**Program Tutorials** : Photoshop Elements : *NEW

Although you cannot create text on a path in PhotoShop Elements the way you can in PhotoShop or some other graphics applications, you can create Warp Type and combine layers to get a similar effect.

Warping allows you to distort type to conform to a variety of shapes; for example, you can warp type in the shape of an arc or a wave. Warping applies to all characters on a type layer—you cannot warp individual characters. Also, you can’t warp faux bold text.

For more ideas on working with warped or shaped text, see this tutorial http://scrapbook-bytes.com/cgi-script/tutorials/publish/article_503.shtml written for Digital Image Pro. The same principles apply, but PSE uses Warp Type where DIP uses Shaped Text.

First, open a blank canvas or the layout in which you wish to create curved text.
Select a text tool and start typing your text.

Do one of the following:
While selecting the text. click the Warp button in the options bar (upper right, just above the layers palette.)
Or Choose the menu Layer > Type > Warp Text.

Choose a warp style from the Style pop-up menu. The style determines the basic shape of the warped text. We will use the Arc effect.

Select an orientation for the warp effect—Horizontal or Vertical.
You can also specify values for additional warping options to control the orientation and perspective of the warp effect:
-- Bend to specify the amount of warp.
-- Horizontal Distortion and Vertical Distortion to apply perspective to the warp.
Click OK.

You can also drag the corners and sides of the layer to change the shape of the warped text as you wish. We are going to duplicate the arc to create circular text.

In the layers palette, right-click on the text layer and select duplicate layer

Now we have a copy of our warped text.

Next, let’s flip the new layer.
Use the menu Image > Rotate > Layer 180°
Here’s what we have:

Finally, let’s flatten the image and then save it in .png format to preserve the transparency.

Ta-da! You’ve just used Warp Type to create your own Word Art!

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

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