Tools Utilized: Adobe CC Photoshop | iMac Desktop
Occasionally, a design calls for a more unique approach to text treatment. One way to do that is by making it appear to wrap around an object. This gives a nice alternative to horizontal and vertical text layouts. In this tutorial, we will be going over how to create dynamic text on a path in Photoshop.
The Path That Lies Ahead
Let’s get started! For the purpose of this tutorial, I will use a photo by Juanita Swart on Unsplash to create the path for my text. Feel free to use whatever image or shape you choose! Next, we will load the photo in Photoshop. Secondly, click the square with a plus sign at the bottom of the layers panel. Subsequently, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift-Ctrl-N (Mac) or Shift+Cmnd+N (PC). Then just click OK for the new layer dialogue box. Click one time on the new layer in the layers panel.
Setting the Path
Our text is going to need a winding path across this terrain! To create the path, click the pen tool on the left side of the screen. Alternatively, for as hortcut, hit P on the keyboard. Next with the pen tool, click on the dirt path near the top left side of the photo. Keep a smooth path by adding additional points by clicking and dragging after each additional point. (Example 1) If you are not comfortable with creating curves with the pen tool, no worries! You can just point your path around the bends of the road. (Example 2)
Adding Text to the Path
This could be a bumpy ride for our text! To achieve this, we must go to the text tool. First, go to the T icon on the left side of the screen. The keyboard shortcut for the text tool is T. This will change your cursor to what looks like an I with a dotted square around it. Secondly, go to the bottom of the first curve in the road. Next, hover over the blue line path, until the cursor changes to an I with a dotted squiggly going through it. When this occurs, click on the path. In Photoshop CC 2021, it will auto fill text with lorem ipsum dummy text, and set sizing by default. Nonetheless, double click the text until it’s highlighted and hit delete. Now type “Text on a path.” Finally, you successfully added type on a path! Although, a few tweaks are still needed.
Adjust the Text
Is your text too small or large? These settings can always be set in preferences if you like. With this in mind, go to the top of the tool bar, where you will see a font name and an icon with two T’s, one big and small. Next, take your mouse and hover over the icon, until you see the cursor change to a double sided arrow going left and right. Afterwards, scrub left or right, and this will change the font size which is in the box next to the T’s. Alternatively, you can add a number value in the box such as 100pt instead. Add whatever size you like, just make sure it’s big enough to see!
Troubleshooting
In the event that some of your text disappeared, we can bring it back. Go to the solid black arrow (path selection) in the left panel of the screen. Click and hold until you get a sub menu pop out. Next, chose the smaller white arrow (direct select). Then, hover over the left side of the word “Text on a path,” and you will see the cursor change to an I with a black arrow pointing to the right. Drag the cursor left, and you should see your text move left as well. In case your text happens to be upside down, click the mouse and hold, dragging the cursor upwards. There you have it. Finally, text on a path!
Additional Tips
To summarize, In this article we used the pen tool for creating a path. However, there are numerous other ways to achieve this as well. Feel free to experiment. The shape tool, selection tool, and the ellipse tool all can create the paths needed to place text on. Henceforth, the main ingredient to text on a path is the type tool. In other words, as long as you see the I with a dotted squiggly through it, you can place text on it!
Finishing Touches
You don’t have to do these extra steps if you are not comfortable or do not have the time. These next few steps will just add some extra interest to the plain text. First, let’s change the text color to white. Secondly, with the text tool, highlight the text. Next, go to the top of the tool bar where you changed the text size, and click on the solid colored rectangle. This will open up the color picker (text color) window. Pick a color close to white with the circle, or enter #FFFFFF in the box at the bottom of the window. The last step we want to do is add a drop shadow to the text. In the layers panel, go to the fx icon with a dropdown arrow and click it. Then, a menu window should appear, and select drop shadow from the list. Another window will appear, and you will enter the following :
– Blend Mode: multiply
– Opacity: 35
– Angle: 30
– Distance: 24
– Spread: 5
– Size: 21
Click the OK button.
Congratulations! You have taken the first steps in creating movement to your text!
Conclusion
I hope this tutorial helped you learn the basics of setting type on a path. Overall, this new skill will open your mind and designs to unique and creative concepts. Check back for more helpful tutorials, and feel free to let me know in the comments below what tutorials you would like to see in the future!
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2 Comments
Your tutorials are very useful! Thanks for the great article!
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
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