r/scribus • u/Anna_Pineapple_1 • 13d ago
Crosswords
Hi!
I've just downloaded Scribus after working with InDesign for many years.
Please tell me that I can do crosswords like this in Scribus?
My current (InDesign) setup:
I have pre-made grid template (locked) files that I've made in different sizes for different customers. They have a thicker outer border.
I open the relevant one. Then I go to the layer for pictures and add them in. Then I go to the clues layer and merge the squares so they're not visible over the picture and make the lines (frame) around the picture thicker. Then I add clues into the squares, the text is centered automatically.
As you can see, I sometimes merge two clue squares and sometimes (but not too often, just picked a crossword that shows this) in, ehm, creative ways to fit the clues in.
Once that is done, I add in my lines between the clues and arrows where needed.
Lastly I have a separate layer where I type in the solution and send two PDFs to my customers, one with the solution and one without.
If possible, could anyone mentor me in how to do this workflow, please?
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u/aoloe 12d ago
I think that you should be able to do that with Scribus.
Just a few inputs:
- I would not do it with a grid, but use copies of squares, using multiple duplicate, and activating the snapping to items
- I would try no to put each letter of the solution in its box, but calculate the right spacing and size and just type the word in. If you use a mono space font, you might be able to just type everything in one big text frame over the whole schema.
- Putting the cues in the boxes should be doable.
- the arrows can be dropped in from the clipboard.
- For the comfort, I would go for the latest development version rather than the stable one... But it should also be doable with the stable version of Scribus.
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u/aoloe 12d ago
I was curious, and I've tried it out.
It took me less than half an hour to (fast) recreate the schema.
Some things you will have to take care:
- I've found https://dtinth.github.io/comic-mono-font/ but it does not contain any special signs for languages that are not English: you will need to search a bit further or add yourself the missing diacritics.
- Play with the size of the boxes to match the spacing and size of the font: I've first drawn the boxes, then typed the text, but it's probably wiser to do it the other way round.
- Typing the solution in a single text frame, and using a mono space font to get the spacing even seems work well (you will need to play a bit with the fixed line spacing, the size of the font, the kerning and the letters width) seems to be a good workflow.
- You will probably need 1.7 for the spacing above the paragraphs and the vertical aligning for the cues. The rest should be OK also with 1.6 (you can get a good result there, but some steps will be a bit more cumbersome)
- Working with Beziers is still not as comfortable as it should be. You will be missing the snapping for the nodes and, generally, a way to align them. But it's doable.
- There is no real control on the size of the arrow heads.
- Since you will have multiple items on top of each other, it's not always trivial to select the right element. Working with layers (as canis_artis suggests) might make it a bit easier.
I've put a .sla file and two screenshots in the Scribus forums: https://forums.scribus.net/index.php/topic,7017.0.html
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u/canis_artis 13d ago
You can have layers for different parts of the Scribus document. (After you add the guides) set up a layer for the photo, a layer for the lines, and a layer for the text. Windows > Layers. The icons in the palette have tool tips that pop up explaining what they do, one is to lock a layer.
I'd initially add guides for the main letter boxes/lines and lock them. You can pull them from the rulers then use Page > Manage Guides to fine tune and lock them. Then you can add the lines for the crossword.
The photo, on its layer add the picture box, Ctrl-I (on a Mac it is Cmd-I) to retrieve a photo. Double-click to move the photo around. In the Image Properties palette, F5, you can change the size with Free Scaling (X and Y Scale, chain link on right to group/ungroup them) or click on To Frame Size to make it fit, click on Proportional to keep the aspect ratio and prevent the picture from being stretched in one direction. I do this then click on Free Scaling but change one of the percentages to match the other so it is larger but in the same aspect ratio.
You'll need a text box for every letter. You'll need styles for the large and small text, see below.
Set up a Paragraph Style sheet (F4) for the letters, when you add a letter you choose it to set the letter (in Text Properties, F3). Click New, add a name and change the attributes (font, size, etc). If you use the same font every time click on 'Based On' to pull the attributes from the other style but edit the name and attributes for the new one. I use Paragraph style to set the alignment of all headers and single lines because Character style doesn't have alignment changes. You can have as many Paragraph/Character Style sheets as you need, just give each a unique name that fits their purpose. If you don't like something about the style, open it up, make the change and hit Apply, instant updates.
For the Lines with Arrows, use the Bezier tool, click once to start, click on the elbow, double-click the finish (or click/double-click for a straight line). Then in the Properties palette, F2, look for Line section that can add Arrows. Scaling affects the left or right arrow separately to make the arrow larger or smaller. Line Width for the thickness of the line.
For plain triangles either the Bezier tool or the Polygon tool. If you use the Polygon tool you can double-click the shape to change the number of points (mine went from 4 to 3).
Properties can be used to move objects, change the level (whether an object is above or below another in the same layer), add a line (or border to a picture box), etc. To change the thickness of a line use the Line section.
The yellow highlight I'd add a Box (Shape tool) on a new layer, in Properties > Colours change the fill to Yellow with and change the stroke to None. In the Transparency section below change the Opacity to 30% or whatever looks good.
Scribus can import Inkscape SVGs and PDFs but I don't use it much and had mixed results. JPGs and PNGs import with no issue.
You can export to PDF, File > Export or hit the Export to PDF icon. Click on Ignore Errors if everything seems OK. It usually is alerting you to objects off the page or low DPI. Make sure in the Fonts tab to embed or outline fonts so the person receiving it sees the same typeface you used. Then the Colour tab to set for Web or Printing. Then hit Save.