Glyph-Based Text Wrapping for Tight Document Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional text wrapping methods for glyphs in word processing software are inefficient and require manual image manipulation, leading to errors and increased file sizes, especially when dealing with decorative fonts or text modifications, and often result in non-tight text wrapping around non-rectangular glyphs.

Innovation Solution

Automated text wrapping is applied directly to text-based glyphs using glyph data to calculate edge intersections, allowing for easy modification of glyphs without image processing, thus enabling precise and efficient text wrapping around non-rectangular shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If text wrapping is applied around image-based objects, then text can be wrapped around graphics, but the wrapping is not tight and requires manual image manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetext wrapping precisionVSAvoidmanual manipulation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical image manipulation with automated computational geometry processing. The system uses glyph data to calculate precise edge intersections and automatically positions text, eliminating the need for manual dragging and adjusting of text around image-based objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service text wrapping by automatically calculating text positions based on glyph edge intersections. The text wrapping function serves itself by using the same glyph data that defines the object shape, eliminating dependency on manual user input for positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Shape

If image-based objects are used for text wrapping, then graphics can be displayed, but file size increases and external image editing is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglyph shape representationVSAvoidfile size

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential shape information from image-based objects by using glyph data that contains only the mathematical description of the shape (control points, curves, edges). This separates the shape representation from the image data, allowing text wrapping to use minimal data while maintaining shape accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the representation parameter from image pixels to mathematical glyph parameters (control points, curves). This parameter transformation enables the same shape to be represented with significantly fewer data points, reducing file size while maintaining precision for text wrapping calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If decorative fonts or text modifications are made, then text variety is increased, but text wrapping becomes inaccurate and requires re-manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefont varietyVSAvoidtext wrapping accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic text wrapping system that automatically recalculates text positions whenever glyph data changes. The system responds dynamically to font changes, size adjustments, or style modifications by re-running the intersection calculations, ensuring wrapping accuracy is maintained without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If manual image manipulation is used for text wrapping, then text can be wrapped around objects, but productivity decreases and errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetext wrapping capabilityVSAvoiddocument editing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual image manipulation with an automated computational system. The system uses algorithms to calculate glyph edge intersections and automatically position text, substituting human manual operations with machine-based automation that is both faster and more accurate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12412024B2Enhanced text wrapping in documents

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein facilitate text wrapping around a text-based glyph in an effective and efficient manner. In embodiments, a text-based glyph is generated within a document. The glyph is generated from a font file that includes glyph data that instruct a document editor how to generate the glyph. Using the glyph data, an intersection between the glyph and a text tile, e.g., a text area boundary where text can be placed, of the document. An insertion location based on intersection is identified, and text is inserted within the text tile at the insertion location, thus providing the effect of wrapping the text around the text-based glyph.