Working with Text on a Path

Working with Text on a Path

One of the most popular effects in graphic design is to align text to a path. The path can be open or closed, with curve or corner points. The text can even be linked to other paths or text blocks.

To attach text to a path:

Select both the text block and the path to which you want the text aligned

Figure 1. Text and a path selected.

Choose Text > Attach To Path. The text aligns with the selected path

Figure 2. The results of applying the Attach To Path command.

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If you are aligning text to a closed path, such as an oval, insert a paragraph return in the text to align the text to both the top and bottom of the path

Figure 3. Insert a paragraph return to cause the text to attach to both sides of an ellipse.

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If the path is not long enough to display all the text, the overflow box fills.

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To remove text from a path, select the path and choose Text > Detach From Path.

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Use the Text tool to select text on the path.

To change the direction in which the text flows:

Hold the Opt/Alt key and click with the Pointer tool to select just the path.

Choose Modify > Alter Path > Reverse Direction. The text flows in the opposite direction

Figure 4. The Reverse Direction command causes the text (top) to change its direction (bottom).

To move the text along the path:

With the Pointer tool, click the path. A small white triangle appears.

Drag the triangle to move the text in either direction along the path

Figure 5. Drag the white triangle next to the text to move the text along the path.

To change the text alignment:

Select the object. The Object inspector shows the Text on a path options

Figure 6. The Text on a path options in the Object inspector.

Use the Top and Bottom Text alignment pop-up menus to control where the text sits in relation to the path:

Baseline puts the baseline of the characters on the path

Figure 7. The ways text can be aligned to a path.

Ascent puts the ascenders, such as the tops of the letter t on the path

Descent puts the descenders, such as the bottom of the letter g, sit on the path

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The Top menu controls text before any paragraph return. The Bottom menu controls text after any paragraph return.

To change the orientation and rotation:

Rotate around path keeps the text in a perpendicular orientation as it moves around the path

Figure 8. The ways text can be oriented to a path.

Vertical makes each character stand up straight no matter how the path curves

Skew horizontal exaggerates the text's horizontal tilt up to a 90° rotation and distorts the characters shapes as the text follows the path

Skew vertical maintains a vertical rotation but distorts the characters' shapes as the text follows the path

To move text numerically:

Set the amounts in the Left and Right Inset fields.

To display and print the path:

Check Show path in the Object inspector.

Use the Fill and Stroke Inspectors to style the path.