Creative Text Pro v1.1 - By BoltBait and Welshblue - Updated February 16, 2020

[BoltBait]

 

Version 1.1

(Requires Paint.NET v4.2.9+)

 

Creative Text Pro takes the fonts on your system and uses them to create professional looking 3D text.  The available controls allow you to customize your text to infinite possibilities!

 

If you have ever wondered how to make 3D text in Paint.NET...

Or, how to make gold text in Paint.NET...

Or, how to make chrome text in Paint.NET... this is the plugin for you!

 

Creative Text Pro includes 6 black-and-white algorithms that can be adjusted and/or colorized, including: Normal, Subtle, Dark, Chrome, Light, and Bright. 

 

The lighting direction for highlights/shadows on the letters is completely adjustable to any angle.

 

Creative Text Pro also includes 45 seamless textures that can be applied to the text:

 

 

Those textures can be rotated and the colors adjusted for near infinite possibilities!  For example, texture Rust 2 can be color corrected to green for a nice "moss" texture.  Turtle can be color corrected to orange for a nice giraffe effect.  The Gold Foil texture can be color corrected to purple for a nice purple foil effect... etc.

OK, but you said "infinite", where's the rest?

 

Ha! OK, the rest are up to you!  The last option in the variation/texture drop-down box is Clipboard.  So, any image you have on your clipboard can be applied to the text, rotated, and color corrected.  Infinite!

 

 

The UI has 4 sections

 

 

 

Objects

 

Also, if you want to apply the 3D effect to an existing object instead of text, check the box at the top of the UI:

 

 

 

Where did my background go?

 

Text should always be rendered to a separate layer, that way shadows can be added behind it and you can move the text where it needs to go.  In that light, text rendered by this plugin is placed on a transparent background.  You're welcome.

 

 

How do I add more fonts?

Where is my favorite font, it's not listed?

 

Creative Text Pro uses the fonts that are already installed on your system. However, not all of your fonts may be compatible with this plugin, so only those fonts that will work are shown in the font drop-down box.  Generally, fonts need to be True Type (TTF) files that support Normal rendering.  (Fonts that only support Italics are not included.)

 

 

Brought to you by:

 

and

 

 

 

Download:

 

This is now part of my plugin pack, you can download it there:

Go There!   Donate 

 

Once installed, you will find it in Effects > Text Formations > Creative Text Pro menu.

 

This plugin is professional grade and a ton of time was taken to make it. Won't you consider donating?

 

If you can't afford to donate (I totally understand), how about just a "like" on this post?

 

 

Source Code:

 

Included here is a stripped down version, just so you plugin authors can see how it works.  Hopefully, this code will inspire you to do something great!

 

Spoiler

The code and algorithms are copyright 2020 by BoltBait and welshblue and may not be used without permission.

// Name: Creative Text
// Submenu: Text Formations
// Author: BoltBait and Welshblue
// Title: Creative Text v1.0
// Version: 1.0
// Desc: 3D Metallic Text
// Keywords: 3D|metal|text
// URL: https://boltbait.com/pdn/
#region UICode
TextboxControl TextVar = "TEST"; // Text
FontFamily fontName = new FontFamily("Arial"); // 
IntSliderControl FontSize = 108; // [10,200] Size
AngleControl LightAngle = -45; // [-180,180] Lighting Direction
IntSliderControl blurAmt = 4; // [0,50] Height
ListBoxControl variation = 0; // |Normal|Subtle Variation|Dark Variation|Chrome Variation|Light Variation|Bright Variation|Copper|Gold
IntSliderControl variationPct = 75; // [0,100] {!variation} 
CheckboxControl addColor = false; // Add color: Hue / Saturation Adjustment
IntSliderControl colorAdjust = 0; // [-180,180,2] {addColor} 
IntSliderControl satAdjust = 100; // [0,200,3] {addColor} 
#endregion

string theText;

// Working surface
Surface wrk = null;
Surface txt = null;

// Setup for calling the Emboss effect
EmbossEffect embossEffect = new EmbossEffect();
PropertyCollection embossProps;

// Setup for calling the Unfocus effect
UnfocusEffect unfocusEffect = new UnfocusEffect();
PropertyCollection unfocusProps;

// Setup for calling the Hue and Saturation Adjustment function
HueAndSaturationAdjustment saturationEffect = new HueAndSaturationAdjustment();
PropertyCollection saturationProps;

// Setup for calling the Sepia effect
SepiaEffect sepiaEffect = new SepiaEffect();
PropertyCollection sepiaProps;

// Setup for using pixel op
private UnaryPixelOps.Invert invertOp = new UnaryPixelOps.Invert();

// Setup for selected blending op
private BinaryPixelOp multiplyOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.Multiply);
private BinaryPixelOp differenceOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.Difference);
private BinaryPixelOp lightenOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.Lighten);
private BinaryPixelOp overlayOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.Overlay);
private BinaryPixelOp screenOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.Screen);
private BinaryPixelOp colorburnOp = LayerBlendModeUtil.CreateCompositionOp(LayerBlendMode.ColorBurn);

protected override void OnDispose(bool disposing)
{
    if (disposing)
    {
        // Release any surfaces or effects you've created
        if (wrk != null) wrk.Dispose();
        wrk = null;
        if (txt != null) txt.Dispose();
        txt = null;
        if (embossEffect != null) embossEffect.Dispose();
        embossEffect = null;
        if (unfocusEffect != null) unfocusEffect.Dispose();
        unfocusEffect = null;
        if (saturationEffect != null) saturationEffect.Dispose();
        saturationEffect = null;
        if (sepiaEffect != null) sepiaEffect.Dispose();
        sepiaEffect = null;
    }

    base.OnDispose(disposing);
}

// This single-threaded function is called after the UI changes and before the Render function is called
// The purpose is to prepare anything you'll need in the Render function
void PreRender(Surface dst, Surface src)
{
    if (wrk == null)
    {
        wrk = new Surface(src.Size);
    }
    if (txt == null)
    {
        txt = new Surface(src.Size);
    }

    if (IsCancelRequested) return;
    txt.Clear(ColorBgra.White);

    theText = TextVar;
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(theText)) theText = " ";

    // For older Paint.NET use this line instead of the next:
    // Rectangle selection = EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(srcBounds).GetBoundsInt();
    Rectangle selection = EnvironmentParameters.SelectionBounds;

    // Setup for drawing using GDI+ commands
    using (Graphics g = new RenderArgs(txt).Graphics)
    using (Region gClipRegion = new Region(txt.Bounds))
    using (SolidBrush brush = new SolidBrush(ColorBgra.Black))
    using (Font font = new Font(fontName, FontSize))
    {
        g.Clip = gClipRegion;
        g.TextRenderingHint = TextRenderingHint.AntiAlias;
        g.DrawString(theText, font, brush, selection.Left, selection.Top);
    }

    // Unfocus
    unfocusEffect.EnvironmentParameters = EnvironmentParameters.CloneWithDifferentSourceSurface(txt);
    unfocusProps = unfocusEffect.CreatePropertyCollection();
    PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken unfocusParameters = new PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken(unfocusProps);
    unfocusParameters.SetPropertyValue(UnfocusEffect.PropertyNames.Radius, blurAmt);
    unfocusEffect.SetRenderInfo(unfocusParameters, new RenderArgs(wrk), new RenderArgs(txt));
    if (IsCancelRequested) return;
    unfocusEffect.Render(new Rectangle[1] {wrk.Bounds},0,1);
    // Emboss
    embossEffect.EnvironmentParameters = EnvironmentParameters.CloneWithDifferentSourceSurface(wrk);
    embossProps = embossEffect.CreatePropertyCollection();
    PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken embossParameters = new PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken(embossProps);
    embossParameters.SetPropertyValue(EmbossEffect.PropertyNames.Angle, LightAngle);
    embossEffect.SetRenderInfo(embossParameters, new RenderArgs(txt), new RenderArgs(wrk));
    if (IsCancelRequested) return;
    embossEffect.Render(new Rectangle[1] {txt.Bounds},0,1);
    if (addColor)
    {
        // Sepia
        sepiaEffect.EnvironmentParameters = EnvironmentParameters.CloneWithDifferentSourceSurface(dst);
        sepiaProps = sepiaEffect.CreatePropertyCollection();
        PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken sepiaParameters = new PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken(sepiaProps);
        sepiaEffect.SetRenderInfo(sepiaParameters, new RenderArgs(dst), new RenderArgs(dst));
        // Hue/Saturation
        saturationEffect.EnvironmentParameters = EnvironmentParameters.CloneWithDifferentSourceSurface(dst);
        saturationProps = saturationEffect.CreatePropertyCollection();
        PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken saturationParameters = new PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken(saturationProps);
        saturationParameters.SetPropertyValue(HueAndSaturationAdjustment.PropertyNames.Hue, colorAdjust);
        saturationParameters.SetPropertyValue(HueAndSaturationAdjustment.PropertyNames.Saturation, satAdjust);
        saturationParameters.SetPropertyValue(HueAndSaturationAdjustment.PropertyNames.Lightness, 0);
        saturationEffect.SetRenderInfo(saturationParameters, new RenderArgs(dst), new RenderArgs(dst));
    }
}

// Here is the main multi-threaded render function
unsafe void Render(Surface dst, Surface src, Rectangle rect)
{
    // For older Paint.NET use this line instead of the next:
    // Rectangle selection = EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(srcBounds).GetBoundsInt();
    Rectangle selection = EnvironmentParameters.SelectionBounds;
    // Render text to the WRK surface for final anti-aliasing
    wrk.Clear(rect,Color.Transparent);
    using (Graphics g = new RenderArgs(wrk).Graphics)
    using (Region gClipRegion = new Region(rect))
    using (SolidBrush brush = new SolidBrush(ColorBgra.Black))
    using (Font font = new Font(fontName, FontSize))
    {
        g.Clip = gClipRegion;
        g.TextRenderingHint = TextRenderingHint.AntiAlias;
        g.DrawString(theText, font, brush, selection.Left, selection.Top);
    }
    double percentage = variationPct / 100.0;
    for (int y = rect.Top; y < rect.Bottom; y++)
    {
        if (IsCancelRequested) return;
        for (int x = rect.Left; x < rect.Right; x++)
        {
            ColorBgra WorkPixel = wrk[x,y];
            ColorBgra dstPixel = txt[x,y];
            ColorBgra txtPixel;
            switch (variation)
            {
                case 1: // Subtle
                    txtPixel = invertOp.Apply(dstPixel);
                    txtPixel.A = (byte)(txtPixel.A * percentage);
                    dstPixel = overlayOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 2: // Dark
                    txtPixel = invertOp.Apply(dstPixel);
                    txtPixel.A = (byte)(txtPixel.A * percentage);
                    dstPixel = multiplyOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 3: // Chrome
                    txtPixel = invertOp.Apply(dstPixel);
                    txtPixel.A = (byte)(txtPixel.A * percentage);
                    dstPixel = differenceOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 4: // Light
                    txtPixel = invertOp.Apply(dstPixel);
                    txtPixel.A = (byte)(txtPixel.A * percentage);
                    dstPixel = lightenOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 5: // Bright
                    txtPixel = invertOp.Apply(dstPixel);
                    txtPixel.A = (byte)(txtPixel.A * percentage);
                    dstPixel = screenOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 6: // Copper
                    //txtPixel = ColorBgra.FromBgra(30,45,255,(byte)(255 * percentage));
                    txtPixel = ColorBgra.FromBgra(0x60,0x6A,0xA0,(byte)(255 * percentage));
                    dstPixel = colorburnOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                case 7: // Gold
                    txtPixel = ColorBgra.FromBgra(0,215,255,(byte)(255 * percentage));
                    dstPixel = colorburnOp.Apply(dstPixel,txtPixel);
                    break;
                default:
                    break;
            }
            dstPixel.A = WorkPixel.A;
            dst[x,y] = dstPixel;
        }
    }
    if (addColor)
    {
        if (variation < 6)
        {
            if (IsCancelRequested) return;
            sepiaEffect.Render(new Rectangle[1] {rect},0,1);
        }
        if (IsCancelRequested) return;
        saturationEffect.Render(new Rectangle[1] {rect},0,1);
    }
}

 

 

 

Credit:

 

I could never have written this plugin by myself.  So, many thanks goes out to the development team:

 

@BoltBait wrote the plugin

@welshblue supplied the creative algorithm, the icon, and many seamless textures

@toe_head2001 supplied the font filtering code

@Ego Eram Reputo supplied valuable feedback, encouragement, and testing

 

Enjoy.  😎

 

 

[yellowman]

Hi @BoltBait

 

After installing the plugin, I am getting this message when I am trying to use it:

 

File: C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\Effects\CreativeTextPro.dll
      Name: CreativeTextProEffect.CreativeTextProEffectPlugin
      Version: 1.0.7344.20057
      Author: Copyright ©2020 by BoltBait and Welshblue
      Copyright: 3D Metallic Text
      Website: https://boltbait.com/pdn/
      Full error message: PaintDotNet.WorkerThreadException: Worker thread threw an exception ---> System.MissingMethodException: Method not found: 'System.Drawing.Rectangle PaintDotNet.Effects.EffectEnvironmentParameters.get_SelectionBounds()'.
   at CreativeTextProEffect.CreativeTextProEffectPlugin.PreRender(Surface dst, Surface src)
   at CreativeTextProEffect.CreativeTextProEffectPlugin.OnSetRenderInfo(PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken token, RenderArgs dstArgs, RenderArgs srcArgs)
   at PaintDotNet.Effects.Effect`1.OnSetRenderInfo(EffectConfigToken parameters, RenderArgs dstArgs, RenderArgs srcArgs) in D:\src\pdn\src\Effects\Effect`1.cs:line 71
   at PaintDotNet.Effects.BackgroundEffectRenderer.ThreadFunction() in D:\src\pdn\src\PaintDotNet\Effects\BackgroundEffectRenderer.cs:line 264
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at PaintDotNet.Effects.BackgroundEffectRenderer.DrainExceptions() in D:\src\pdn\src\PaintDotNet\Effects\BackgroundEffectRenderer.cs:line 454
   at PaintDotNet.Effects.BackgroundEffectRenderer.Abort() in D:\src\pdn\src\PaintDotNet\Effects\BackgroundEffectRenderer.cs:line 410
   at PaintDotNet.Effects.BackgroundEffectRenderer.Start() in D:\src\pdn\src\PaintDotNet\Effects\BackgroundEffectRenderer.cs:line 356
   at PaintDotNet.Menus.EffectMenuBase.<>c__DisplayClass41_3.<RunEffectImpl>b__5() in D:\src\pdn\src\PaintDotNet\Menus\EffectMenuBase.cs:line 941

 

 

[BoltBait]

This plugin requires Paint.NET v4.2.9 (or beyond) so you'll need to upgrade to the latest version before you can enjoy it.

[yellowman]

Thank you very much @BoltBait,

 

Everything works well now, of course after your help 😀

 

[AndrewDavid]

[HyReZ]

http://apmauldin.com/Image_Storage/Creative_Text_Pro_v1a.jpg

Edited July 16, 2021 by HyReZ

[lynxster4]

This needs pinned...it is very 'Photoshop-ey'!  Can't wait to use it.

 

Thank you to everyone involved!  😁 

 

 

EDIT: added image

 

Edited February 10, 2020 by lynxster4

[Pixey]

Thanks Guys - this is amazing

 

[Roger the Dodger]

Hi Boltbait & Welshblue

 

Firstly I am very grateful to both of you for the hard work in creating this excellent Plug-in.

However, I have received a scare message from Windows 10 upon trying to install, should I

just ignore the scary message and install?

Also Win10 is saying do I want to make changes to the "Command Line" is this normal?

Or could I just cut and Paste the DLL into the text folder??

 

Kindest regards

Roger the Dodger🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷Glug,glug,glug😜

 

 

[BoltBait]

3 minutes ago, Roger the Dodger said:

could I just cut and Paste the DLL into the text folder?

Just install it by downloading the zip file to your desktop. Right-click on the zip file and click “Properties” then “unblock” the file and click the apply button. Unzip the zip file to your desktop and run the included install batch file. 

[Roger the Dodger]

Thank you Boltbait😊

 

[Roger the Dodger]

[Ego Eram Reputo]

4 hours ago, lynxster4 said:

This needs pinned...

 

Done.

 

I too feel this is superb bit of kit. Many, many thanks BoltBait & Welshblue ⭐

[lynxster4]

One more example; some 'lava' text.  'Lava' texture made by me in PDN.

 

I could play with this all day...

 

 

[Eli]

Thank You BoltBait!

[lynxster4]

14 minutes ago, welshblue said:

It also works great on dingbats.

 

And other symbol fonts...I discovered that, too. 

 

Beautiful examples above.

[Eli]

@welshblue Beautiful textures. Thank You!  

[DrewDale]

This is an amazing plugin, thanks for creating it. I will post some result in a day or so. Cheers @BoltBait & @welshblue 😎

[BoltBait]

Version 1.1 has been released!

 

New features:

• Reorganize the UI into 4 logical sections
• Added lots of textures including Tiger, Zebra, Snake, etc. - Thanks to @welshblue
• Added ability to zoom in and out from the textures
• Added "soft light" algorithm (does not look good with Chrome, but it does with everything else)
• Added ability to apply 3D textures to existing objects (instead of text) - Suggestion from @Ego Eram Reputo
• Added "rules" to the UI--controls are disabled when they would not effect the current choices
• Added more examples to the initial post

 

 

[lynxster4]

Oh...oh...oh...   

 

Fantastic!  The option to use on an object makes everything available to use!  Everyone's shapes, any png on the internet, etc...

 

The zoom is great, too....I was going to ask for that option.  Some of my textures are large and I'd have to resize them (smaller).

 

Thank you @BoltBait   and @welshblue  !

 

Happy Belated Valentine's??  

 

 

[DrewDale]

😎

[HyReZ]

@BoltBait  @welshblue
Welcome improvements on a job already well done. Thank You!

I see that @yellowman was able to add rotation and extrusion to his example above.

Those features would be a welcome addition to the functionality of this plugin if it was built in!
With rotation, zoom and extrusion built in, it would also lend itself to producing frames for animations.

I use a product by Magic called Xara 3D Maker 7 that does something similar.

Edited February 17, 2020 by HyReZ

[BoltBait]

29 minutes ago, HyReZ said:

I see that @yellowman was able to add rotation and extrusion to his example above.

Those features would be a welcome addition to the functionality of this plugin if it was built in!

This is the reason for the checkbox at the top of the UI. Create your text before running the plugin. You can rotate it to any angle you want. 
 

I could keep adding features forever and the UI would quickly become to tall to use.  So, instead, I added some flexibility (object checkbox and clipboard texture) to the UI so that I would not limit creativity.

 

[TrevorOutlaw]

Would it be possible to add tabs to separate the plugin into logical compartments?

[BoltBait]

The IndirectUI system does not support tabs.