Cool-looking Text Program?

[Tookelso]

Hello,

I'm trying to find a **simple** program where I can do cool things to text, like the examples shown here:

http://cooltext.com/Logos

I would use the cooltext web site, except that I'm teaching in a classroom that doesn't have Internet access.

I've seen this ability in birthday-card / holiday card design programs that come with printers. They're usually very easy to use, where you just type in some text, and then pick the various effects that you want the text to have.

Ideally, I would like to be able to export the text to JPEG or GIF images, but I would also be satisfied with taking a screen snapshot.

Does anyone have any suggestions for open-source software to do this? I've looked at GIMP and Inkscape and a few others, but they're way too much for this purpose.

Thanks,

--Nate

[Tookelso]

Well, usually after I post a question, I immediately find an answer.

I found out that OpenOffice Draw does a good job of what I'm looking for.

If you don't have a menu item with OpenOffice Draw, you can run it by entering oodraw in a terminal.

For an example, see this page:
http://wiki.bworks.org/doku.php/web_site_workshop#logos_fancy_text

I am still open to other suggestions.

Thanks,

--Nate

[slashdotfx]

I know you already mentioned the GIMP, it has plugins so-called script-fu, where you can make various logos easily.

In the menu, xtns->script-fu->logos.

[apogee]

http://wiki.bworks.org/doku.php/web_site_workshop#logos_fancy_text


ooooh!! That's just disgusting ...

Mmmm. Back in my Windows days I used to use an app called Xara 3D, really cool little utility that very quickly can generate static or animated text-based logos. What's more, you can import a solid-shape graphic into the text string and have an inline icon along with the text. Lot's of pre-configured templates for the "not-so willing to spend hours tweaking stuff to get things looking good" types.

Something like that would be waaay better. Does something like that exist on Linux and does anyone know if it can run in Wine? (if CS2 can, then surely Xara 3D can too.?)