Create and Apply WordArt Effects in PHP

About WordArt?

WordArt or Word Art is a feature that allows you to apply effects to texts to make them stand out. With WordArt, for example, you can outline a text or fill it with a color (or gradient), add 3D effects to it, etc. You also get to skew, bend, and stretch the shape of a text.

WordArt allows you to treat a text as you would a graphical object. In general, WordArt consists of effects or special modifications made to texts to make them more attractive or noticeable.

WordArt in Microsoft PowerPoint

To use WordArt in Microsoft PowerPoint, you have to select one of the predefined WordArt templates. A WordArt template is a set of effects that gets applied to a text or its shape.

WordArt in Aspose.Slides

In Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java 20.10, we implemented support for WordArt and made improvements to the feature in subsequent Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java releases.

With Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java, you can easily create your own WordArt template (one effect or combination of effects) and apply it to texts.

Create a Simple WordArt Template and Apply It to Text

Using Aspose.Slides

First, we create a simple text using this PHP code:

  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $slide = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    $autoShape = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 200, 200, 400, 200);
    $textFrame = $autoShape->getTextFrame();
    $portion = $textFrame->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
    $portion->setText("Aspose.Slides");
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }

Now, we set the text’s font height to a bigger value to make the effect more noticeable through this code:

  $fontData = new FontData("Arial Black");
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->setLatinFont($fontData);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(36);

Using Microsoft PowerPoint

Go to the WordArt effects menu in Microsoft PowerPoint:

From the menu on the right, you can choose a predefined WordArt effect. From the menu on the left, you can specify the settings for a new WordArt.

These are some of the available parameters or options:

Using Aspose.Slides

Here, we apply the SmallGrid pattern color to the text and add a 1-width black text border using this code:

  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Pattern);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getPatternFormat()->getForeColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->ORANGE);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getPatternFormat()->getBackColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->WHITE);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getPatternFormat()->setPatternStyle(PatternStyle->SmallGrid);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLACK);

The resulting text:

Apply Other WordArt Effects

Using Microsoft PowerPoint

From the program’s interface, you can apply these effects to a text, text block, shape, or similar element:

For example, Shadow, Reflection, and Glow effects can be applied to a text; 3D Format and 3D Rotation effects can be applied to a text block; Soft Edges property can be applied to a Shape Object (it still has an effect when no 3D Format property is set).

Apply Shadow Effects

Here, we intend to set the properties relating to a text only. We apply the shadow effect to a text using this code :

  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->enableOuterShadowEffect();
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->getShadowColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLACK);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setScaleHorizontal(100);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setScaleVertical(65);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setBlurRadius(4.73);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setDirection(230);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setDistance(2);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setSkewHorizontal(30);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setSkewVertical(0);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->getShadowColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation->SetAlpha, 0.32);

Aspose.Slides API supports three types of shadows: OuterShadow, InnerShadow, and PresetShadow.

With PresetShadow, you can apply a shadow for a text (using preset values).

Using Microsoft PowerPoint

In PowerPoint, you can use one type of shadow. Here’s an example:

Using Aspose.Slides

Aspose.Slides actually allows you to apply two types of shadows at once: InnerShadow and PresetShadow.

Notes:

• When OuterShadow and PresetShadow are used together, only the OuterShadow effect gets applied.
• If OuterShadow and InnerShadow get used simultaneously, the resulting or applied effect depends on the PowerPoint version. For instance, in PowerPoint 2013, the effect gets doubled. But in PowerPoint 2007, the OuterShadow effect gets applied.

Apply Reflection Effects to Text

We add display to the text through this code sample :

  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->enableReflectionEffect();
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setBlurRadius(0.5);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setDistance(4.72);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setStartPosAlpha(0.0);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setEndPosAlpha(60.0);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setDirection(90);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setScaleHorizontal(100);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setScaleVertical(-100);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setStartReflectionOpacity(60.0);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setEndReflectionOpacity(0.9);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getReflectionEffect()->setRectangleAlign(RectangleAlignment->BottomLeft);

Apply Glow Effects to Text

We apply the glow effect to the text to make it shine or stand out using this code:

  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->enableGlowEffect();
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getGlowEffect()->getColor()->setR(255);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getGlowEffect()->getColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation->SetAlpha, 0.54);
  $portion->getPortionFormat()->getEffectFormat()->getGlowEffect()->setRadius(7);

The result of the operation:

You can change the parameters for shadow, display, and glow. The effects’ properties get set on each portion of the text separately.

Use Transformations in WordArt

We use the Transform property (inherent in the entire block of text) through this code:

  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->setTransform(TextShapeType::ArchUpPour);

The result:

Both Microsoft PowerPoint and Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provide a certain number of predefined transformation types.

Using PowerPoint

To access predefined transformation types, go through: Format -> TextEffect -> Transform

Using Aspose.Slides

To select a transformation type, use the TextShapeType enum.

Apply 3D Effects to Text and Shapes

We set a 3D effect to a text shape using this sample code:

  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setBevelType(BevelPresetType::Circle);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setHeight(10.5);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setWidth(10.5);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setBevelType(BevelPresetType::Circle);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setHeight(12.5);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setWidth(11);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getExtrusionColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->ORANGE);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->setExtrusionHeight(6);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getContourColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->setContourWidth(1.5);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->setDepth(3);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->setMaterial(MaterialPresetType::Plastic);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setDirection(LightingDirection::Top);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setLightType(LightRigPresetType::Balanced);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setRotation(0, 0, 40);
  $autoShape->getThreeDFormat()->getCamera()->setCameraType(CameraPresetType::PerspectiveContrastingRightFacing);

The resulting text and its shape:

We apply a 3D effect to the text with this PHP code:

  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setBevelType(BevelPresetType::Circle);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setHeight(3.5);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelBottom()->setWidth(3.5);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setBevelType(BevelPresetType::Circle);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setHeight(4);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getBevelTop()->setWidth(4);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getExtrusionColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->ORANGE);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->setExtrusionHeight(6);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getContourColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->setContourWidth(1.5);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->setDepth(3);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->setMaterial(MaterialPresetType::Plastic);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setDirection(LightingDirection::Top);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setLightType(LightRigPresetType::Balanced);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getLightRig()->setRotation(0, 0, 40);
  $textFrame->getTextFrameFormat()->getThreeDFormat()->getCamera()->setCameraType(CameraPresetType::PerspectiveContrastingRightFacing);

The result of the operation:

The application of 3D effects to texts or their shapes and interactions between effects are based on certain rules.

Consider a scene for a text and the shape containing that text. The 3D effect contains 3D object representation and the scene on which the object got placed.

• When the scene is set for both the figure and the text, the figure scene gets the higher priority—the text scene is ignored.
• When the figure lacks its own scene but has 3D representation, the text scene is used.
• Otherwise—when the shape originally has no 3D effect—the shape is flat and the 3D effect only gets applied to the text.

These descriptions are connected to the ThreeDFormat.getLightRig() and ThreeDFormat.getCamera() methods.

Apply Outer Shadow Effects to Text

Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provides the IOuterShadow and IInnerShadow classes that allow you to apply shadow effects to a text carried by TextFrame. Go through these steps:

1. Create an instance of the Presentation class.
2. Obtain the reference of a slide by using its index.
3. Add an AutoShape of Rectangle type to the slide.
4. Access the TextFrame associated with the AutoShape.
5. Set the FillType of the AutoShape to NoFill.
6. Instantiate OuterShadow class
7. Set the BlurRadius of the shadow.
8. Set the Direction of the shadow
9. Set the Distance of the shadow.
10. Set the RectanglelAlign to TopLeft.
11. Set the PresetColor of the shadow to Black.
12. Write the presentation as a PPTX file.

This sample code —an implementation of the steps above—shows you how to apply the outer shadow effect to a text:

  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    # Get reference of the slide
    $sld = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    # Add an AutoShape of Rectangle type
    $ashp = $sld->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 150, 75, 150, 50);
    # Add TextFrame to the Rectangle
    $ashp->addTextFrame("Aspose TextBox");
    # Disable shape fill in case we want to get shadow of text
    $ashp->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
    # Add outer shadow and set all necessary parameters
    $ashp->getEffectFormat()->enableOuterShadowEffect();
    $shadow = $ashp->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect();
    $shadow->setBlurRadius(4.0);
    $shadow->setDirection(45);
    $shadow->setDistance(3);
    $shadow->setRectangleAlign(RectangleAlignment->TopLeft);
    $shadow->getShadowColor()->setPresetColor(PresetColor->Black);
    # Write the presentation to disk
    $pres->save("pres_out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }

Apply Inner Shadow Effects to Shapes

Go through these steps:

1. Create an instance of the Presentation class.
2. Get a reference of the slide.
3. Add an AutoShape of the Rectangle type.
4. Enable InnerShadowEffect.
5. Set all the necessary parameters.
6. Set the ColorType as Scheme.
7. Set the Scheme Color.
8. Write the presentation as a PPTX file.

This sample code (based on the steps above) shows you how to add a connector between two shapes :

  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    # Get reference of the slide
    $slide = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    # Add an AutoShape of Rectangle type
    $ashp = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 150, 75, 400, 300);
    $ashp->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
    # Add TextFrame to the Rectangle
    $ashp->addTextFrame("Aspose TextBox");
    $port = $ashp->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
    $pf = $port->getPortionFormat();
    $pf->setFontHeight(50);
    # Enable InnerShadowEffect
    $ef = $pf->getEffectFormat();
    $ef->enableInnerShadowEffect();
    # Set all necessary parameters
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->setBlurRadius(8.0);
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->setDirection(90.0);
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->setDistance(6.0);
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->getShadowColor()->setB(189);
    # Set ColorType as Scheme
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->getShadowColor()->setColorType(ColorType::Scheme);
    # Set Scheme Color
    $ef->getInnerShadowEffect()->getShadowColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor->Accent1);
    # Save Presentation
    $pres->save("WordArt_out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }

FAQ

Can I use WordArt effects with different fonts or scripts (e.g., Arabic, Chinese)?

Yes, Aspose.Slides supports Unicode and works with all major fonts and scripts. WordArt effects such as shadow, fill, and outline can be applied regardless of the language, although font availability and rendering may depend on the system fonts.

Can I apply WordArt effects to slide master elements?

Yes, you can apply WordArt effects to shapes on master slides, including title placeholders, footers, or background text. Changes made to the master layout will be reflected across all associated slides.

Do WordArt effects affect presentation file size?

Slightly. WordArt effects like shadows, glows, and gradient fills may slightly increase the file size due to added formatting metadata, but the difference is usually negligible.

Can I preview the result of WordArt effects without saving the presentation?

Yes, you can render slides containing WordArt to images (e.g., PNG, JPEG) using the getImage method from the Shape or Slide interfaces. This lets you preview the result in-memory or on-screen before saving or exporting the full presentation.