topic Text over a patterned background in Graphics Programming

Text over a patterned background

PGStats — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:51:34 GMT

Hello,

In ODS graphics, does anyone know a visual trick to make text more visible over a patterned background such as a map or a set of bars? One thing I already tried was to superimpose dark text in a normal font over the same text in white bold, but the characters didnt align properly.

Re: Text over a patterned background

ballardw — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:33:17 GMT

In traditional SAS Graph the option was usually CBACK (= white) with text displays such as annotate or data label options. I haven't tried to annotate any ODS graphics yet so I'm not sure if that works.

It looks like the style element involved is GraphDataText but it seems to only have a COLOR attribute, not a background color in the online help. I'd try specifing a CONTRASTCOLOR with that element to see if that worked but just a gues.

Re: Text over a patterned background

DanH_sas — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:40:31 GMT

If you have SAS 9.3, the DRAWTEXT statement in GTL or the SG annotation facility in the SG procedures do support background color for text. Therefore, your annotation suggestion should work fine.

Re: Text over a patterned background

PGStats — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:38:13 GMT

Hi Dan,

I don't see how I could get lettering such as "Woodland Acres" on this picture :

overprinting normal and bold text doesn't work because the spacing between letters is not the same.

Re: Text over a patterned background

GraphGuy — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:58:19 GMT

In traditional SAS/Graph, I have accomplished a similar (although not perfect) text effect by annotating overlapping swissb and swissbe SAS/Graph software font letters:

http://robslink.com/SAS/democd14/rise.htm

http://robslink.com/SAS/democd14/rise_info.htm

Re: Text over a patterned background

ballardw — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:01:44 GMT

Your map example looks like you might want an OUTLINE font.

Re: Text over a patterned background

PGStats — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:23:45 GMT

Well, I need two fonts with exactly the same metrics; I would write with the heavier one first and overwrite with the thinner one. I thought someone might know of such a pair. So far, came up the closest to my wish, but with all due respect, I don't feel like going bach to the '80s vector fonts.

Unless you can apply a FILL color to an outline font?