# Annotations-Lettering/Text-Labels- within Shapr3D

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [August 20, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705 "2020-08-20T07:23:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gelphyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gelphyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Gelphyn)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 7:24am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/1 "2020-08-20T07:24:00Z")

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This may be of interest to Users who need the ability to use Annotations in their Shapr3D Designs.  
First and foremost it is an Alternative Solution to Importing DXF **Closed Shapes**.

This is a brief resume on this subject, my reasons for getting involved and the continuing driving force. In mid 2019 I signed up to Shapr3D and my interest in having the ability to Annotate fired up, before discovering:

> [@Text file - ADD TEXT](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/text-file-add-text/2864):
>
> [Alphabet.shapr](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/d/d9813fa235de3422e4592fbf09e693900ff9a69b.shapr) (672 KB) Hi guys, For anyone looking to add text to their workspace, here’s a workaround until the function is added natively. I put the characters on separate planes in groups of 5 or 6 to reduce slowdown. Font is Arial Anyone can feel free to upload their own fonts, numbers and non-alphanumerics Enjoy

I had produced my version, duplication to some extent but DIY did have some positive outcomes. Commencing by Sketching Alphabets before expanding into Numerals and Symbols:

> [@Lettering Graphics in Shapr3D \[S3D\]](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lettering-graphics-in-shapr3d-s3d/5301):
>
> Why would anyone be interested in anything as mundane as Lettering? Count me in, the ability to use Letters and Numerals in Designs is essential. My interests include recreating old forgotten projects, Images of Components used in Equipment Parts and Maintenance Manuals. For a good chunk in my working I worked as a Parts Book Editor Illustrator using old style Graphics Software. Fate determined this to be CorelDRAW [CD]. Like most software, with practice it became easier to use, but it was exp…

DIY Lettering certainly sharpened my Sketching skills, a complete Alphabet could be completed in 8 to 10 minutes, largely due to the fact that construction of one character can be easily converted to another. In some cases several characters share very similar construction. Lowercase is not as easy to create. **The biggest problem being alignment during composition**.

I do not know who to credit for the introduction to Importing, from DXF capable Software, **Closed Shapes** via typed input. I was lucky enough to have compatible Software and never looked back to Sketched Lettering. Although are no alignment problems with DXF, it still has an elaborate cumbersome process involving two Devices. This situation maintained firing my drive toward a better solution.

For a long time Shapr3D has had the capability to Import Images, also offering the option of using **Images on Transparent Backgrounds**. This had the potential to resolve many problems.

The missing factor was **appropriate Software** , having the following criteria:  
a. Annotation from Creation-Export-Filing-Import to final destination, all on the iPad.  
b. **Capable of producing good quality output**  
c. Full integration with iPadOS **Files.app**  
d. Reasonably short learning curve  
e. Capable of handling a variety of Annotations, i.e.,:  
_A Single Character, Numeral, Symbol, Special Character, Image or any compatible 2D Creation. Alternatively it could be a mixture containing any reasonable quantity of the mentioned options._

**NB**. The suggested Software is only compatible with **Apple Devices**.

The choice of **Vectornator** [V] is due to it being available, **free of all charges** , from the **iOS/iPadOS Store** and also because it is eminently capable of performing the needed tasks.

To investigate this process firstly **Get** [_Apple terminology_] the Software from the iOS/iPasOS App Store. After installation this may assist:

**Brief Workflow Outline:**

1. Open a New Document
2. Check Setting [_White Background_] the Switch should be set to **Off**
3. Adjust the Canvass size as required. Alter Dimensions [_Settings \> Dimensions_]
4. Create an Annotation
5. Export it as **PNG** format, PNG being required to handle Transparency
6. Save it to the iPad **Files.app** choosing an appropriate location
7. Directly Import the Annotation into a **.shapr File**
8. The Imported File may need adjustment to overall dimensions, **see information below**
9. Annotation **Images** , can be manipulated [_within limitations_] similar to many other **Items**

This is not the place to discuss how to use 3rd Party Software but in the interests of assisting prompt results, and free up more time for using your favourite Software, the following may be useful?

**V Tools used to create Annotations for Shapr3**

 ![IMG_2438](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/6/66741c895b3f7e24b62ee14916cce66b64a8cfa4.jpeg)

\*\* **NB** \*\* . Keeping the Canvass as small as possible reduces the chances of Selection blocking.  
Transparent Background behaves similarly to anything obscured by a Closed Shape, attempting to Tap ‘through’ the light Blue fill results in Selecting the Closed Shape.

**Reference: Workflow Outline 8:**  
Imported Image Size inversely varies dependent upon the size of the destination Image.  
Correct one of the Dimension Labels to adjust the overall size of the Annotation Image.  
Also see Video Clip below. This is the Annotation showing the Dimensions of the Canvass:

 ![IMG_2447](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/4/468d5d7801ad35f7ff3e6158457108034860228f.jpeg)

 ![IMG_2442](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/9/9557fd4238e8e9f181d23983cbb0a8326f7aad86.jpeg) ![IMG_2443](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/5/56a06a9cceee01b7b24633b17bb2a090f8b59e60.jpeg)

Original Import sizes above: First Image 6,000 x 600mm, Second Image 1,036 x 104mm

**Advantages:**  
The Software is available from one of top sources and should present nil Security Risks.  
Avoids the need to deploy other Devices to complete an Annotation task.  
Functions in conjunction with the iPadOS \*\* **Files.app** \*\* working inside \*\* **iCloud** \*\* .  
No need to access **iCloud com** [_Period deliberately omitted_] to upload from **iCloud Drive**.  
Annotation can be rapidly Imported into a **.shapr File**  
Minimal learning curve.  
Basic process is exceedingly simple.  
Results promptly delivered.  
Ease+Simplicity+Speed **encourages corrections** to minor errors.  
Annotations Imported to Shapr3D can be manipulated in a similar manner to other **Items**.

**Disadvantages:**  
Text and Images created by this process **do not function** with Shapr3D’s **Tools \> Project**.  
Care will be needed to ensure that the Output is to the standard of Shapr3D, careful choice of Annotation Dimensions will reduce the amount of Scaling needed, this will avoid ‘soft’ or blurred edges spoiling the output.  
**It is not possible to Edit these Annotations within Shapr3D**.

The following Video Clips illustrate the ease of using this method and gives an indication of how Annotations can be organised.

**Example**

 ![IMG_2448](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/3/320591f03dbfe4de7acd49c507af2d0cd3cbac1f.jpeg)

**Adding an Annotation:**

**Creating a new Annotation using V:**

**Adjusting Size of Annotation Import:**

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**Author:** ![tommyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tommyn/32/1714_2.png) [@tommyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/tommyn)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/2 "2020-08-21T03:22:05Z")

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> [@Gelphyn](#):
>
> **Example**

Wow! Thanks for sharing…

Best,

Tommy

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**Author:** ![Gelphyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gelphyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Gelphyn)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/3 "2020-08-21T06:21:04Z")

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@tommyn  
Thanks for your input Tommy.  
The **Example** was intended to catch eyes, and more importantly illustrate the ability to introduce colour [appreciating you will think: **color** 🕶]. For the sake of the wider community I should point out that the colours required working with 3 Layers, because only 1 Fill Colour can be used on any Layer. All the other Annotations are, time saving, Black and Transparent.  
Although still seeking alternatives I am very happy with the present set up because it is going to be hard to beat, especially when considering it’s overall capabilities.

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**Author:** ![Gelphyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gelphyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Gelphyn)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/4 "2020-08-26T07:23:55Z")

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For a real life test and to enable a comparison between old and new methods I decided to update the original File for this Tachometer, the earlier version is shown in:

[https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lettering-graphics-in-shapr3d-s3d/5301](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lettering-graphics-in-shapr3d-s3d/5301)

In the new version the Dial Face and Hour Meter have been replaced. Two Items Image 01 and Image 02 have replaced 120 Items in the original version. In **Items** [_on left_] those replaced have been Hidden, but it can be seen from the recorded numbers that they, collectively, contain the original items:

 ![IMG_2454](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/8/8b4b832371d3700adc6d7935992f10bf849afacb.jpeg)

The Images were produced using appropriate Software, to create and remove and trim the Background.  
This is not the quick and easy route explained in my first Post, however it is easier and quicker to create complex colour combinations using familiar software. Clearly it is capable of producing satisfactory output, being satisfied is another story.  
Refurbishment could have continued but enough of the old version had to be left for comparison.

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**Author:** ![Vassi\_solutions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@Vassi\_solutions](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Vassi_solutions)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/5 "2020-08-26T22:00:29Z")

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If I’m not mistaken SVG import is just around the corner? (immediate? Was written in another thread recently)

Will it be possible to extrude or project?

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**Author:** ![Gelphyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gelphyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Gelphyn)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/6 "2020-08-26T22:17:10Z")

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@Vassi_solutions  
Sorry but I am unable to answer. As an ordinary S3D Member I am not party to any prerelease information.

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**Author:** ![Aymn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@Aymn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Aymn)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 9:43am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/8 "2020-10-27T09:43:49Z")

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Annotations are crucial.  
I would consider purchasing the pro version only when the annotation are added to the tools.  
The application is really good, but it can help in sharing ideas and production only when annotations (manual and automated) are there, for review and dimensioning

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 9:47am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/9 "2020-10-27T09:47:20Z")

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Do you mean engineering drawings or 3d annotations on the model?

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**Author:** ![CannaSoftware](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/cannasoftware/32/18255_2.png) [@CannaSoftware](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/CannaSoftware)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/10 "2023-03-19T17:20:54Z")

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We need plain text annotations (not 3D) in the model.

This hack of using another program to import annotations in as an image is _okay_, but it represents a serious hack (and worse, not editable by other users unless provided as source). So instead of one Shapr3D file, we have one Shapr3D file and numerous text images explaining WHY something is the way it is so someone doesn’t unintentionally delete it (or worse, irrevocably UNION it with something else.)

Annotations (plain text, not 3D text) seems like something relatively trivial.

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**Author:** ![Stephen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/stephen/32/16350_2.png) [@Stephen](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Stephen)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/annotations-lettering-text-labels-within-shapr3d/8705/11 "2023-03-19T19:30:24Z")

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@Gelphyn Thanks for taking the time to do this. That method will be great for speedometer faces, labels etc.