Inkscape has two elements that it works with: Objects and Paths, either of these has its benefits and drawbacks.
So, let’s look at those before we delve in to the main topic of converting text to path in Inkscape.
Objects and their Pros and Cons
Objects can be manipulated in certain ways that makes them easier to work with as a starting point, for example a rectangle’s angle can be curved easily when they are objects, that’s possible when they are changed to path but not as straightforward.
In our subject, text, it is easier to add some text, change the typeface (the font and its size), keyring (the space between letters), text alignment, … etc.
But these are not as convenient (or not even possible) once the text object is converted to a path.
Paths and their Pros and Cons
On the other hand, paths give you a great power, for example you can manipulate the shape of the path by using the nodes tool, apply gorgeous path effects, apply Boolean operations over multiple (addition, subtraction, intersection, … etc.), and much more.
So, as a graphic designer (or just a hobbyist), these tools can add a lot of value to your compositions, and add to your toolkit a lot of value.
How to Convert Text to Path in Inkscape
Now you know what is the difference between objects and paths, so before you convert a text to path make sure its your final version of the text, of course you can undo, but that way you are not going to spend time redoing things again, that is the caveat: plan everything before doing it and that process saves you a lot later on.
Steps for converting a text to path:
- Type your text, and do necessary changes.
- Go to the selection tool, and select the text object.
- Navigate to Path>Object to Path.
Or simply select the text object and use the shortcut Shift+Ctrl+C, and when you are done, you can adjust that path the way you like, apply path effects or any other path operation.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned how to convert a text object to a path, and more importantly, the difference between objects and paths, and where these shine, if you have any question regarding the things we discussed let us know in the comments bellow.
