vLetter Online Support - vLetter Handwriter for Mac OSX
The following instructions address issues related to the
vLetter Handwriter for Mac OSX.
vLetter software is compatible with most Macintosh OS X word processing applications. When working with a word processing application (such as TextEdit, AppleWorks, Pages or Microsoft Word), you can convert text to handwriting by using the vLetter Handwriter utility. The vLetter Handwriter ensures that the variations on the letters are used correctly, and that cursive fonts connect like real handwriting.
Using the vLetter Handwriter
The vLetter installer (Easy Install) should create an alias to the vLetter Handwriter on the desktop. Double click the alias to launch the vLetter Handwriter. Then do the following steps.
1. Choose your font (or another handwriting font) as the Handwriting Style, set the Handwriting Size, and choose the application containing your text as the Source.
2. Highlight the text that you wish to convert in the word processing application.
3. Click the “Convert to Handwriting” button in the vLetter Handwriter. The text you typed is converted to handwriting. Easy!
4. To make changes to the text, highlight the handwriting, then click the Plain Text button. Make changes to spelling or phrasing, then highlight the text and click “Convert to Handwriting” to go back to handwriting. (This is also the method used to switch to a different handwriting font.)
Using with Adobe or Quark products
It works best to first convert text in TextEdit or Word, then copy / paste the handwriting into Adobe or Quark documents. Once pasted in the document, the text may appear as heiroglyphs. Simply highlight the text again, and choose the handwriting font directly inside the document. The text should now display correctly as handwriting, and you can format the size, color and line spacing as needed.
Check here for Adobe and Quark compatibility issues.
Adding Your Signature to a Document
Your signature (how you sign your name) is included with the vLetter Pro, Print and Sig products. The Ready-Made Styles and Schoolhouse Fonts do not include any signature at all (the LiteUS and LiteEuro fonts show a demo signature of “JQ Public”).
Launch the vLetter Handwriter if it is not already running. Position the cursor at the location where you want your signature to appear in the word processing document. Make sure that this application is selected as the Source in the vLetter Handwriter, then click the “Signature” button.
Using Signature Parts
Most signatures are divided into four parts during processing. This often makes it possible to use just the first name of your signature, just the last name of your signature, leave out your middle name, etc. You can select which parts of your signature are inserted by checking/unchecking the Signature Parts along the bottom of the vLetter Handwriter.
NOTE: Depending on how you sign your name, your signature may have less than four parts available.
Sending Documents With Your Signature
To email a document with your signature, you first need to embed the font in the document. In OSX, you can print any document to a PDF file. Go to the File menu, then Print. Click the PDF button in the lower left-hand corner, then select Save as PDF. The PDF format embeds the font in the PDF file.
Using Handwriting in E-Mail
An additional step is necessary if you wish to send e-mail using your handwriting. Since the e-mail recipient doesn’t have your handwriting font installed on their computer, you must send a “picture” of your handwriting in e-mail messages.
1. Compose your e-mail message in an application such as TextEdit.
2. Convert your message to handwriting using the vLetter Handwriter.
3. Highlight the handwritten message, then click on the “Make Graphic” button in the vLetter Handwriter. A window will appear showing the text that was highlighted. You may resize this window, and change the text color to blue, red or black.
4. Click “Copy as Graphic” to copy this picture to the clipboard. Then paste the image into the body of a new e-mail message in your regular e-mail application, and send!
TIP: Alternately, click “Save as Graphic” to save this picture to your desktop or other location. Then follow your e-mail application’s instructions for attaching a file to an e-mail message. The recipient will receive your handwritten note as a .tiff attachment. The .tiff graphic format is very universal, and nearly every computer should have an application suitable for viewing .tiff files.
Using the Handwriter Options
This is a description of the options available in the vLetter Handwriter application.
Handwriting Style: This is a list of all vLetter Handwriting fonts installed.
Handwriting Size: This sets the size of the handwriting font when converting text to handwriting. NOTE: Signatures will usually be displayed at a larger size, depending on how much larger the signature is compared to the rest of the handwriting in the font.
Plain Text Font: This is a list of all other fonts installed (non-vLetter fonts).
Plain Text Size: This sets the size of the plain text font when converting handwriting back to plain text.
Signature Parts: Most signatures are divided into four parts during processing. This often makes it possible to use just the first name of your signature, just the last name, leave out your middle name, etc.
Randomness: To make handwritten text look more natural, words can be moved above or below the baseline by random amounts. Moving the slider all the way to the left results in no randomness, and moving the slider all the way to the right results in maximum randomness. This feature uses RTF (Rich Text Format) tags. Word processing applications which don’t support RTF will not respond to this feature. If this feature is problematic with a particular application, simply set the slider all the way to the left (no randomness).
How do I modify my handwriting?
If you purchased a vLetter Pro or vLetter Print, and wish to modify your font, please use the modification form to submit changes (located in Applications > vLetter > Forms). Instructions are included for testing your font before submitting changes. vLetter Sig users can submit a new Sig form (be sure to write "REDO" on the form). Changes are free within the first 30 days of your completed font being shipped to you.
vLetter Pro Users: Be sure to use the vLetter Handwriter to convert text to handwriting in either the US Test Document.rtf or the EURO Test Document.rtf, then determine which characters need to be re-written. These test documents are located in Applications > vLetter > Forms on your hard drive.
Why can't I use my OS9 font in OSX?
Macintosh OSX works differently than OS9, so you need to upgrade your older Signature Software or vLetter product to our current version for OSX. Also, "Option-Shift-2" no longer works for vLetter signatures, as this keystroke combination has been assigned to the Euro character in OSX. Be sure to follow the instructions above to use your signature in documents.
NOTE: Although older OSX computers have a "Classic Mode" that can run OS9 applications, newer OSX computers have Intel processors, and run OSX Universal, which does not provide any "Classic Mode" at all. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can use only OSX applications.