Digital Scrapbooking: Typing on a Path

You can make a path to type on very easily with Photoshop. Once you have a selection, you can turn that selection into a path and then type on it.

A) Using The Shapes Tool to Create a Path.

1) Choose a shape and draw it out on a new layer of your layout. You can use the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon or Custom Shape Tool.

2) While holding down the Ctrl Key click the thumbnail of the shape to get a selection around the shape.

3) Turn off the eye to hide the shape. You should now just have the marching ants.
4) Open the Paths Palette. If it is not already present in the Palettes area, open it from the Window Menu.

5) Make a Path by clicking on the 4th button from the left on the bottom of the Paths Palette.

6) Click back to the Layers Palette . Select the Text Tool. Select the font, color and size of text. Move the text tool over the path, the text tool changes to have a wavy line running through it. Click on the path and start typing. (Click on the opposite side of the path from where you want the type to start.)

7) Adjust your type so that it looks good on the path. You may have to add extra spaces at the corners.

8) You can use the Direct Selection Tool or the Path Selection tool to move the type. Position the tool over the text, click and drag the type along the path. To flip text to the other side of the path, click and drag the type across the path.

9) When you are happy, click the check mark to accept the text. Note: If you are unhappy with the way your text turned out, delete layer, open Paths Palette and click on the work path again.
Any selection can be turned into a path. Ctrl Click on a thumbnail then go to the Paths Palette and click on the Make Work Path from Selection Button.

B) Using the Pen Tool to Draw a Path.

1) Select the Pen Tool. Make sure the middle option, Paths, is selected.

2) Draw a path. Select the Text Tool. It will change to having a wavy line through it as you hover over the path. Click on the path and start typing. Use the Path Selection or Direction Tool to move type along the path. Using the pen tool takes practice and is beyond the scope of this tutorial. Read the help for hints on how to manipulate a path.

C) Filling a Shape with Text.

Filling a shape with text is another way to make an interesting embellishment for scrapbook layouts.
1) Draw out a shape with the Shape Tools. Ctrl Click on the thumbnail of the shape to make a selection. On the Paths Palette, Click the Make Work Path from Selection Button. (4th button from left on the bottom of the palette.
2) Hide the Shape. Select the Text Tool. Hover the Text Tool inside the path, the tool will change to a line with a circle.

3) Click and start typing. The text will fill the shape, conforming to boundaries of the path.