Tutorial Curved Text

This is a tutorial to make curved text with PSP 8 (Paint Shop Pro 8.0)

There are several ways to make curved text. This tutorial talks about the simplest version (part 1).

Open the image that you want to add curved text (See image1.jpg). In these examples we are using a white background so you can easily see the steps. Use your "Preset Shape" tool to create an oval or any shape. (See image1.jpg) After selecting the Preset Shape tool, you will see a dropdown menu in the upper tool bar where you can select the shape for the text. Because we are making curved text select the "Ellipse".

To create a vector image ellipse: with the preset shape tool selected (See image2.jpg), move your cursor to the area where the upper left of the ellipse will be located. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse down and right. Move the cursor where you need, to create the shape you want. Note: there are two styles of cursors. They both work the same way. When the image is the size that you are looking for, release the left mouse button. You should see your oval now on a vector layer. Unless you add a vector layer, this is where all your "Vector images" will be located. To see the images in the vector layer click on the plus sign and the list will expand.

Note: If you want to make a perfect circle with the "Ellipse" shape, hold down the "shift" key when creating the shape.

Your ellipse may or may not have a fill color. The fill color will not change the function. You might find it easier to place the ellipse where you want with the fill turned off. On you layer menu (right side) double click on the plus sign next to the "Vector", now you see all the submenus of the Vector layer. Double click on the word Ellipse. You should see a "Vector Property" menu pop up. (See image3.jpg) Here you can "Adjust" the color (Stroke) and thickness of the Vector object line. If you don't want a fill color, deselect fill. This image is only a guide and will not be seen when text is completed.

Select your text tool (See image4.jpg) and move the cursor over the vector "oval". You should see the cursor change with the letter "A" next to it. Where you click on the outside edge of your vector object is where your text will start. Select your starting location and click. You should see a text box pop up. It works just like the normal text box. As you type your text you will see the text bend to the shape outside of the "oval". Just like "normal" text, you can change, font, color, and other font properties.

Note that no matter where you start your text on the vector object, the text will always go clockwise or left to right on the vector object, relative to the way it was created. If you use the rotation handle to flip the vector object over after creating it, then the text will go right to left and upside down. Thus maintaining the left to right direction from the original image.

You can still move and rotate (See image5.jpg) your text but resizing the text with the handlebars does not work very well.

Once you have rotated and move the text where you want it, you can turn off the (ellipse) vector object. (See image6.jpg) just click on the eye next to the "Ellipse". A red X will cover the eye and poof the ellipse oval is gone from your image. You can still move and rotate the text if you need to do that.

So how do you make an inside curved text if the text only goes on the outside of vector objects? I have included a file called "curve1.PspShape", copy this file to your personal Preset Shapes PSP8 folder. The default is located at: My Documents/My PSP8 Files/Preset Shapes. To copy this file, right click on the "curve1.PspShape" link and select save "Save Target As....". Make sure your destination to save this file is your Preset Shapes folder. If you just click on the link you will get a menu pop up that warns that this could be a harmful file, and will ask if you want to save. If you don't feel safe down loading this file, you can make your own. Check out the help files in PSP, they will explain how to create your own custom preset shape.

After you put it in the folder, you should see it as an option (See image7.jpg) when selecting a shape. Once you have created the curve you want from this image you should be able to make a curve text in any direction you want. Because it is a vector created from a half circle, if you hold down the shift key when creating it, you can have a half circle image if you want it. If you want a gentle curve, you can drag the handles to change the shape. Remember when you are drawing the shape you can make the curve flip over by clicking and dragging lower to higher on the screen. Have fun experimenting!

I hope this helps you with your curved text.... happy walling everyone.