Vectorized Text Effects/Transformations: Stretching & Expanding (WordArt)

Question

I'd like to apply a text transformation similar to what the Inkscape extension 'Modify Path -> Envelope' does within LaTeX:

In-source documentation of the envelope extension:

This extension implements Bezier enveloping. It takes an arbitrary path (the "letter") and a 4-sided path (the "envelope") as input. The envelope must be 4 segments long. Unless the letter is to be rotated or flipped, the envelope should begin at the upper left corner and be drawn clockwise.

Presumably this can only be done with one of the more advanced drawing packages:

• tikz (pgf/tikz library decorations.text, basic layer canvas transformation)
• pstricks (possibly based on \psWarp form pst-text (v.1.01) together with a postscript font)
• asymptote
• MetaPost

Answer 1

Needs work (and not a TiKZ text effect):

\documentclass[border=5pt, tikz, mult]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning,calc}
\begin{document}

  \begin{tikzpicture}
    \coordinate (o) at (0,0);
    \def\j{o}
    \foreach \i [count=\ino] in {T,E,X,T,-,E,F,F,E,C,T}
      {
        \node (\ino) [scale=\ino*\ino, right=0pt of \j, inner sep=0pt, outer sep=0pt] {\i};
        \global\let\j\ino
      }
    \path [draw] (1.north east) -- (\j.north west) -| (\j.south east) -- (\j.south west) -- (1.south west) -- cycle;
  \end{tikzpicture}

Answer 2

The question Stretching text vertically offers a solution for applying a rectangular envelope, so to speak:

Using \scalebox{⟨h-scale⟩}[⟨v-scale⟩]{⟨text⟩} of the package graphics ($ texdoc grfguide):

   \documentclass[varwidth]{standalone}
   \usepackage{graphics}
   \begin{document}
   HELLO\\[1ex]
   \scalebox{2}[1]{HELLO}
   \end{document}