Tip on creating emboss effect in PageMaker 5.0

JAKARTA (JP): Unlike PageMaker 4.0, PM 5.0 has a nudge tool similar to the one we used in creating the emboss effect in CorelDRAW!. In PM 5.0, we can use the arrow keys or the nudge buttons found on its Control palette. Like in CorelDRAW!, we can also specify how far the object should travel each time we hit one of the arrow keys.

To specify how much a selected object moves each time we press the arrow key or click on the nudge button, open the Preference dialog box (click on File, Preference). Actually, the default value (0.010 inch) is small enough for most purposes.

In creating the accompanying illustration, I started with the background --a rectangle with solid fill -- and changed its color to 50 percent gray. In case you don't have the right gray color in your color palette yet (and chances are you don't), follow the following steps: Click on Element, Define Color, New, Spot, CMYK, and Grays. You'll be able to select from 100 different levels of gray. I suggest that you add both the 15 percent and 50 percent gray spots to the Color Palette. Press Ctrl-K to display this palette.

Then I entered the text "Create Emboss in PageMaker 5.0". The text was black, and I left it like that. I created two duplicate text blocks by selecting this text, pressing Ctrl-Ins once and Shift-Ins twice. Now the three text blocks were stacked on top of each other. All I had to do was to select each of them and modify it as necessary.

Before proceeding, remember that to select the next object in a stack you have to select the Pointer tool, which is represented as the arrow in the Toolbox, place it on top of the stack, and hold down the Ctrl key when clicking the mouse's left button. If you click one more time, you'll be selecting the next object down. Keep on clicking, and the objects will be selected in cycles and you'll be selecting the one on top. Remember, too, that to change any formatting attribute of a string of text, like its color, you'll have to select it with the Text tool (the letter A in the Toolbox).

Going back to the steps I took in preparing the illustration, here's what I did next: I highlighted the text that was on top of the stack and changed its color to 15 percent gray. Then I selected the other duplicate and placed it on top of the stack by clicking on Element, Bring to front (or by pressing Ctrl-F). Only when it is on top of the stack can we highlight all the characters to change their color. This time I changed the color of the text into 50 percent gray, which was the same as the background rectangle.

Now that all the three text objects had their right colors, i.e., 15 percent gray, 50 percent gray and black, all I had to do was select each of them and bring it to the top of the stack in the right order, i.e., the 50 percent gray on top and the 15 percent gray and black underneath -- it doesn't matter whether the black is underneath the 15 percent gray or vice versa. Again, Ctrl-F will do the job. Once again remember that you have to press and hold down the Ctrl key before selecting the next object down in the stack.

What remained to be done was to place the text objects in the right X and Y coordinates. Here the Nudge Buttons, the small arrow keys next to the X and Y labels in the Position windows of the Control Panel, were used to move a selected object. Take a look at the accompanying illustration, the cursor points to one of the Nudge Buttons. All I did was click on any of them as many times as necessary to position the text blocks correctly.

Or, if you prefer, you can position each of the text object directly by entering the values for its X and Y coordinates. Just for illustration; the coordinates of my 15 percent gray text block are X=1.074 and Y=1.308, the 50 percent X=1.054 and Y=1.288, and the black X=1.02 and Y=1.255, all in inches.

Presto! I have created the emboss effect entirely in PM 5.0.

--Zatni Arbi