S - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GEuser
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 04:25:41 am
content: Q

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 05:23:40 am
content: If you're using Word, try this: Insert - Picture - WordArt use the third style on the first row.(I'm using Word 2003)Getting the right curve and spacing might be a headache, though.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 05:30:10 am
content: You probably want a vector drawing program Like the free Inkscape, Libre Office (Draw).Any of the 2D CAD packages can do it. The best free one is Draftsight.Adobe Illustrator of course is great if you have a license.You can try and rotate the text by eye, but the best way is to enter the text normally and then rotate it around the point that matches the meter pivot. Lots of programs can bend text in a curve, but in this case, you may be wanting to position the text by eye around the curve to line up with the divisions.I do remember seeing dedicated meter scale drawing programs that make it a little easier, but it is good to learn at least one vector drawing program.Black print will be the most stable. If you use colour, it may fade over the years and some colours can even start to disappear. If you have a steady hand, you could get a stable colour using watercolour or acrylic paint applied with a brush.Or you can just print with colour and just reprint if it starts to fade.Richard

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 05:36:33 am
content: I, too, was thinking a CAD program would be a better bet - but I thought I'd offer something that might work for you that you would likely have already.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 06:08:47 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on March 22, 2016, 05:36:33 amThe advantage of 2D CAD programs like Draftsight is you have no problem putting lines and text exactly where you want it and in getting the scale to be exactly the correct size. If you have calculated the exact angle of divisions on a spreadsheet, you can draw those angles exactly. You can group a division and its text together, so you can rotate both into the correct place at the same time.The down side is they are not as easy to start with as, say, a wordprocessor.

author: f1rmb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 06:54:04 am
content: Hi,You can try vu-meter design software, like this one:http://www.f5bu.fr/wp/?page_id=13orhttp://www.tonnesoftware.com/meter2.htmlCheers.---Daniel

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 08:06:42 am
content: Gimp does let you type in an exact rotation angle and specify a rotation center, so you can do a decent job. I would probably put each division (like the 1, -120dbm, -3uV division) on a different transparent layer and have the bottom layer as white (or whatever colour the meter background will be). This way you can easily select and rotate one division without inteference from the other divisions.Unlike vector packages, photo editing packages convert text to pixels, and you cannot re-edit the text again or change the font, size, etc. All you can do is erase and write new text.

author: RiverTown
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2016, 03:17:35 pm
content: I've used combination of AutoCAD, and CorelDraw when drawing scale for my meter.I know AutoCAD better, and I use it for outlines, marks and ticks. Drawing created in AutoCAD was then imported in CorelDraw where I made labelings, text, and graphic.Here is result..