroidery machines, and (yes) pen plotters. But then along came “outline” fonts, dot matrix monitors, high-resolution printers and personal computers. Good solutions– sets of “engraving” fonts –were developed. Creating simple representations of text was an important problem in early computer graphics, for both vector displays and pen plotters. Neither the problem nor the fundamental solution are new.

But it goes to the heart of who we are and what we’re doing. Huh? What’s this all about? Why are you doing this? Quick start: Download and install the EggBot extensions for Inkscape, which now include Hershey Text. This extension solves a persistent problem, and one which we have come across in many different contexts: How to easily create simple and readable vector representations of text. Hershey Text is an Inkscape extension that can render a line of text in one of several stroke-based “engraving” fonts.

Edit text on path inkscape