Envelopes can yield effects from simple placement to re-shaping of the lettering.
Envelope creation requires some specific knowledge. Envelopes are closed shapes and have definite sides. A simple template form can be described by a rectangle drawn clockwise, beginning at the top left corner. That top left part is important as it marks the beginning of the envelope top.
The template needs to understand a ‘bottom’ and a ‘top’. Thus it will have two sides, which are made up of normal straight-line nodes. To draw an envelope, start at the top left point, which becomes the start of the ‘top’ of the envelope. Draw across the top and end the top line with a node that’s either a straight line point or a cusp point.
Next the right side is drawn by adding a line point below the last top point. This marks the rightmost end of the bottom of the envelope. Continue working on the bottom of the envelope working left toward the left side. When you reach the left side, close the shape, which will form that left side.
The top and bottom do not have to line up vertically. This is used to stretch or shear (slant or italicize) the lettering.
