**Program Tutorials** : Photoshop : *Technique

NOTE: This tutorial was created with Photoshop CS. Prior versions of Photoshop do not contain the “text on a path” feature. Here is a link to a “work around” in prior versions of Photoshop: http://www.macdesignonline.com/tutorials/photoshop/spring01_polar.html A Google search will bring up a few others.

1. Open a new blank document, 8x8 inches, 300 dpi, with a transparent background.
2. Choose the Ellipse Tool from the Tools Palette:

3. Make sure that you have chosen the “Paths” tool option as shown:

4. Hold down the “Shift” key and your left mouse button and drag out a circle on your document. (Make sure you release the mouse button BEFORE you release the “Shift” key or your circle will change shape somewhat as shown below.)

TIP: You can move the circle around on your document as you draw by holding down the space bar along with the “Shift” key and left mouse button. This is useful to know if you are attempting to draw your circle around an existing object (such as a circle on patterned paper.) When the circle is in position release your mouse button before the “Shift key” and spacebar.
5. Open your Paths Palette (from menu bar choose Windows:Paths) and you’ll notice that a layer has been added labeled “Work Path.”

Choose your font and select the Text tool. Position your cursor so the baseline indicator of the type tool (your cursor will change to look like this:) is on the path and click. ( I usually start in the top center of the circle.) After clicking, an insertion point appears on the path.

The baseline indicator of the Type tool (left) and the Type tool with its baseline indicator on a path (right)
6. Set your text alignment to “Center Text”
7. Enter the type you want. Horizontal type appears along the path, perpendicular to the baseline. Vertical type appears along the path, parallel to the baseline. As you type the text will be “pushed” to the left. (The more text you enter, the slower Photoshop will render the text on your screen. Don’t be alarmed, this is normal!)

8. As you can see from the screenshot below, my text does not fill the circle completely. There are several methods that you can use to rectify this.

9. The simplest method is to open the Characters Palette and adjust your tracking. In the example below I entered 35 in the AV box. You’ll need to use some trial and error adjustments to arrive at the value that is best for your purposes. Again, Photoshop is going to be slow to respond. Don’t assume that your system has frozen!

10. What about that black path on your screen? Just click off your type layer and it will disappear from view, just as the path does when you are typing straight horizontal type!

There you have it. Your text in a perfect circle. Pat yourself on the back for working through all of those steps and admire your work!

You don’t have to limit yourself to circles, you can add type along paths of any shape. Try a rectangle or a curved line drawn with the pen tool. You can “Ctrl-Click” on an element’s layer (such as a tag) to select it, convert the selection to a path in your Paths Palette and type around it. The possibilities are endless. As always, experiment with your program and have fun!

SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS AND TRICKS:

TO MOVE TYPE ALONG A PATH:
1. Select the Direct Selection tool or Path Selection tool and position it over the type. The pointer changes to an I-beam with arrow .
2. Click and drag the type along the path. Be careful not to drag across the path.

TO FLIP TYPE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF A PATH:
1. Select the Direct Selection tool or Path Selection tool and position it over the type. The pointer changes to an I-beam with arrow .
2. Click and drag the type across the path.

TO MOVE A PATH WITH TYPE:
1. Select the Path Selection tool or the Move tool , and then click and drag the path to a new position. If you're using the Path Selection tool, make sure the pointer does not change to an I-beam with an arrow or you'll move the type along the path.

CREDITS: Thanks go out to my friend Ronna Penner for permission to use her lovely font “Sweetheart Script” from Typadelic for illustration purposes.

© Copyright 2003-2005 by Scrapbook-Bytes; & original creator/s of tutorials/articles

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