[MyBoysMom]

I have a basic understanding of making text paths in Photoshop. I can make circles, rectangles, etc. What I haven't been able to figure out is how to make a text path that will follow one of the elements on my layout (like a wavy line on the background paper). Can anyone help? Thank you!

[PhotoshopScrapper]

The easiest way I have found to do this is the following:

ctrl-click (I'm assuming you're working on a PC ) on the thumbnail of the object you want to outline in the layers palette. This should select that entire layer.

At this point I go to an empty layer and click Select -> Modify -> Expand and type in 10 to 20 pixels. This moves the selection off from the direct selection so the path is not right on top of the curve. You may also be able to click and drag the selection to move it (depends on what mode the program is in).

Once you have that where you want it, go to the paths palette and click the circle with the pony tails (4th from the left) to make it a path

Then you can go back to the layers palette and click your type tool and then click directly on that path to be able to type there.

It's somewhat tricky and I have to play with it at times to get it exactly where I want it ... but it usually works.

Here is an example of where I did this: visit with family

There may be easier ways of doing this but I haven't yet found them .

HTHs

[MyBoysMom]

Thank you, that will solve 98% of my problems with type paths, I think! There is still the odd case when I'm trying to get type to go around something that isn't in a separate layer, but that doesn't happen very often!! I'll have to try this out soon!!!

[A-M]

MyBoysMom, on 05 January 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

Thank you, that will solve 98% of my problems with type paths, I think! There is still the odd case when I'm trying to get type to go around something that isn't in a separate layer, but that doesn't happen very often!! I'll have to try this out soon!!!

You use the Pen Tool to draw a line along your curve - this will then show up in the layer pallette as a shape. Then select the Type tool and make sure the type is Left Align and click at the start of your drawn line and start typing. If you are happy with what you have typed - just hide the shape layer ( the line you drew) or even delete it. I would hide it until you are doing the final things to the layout, then delete it.

I hope that is what you needed to know.

[MyBoysMom]

Yes, that answered the other part of my question. I'm not very good with the pen tool, though. I guess that will have to wait until I have a pen tablet... sigh.

Thank you for your response!!

[Julie - scrapaholic]

I haven't figured out the pen tool either. I usually do a lasso tool magnetic and then create the path from that.