FusionPro Expressions "Mask" Image Effect

[DigiCorn]

I'm enjoying this thread so much... but I'm on Windows only, so I can't use AppleScript.

[Tracy]

Not sure if I got it right but you need to run the script now
to get the files renamed?

[DCurry]

Nope, you don't need to change the input data at all (as long as you use the same final list to generate the art.)

Assuming the file that is named Data Set 1 is the first record, Data Set 2 is the 2nd record, etc. you don't even have to rename the files. Just tell FP to use the Sequence number in your list (assuming if it mails you'll have a sequence or record number.) You would write the rule in FP to concatenate the first part of the file name with the sequence number.

If you're not waiting til you get the final sorted list but just want to name the files according to the name in the data, that info is already in the list you used to generate the art. Just don't re-sort the list before using it to run the rename script.

Kinda hard to type all this out on my phone - you have my number if you want to call me (after 3:30) to talk it through

[DCurry]

Another way to think about it is if you used a list to create something, you can almost always exploit the same list to rename. 

[Joe]

[Slappy]

Kinda hard to type all this out on my phone - you have my number if you want to call me (after 3:30) to talk it through

OK, I'm outta here for the day, so now it's a Tomorrow Problem! 

[Tracy]

You are doing great Slappy, you have perseverance!

[Slappy]

I'm working on the "How I Did This" reply still. Of course, now they say they're not sure they want to use the effect. 

But, the CSR also wants me to show a Proof on Concept. I'm not 100% positive I can carry it all the way through using the Illustrator method, doesn't seem like anybody in the FusionPro forum is going to answer either, so - we'll see!!

[Tracy]

What is the item your outputting? letter, card, etc..
and how many?

[scottrsimons]

We run Fusion Pro here. We have used Expression. If the masked image doesn't have to be the exact image. Expression could do it.

It's been a couple of years since I had to last use it. But if I remember correctly, you build the alphabet with the image in the letters, and you can and should build multiple for each character. And then in Expression you assign those graphics to each letter, and then when you run Fusion Pro, it will trigger Expression to build the product using the "image font" for what you need along with the other variable on the page.

It's not all that fun to do, but it is a great feeling when you get it done.

[DCurry]

So with that method how would the image appear to continue through the entire word? Wouldn't each letter show the same part of the image?

[DigiCorn]

Yes... kind of. I know in Expressions you can "build your own font alphabet," so using that method, you could create multiple images for each letter and Fusion Pro could be told to randomly decide which version of the letter to place. Basically if you created 6 different "A"s, callback one might be A v3 and callback two might be A v6, callback three A v2 and so on. I suppose by random chance you could get two of the same image/font next to each other. But I don't think this method would work for what you're looking for because you want a continuous image throughout the name and not random pieces.

[Slappy]

Yeah, I saw that method but attached is what they're ideally looking to have produced. So the main photo is "cut out" of each name.

Still have some time, probably later this year before they'd potentially want to use it so I'll keep hammering away at FusionPro, unhelpful as they seem to be.

[Slappy]

Again, to me, it's useless since you can't really tell that the photo is a specific place - esp when you get into names that are super short. 

[David]

they apparently don't want you to be able to read the words