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Penciltext

by johnnygizmo·Workflow

Images © johnnygizmo. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

PencilText earns a spot in the Superhive library for pairing text-to-grease conversion with object edge tracing in a single grease pencil add-on.

What is Penciltext?

PencilText works in the Blender 3D viewport to make grease pencil notes more legible and to help mock up object movement. Its main function takes your typed text and inserts it into the scene as grease strokes, which can then be edited with Blender's existing grease pencil tools. Initial size and color can be set, and larger passages can be typed into a text block and inserted all at once.

Alongside text, the Object to Grease button traces the edges of a selected object into grease strokes, giving a clean representation of that object rather than a rough sketch. Together these two functions cover both written annotation and object outlines within the same viewport workflow.

The developer has outlined future plans, including allowing text to be drawn locked to the screen and adding PencilText tools to other Blender editors such as the Node Editor, Image Editor and Sequence Editor. Documentation is provided, and a demo video is available. PencilText is listed for Blender version 2.7x under the GPL license.

Who is Penciltext best for?

Penciltext is best for blender users annotating scenes with the grease pencil or mocking up object movement in the 3D viewport.

How much does Penciltext cost?

Penciltext is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Converts typed text into grease pencil strokes in the 3D viewport
  • Set initial size and color for inserted text
  • Insert a larger block of text from a text block all at once
  • Object to Grease button traces a selected object's edges into grease strokes
  • Strokes can be edited with Blender's existing grease pencil tools
  • Documentation included

Tags

#grease pencil#text#annotation#3d viewport#blender#object tracing#workflow

Frequently asked questions

What Blender version does PencilText support?

PencilText is listed for Blender version 2.7x. If you are working in a newer release, check the developer's page for current compatibility details, since the listing specifies 2.7x. The add-on operates inside the 3D viewport and relies on Blender's existing grease pencil tools to edit the strokes it creates, so a compatible grease pencil setup is part of the workflow. Confirming the version against your own Blender install is the safest way to know whether it will run as described here.

How does PencilText turn text into grease pencil strokes?

PencilText takes your typed text and inserts it into the scene as grease strokes, which you can then edit using Blender's existing grease pencil tools. You can set the initial size and color of the text. For a larger passage, you type it into a text block and insert it all at once, which keeps grease pencil annotation of your scenes cleaner than drawing text by hand.

What does the Object to Grease button do in PencilText?

PencilText includes an Object to Grease button for cases where you want a clean representation of an existing object rather than text or a rough sketch. You select an object and its edges are traced into grease strokes. Like the text feature, the resulting strokes can be worked on with Blender's grease pencil tools, so the traced outline fits into the same viewport editing workflow as inserted text.

Is PencilText free, and what license does it use?

PencilText is listed as free in this catalog and is distributed under the GPL license. For current licensing and any purchase details, visit the developer's page directly. The add-on is noted as a Dev Fund contributor. Because pricing and availability can change over time, the developer's page is the best place to confirm the terms that apply to your situation before you download or install it.

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