Shadow Lettering (OpenSCAD)

Introduction

Shadow Lettering is drawing text by only drawing the shadows, without drawing the characters themselves.

OpenSCAD

You can make your own text or sign with this customizable script in OpenSCAD. The source files are in the zip file. Be sure to unpack/unzip the zip file before using the script.
The "Customizer" of OpenSCAD can be used to create a plate with Shadow Lettering for your own text.

OpenSCAD is free software: https://openscad.org/
This scripts needs a version of 2024 of OpenSCAD with optimizations and textmetrics turned on. The 2021 version does not work with the script.

In the script is a module "Shadow2D". It can be used over any 2D shape. If you write your own scripts in OpenSCAD, then the module can be used to make your designs look better.

Fonts

The 2024 version of OpenSCAD has a number of fonts included, but four extra fonts are added that go well with this design. They are:

1. LT Saeada font by LyonsType. License: Open Font License. A nice bold font with round shapes. https://www.dafont.com/lt-saeada.font
2. Post Bus font by Peter Wiegel. License: Open Font License. A basic and clean sans serif font. https://www.dafont.com/postbus.font
3. Tschichold font by Peter Wiegel. License: Open Font License. A compact computer/futuristic style font. https://www.dafont.com/tschichold.font
4. Pianaforma font by Michele Giordano. License: Open Font License. A thin font with round shapes. https://www.dafont.com/pianaforma.font

Design Ideas

This script is for “Shadow Lettering”. In your own OpenSCAD script, you can still add your text to the model and then add shadow to it.

Example:

linear_extrude(0.6)
  text("Hello");   // your text
linear_extrude(0.2)
  Shadow2D(2, 45, 0)
    text("hello"); // the shadow

Tips

1. If the 3D shape of the shadow is too high, then the text is hard to read from nearby. Just one or a few millimeters is the best height.
2. The result will be easier to read when all capitals are used.
3. Sometimes there are very small shapes or it is hard to read. Please try a few angles to find the best angle for the shadow.
4. Simple fonts work best. When a font has too many details or is too curly, then the resulting text (the shadow) is hard to read. A font with rounded edges can be used for a sophisticated artistic result.
5. When the text is printed without base plate, then the shadow pieces can be a puzzle. The shapes of the shadows can be split in the slicer to make them fit on the print bed.

License

The license of the script is set to CC0 (Public Domain). You may use the script or the resulting 3D model in any way you like. You may sell the Shadow Text models that you create.