Advanced Drop Caps: Difference between revisions

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(New page: Initials are the first letter of a text which are bigger than the rest of the text. In old books, they are often colorful and artistic paintings. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial...)
 
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Initials are the first letter of a text which are bigger than the rest of the text. In old books, they are often colorful and artistic paintings.  See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initials Wikipedia] for some nice examples.
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Drop Caps are the first letter of a text which are bigger than the rest of the text. In old books, they are often colorful and artistic paintings.  See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initials Wikipedia] for some nice examples.


Scribus has a built-in function to achieve this effect: in paragraph style, the option "Drop caps" creates a big letter in the front of a text:
Scribus has a built-in function to achieve this effect: in paragraph style, the option "Drop Caps" creates a big letter in the front of a text:


[[Image:initial0.png]]
[[Image:initial0.png]]


The following method is alittle bit more flexible and allows some more effects:
The following method is a bit more flexible and allows some more effects:


# Create a textframe and load your text. Adjust the font, size etc. as they fit your needs.
# Create a text frame and load your text. Adjust the font, size etc. as they fit your needs.
# Delete the first letter of your text.
# Delete the first letter of your text.
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# Create a new text frame (we call this frame "initial") and type the letter you have deleted in the other frame.
 
# Set the size of text frame "initial" to a high value. Remember,it just contains one letter!
# Create a new textframe (we call this frame "initial") and type the letter you have deleted in the other frame.
# Change the text frame "initial" with "Item > Convert to" into outlines.  If necessary, the drop cap's size can now be changed like a graphic
# Set the size of textframe "initial" to a high value. Remember,it just contains one letter!
# In the properties dialog, on the "Shape" tab, enable "Text Flows Around Frame" and then "Use Bounding Box" on the "initial" frame.
# Change the textframe "initial" with "Item / Convert to" into outlines.  If necessary, the initial's size can now be changed like a graphic
# Now just move the initial frame in a way, that its position is in the upper left corner of the original textframe. The text in the frame will flow around it.
# In the properties dialog, on the "Shape"-tab, enable "Text Flows around Frame" and then "Use Bounding Box" on the initial frame.
# Now, just move the initial frame so, that it's position is in the upper left corner of the original textframe. The text in the frame will flow around it.




[[Image:initial1.png]]
[[Image:initial1.png]]


The standard version. The text is set in [http://linuxlibertine.sourceforge.net/ Linux Libertine], 12 pt. The initial uses the same font, but 50 pt.   
The standard version. The text is set in [http://linuxlibertine.sourceforge.net/ Linux Libertine], 12 pt. The drop cap uses the same font, but the size is 50 pt.   


[[Image:initial2.png]]
[[Image:initial2.png]]


A second initial after the first one, some color changes, and a shadow is ready
A second drop cap behind the first one, some color changes, and a shadow is ready


[[Image:initial3.png]]
[[Image:initial3.png]]


Filled with a color gradient  
Filled with a colour gradient  


[[Image:initial4.png]]
[[Image:initial4.png]]

Revision as of 18:42, 8 August 2007

This article is part of the Tips & Tricks series.
Installation • Usage • PDF issues • Other

Drop Caps are the first letter of a text which are bigger than the rest of the text. In old books, they are often colorful and artistic paintings. See Wikipedia for some nice examples.

Scribus has a built-in function to achieve this effect: in paragraph style, the option "Drop Caps" creates a big letter in the front of a text:

Initial0.png

The following method is a bit more flexible and allows some more effects:

  1. Create a text frame and load your text. Adjust the font, size etc. as they fit your needs.
  2. Delete the first letter of your text.
  3. Create a new text frame (we call this frame "initial") and type the letter you have deleted in the other frame.
  4. Set the size of text frame "initial" to a high value. Remember,it just contains one letter!
  5. Change the text frame "initial" with "Item > Convert to" into outlines. If necessary, the drop cap's size can now be changed like a graphic
  6. In the properties dialog, on the "Shape" tab, enable "Text Flows Around Frame" and then "Use Bounding Box" on the "initial" frame.
  7. Now just move the initial frame in a way, that its position is in the upper left corner of the original textframe. The text in the frame will flow around it.


Initial1.png

The standard version. The text is set in Linux Libertine, 12 pt. The drop cap uses the same font, but the size is 50 pt.

Initial2.png

A second drop cap behind the first one, some color changes, and a shadow is ready

Initial3.png

Filled with a colour gradient

Initial4.png

Last, but not least: the outlines can be converted to an image frame. See also How to fill a Scribus text with an image

(c) Thomas Zastrow, 2007 The content of this page is licenced under the Free Documentation Licence.

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