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This lesson demonstrates how to apply type along a simple Bezier Curve. A Bezier Curve is named after its inventor - Pierre Bezier. To work along exactly, you will find the start image Here. Unzip the file, and open it onto Photoshop’s workspace, ready to utilise.
Create a Simple Bezier Curve!
Complex Bezier Curves - Notes!
Applying Type to a Bezier Curve!
Change The Type’s Colour!
Edit and Reposition Bezier Curves!
Change The Type’s Attributes!
Adjusting The Type’s Tracking, Leading and Kerning!
Create a Simple Hand Drawn Curve!
Path Tools are very complex and powerful, and because of this, they require time, patience and considerable practise; however, once mastered, you can create sophisticated and interesting artwork - curving your text exactly how you like it.
Note
Letters orientate themselves along a path in the direction it is drawn; for example, if you draw it from left to right - they will render from left to right.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open your start image onto Photoshop’s workspace; alternatively, create a New document.
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Then from the top menu, choose Layer then New then Layer and name the layer Path, then click OK.
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From the toolbar, activate the Pen Tool. 
And from the Pen Tool’s Options bar, click to highlight the following icons.
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Now, hover your cursor over the left-side of the image, then left-click once. You will notice the following rectangle node has been applied to your photograph.
Now, press and hold your keyboard’s Shift key, then hover your cursor over the right-side of the image, parallel with the first rectangle - and left-click. You now have two rectangle nodes, as illustrated below, with a straight path between them.
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From the toolbar, activate the following Add Anchor Point Tool.
Then hover your cursor over the straight path - as shown below, and left-click. This adds your first (repositioning) anchor.
Now, move along the path, and left-click to apply a second anchor, as illustrated below.
Note: One anchor will be solid and one transparent; the latest applied - or the active anchor point, is always solid.
You now have two (repositioning) anchor points applied to your path, and it is time to curve the path. Therefore, hover your cursor over the first anchor point and when you see the following white arrow. 
Left-click and gently pull the square anchor upwards. This curves the left-side path, illustrated below.
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Now, hover your cursor over the second anchor point, and again - when you see the following white arrow. 
Left-click and gently pull the square anchor - this time downwards, to create a second
curve.
Note: If the following happens when you drag the box upwards, or downwards.
It indicates that you have not hovered your cursor (precisely) over the box before pulling the anchor points; therefore, you must go backwards (from the Edit menu choose Step Backwards), and pull the anchor upwards/downwards again.
Congratulations, you have completed your Bezier Curve, and it is time for the next step - Here!
Complex Bezier Curves - Notes
This lesson demonstrates how to create a simple Bezier Curve; if you wish to create a more elaborate curve, you can do so. You can apply, (and delete) anchor points anywhere along the path; and you can change the path’s shape by left-clicking one of the boxes highlighted below, and pulling them to another area. This in turn, repositions your Bezier Curve. Naturally, creating elaborate Bezier Curves requires patience and considerable practise.
To delete an anchor, right-click it, and choose Delete.
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Now, activate the Horizontal Type Tool. 
And change the type’s colour to your own choice - ensuring you can see it over the photograph’s colour.
Now, hover your cursor over the centre of the Bezier Curve (over the dark grey path), and when you see the following, I-beam (with a horizontal line through it).
 
Left-click. You will then see the following flashing cursor.
Important
Before inputting your type, ensure the plus icon on the left of the path, is as far to the left as possible, and the empty circle, on the right-side of the path, is as far to the right as possible. If your path does not appear as illustrated above, click the following Cancel any current edits icon, found on the type’s Options bar.
And (again) left-click in the middle of the Bezier Curve. You may need to repeat this step. When your path resembles my example above, input your type.
Tip
Watch the path as you type, and when you see the following end of type warning icon (either a cross inside a circle, or an empty circle) - you know your type is about to stop.
   
If you overtype and run out of space, press your keyboard’s Backspace, and delete a word at a time, and reapply your type. Remember, after you have applied your text, you are able to change its attributes - as explained later in this lesson.
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After you have applied your type, click the Commit any current edits tick.
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To deform the path further; from the toolbar, activate the Path Selection Tool.
Note
Ensure the Options bar has Show Bounding Box ticked.
Then left-click, just beneath the text, as illustrated below.
And your text will be surrounded by a bounding box.
Now, manipulate (pull), the eight outer rectangle handles; to warp and stretch the Bezier Curve around your chosen subject (for example, the poppies). The following upper-middle rectangle lifts the bounding box upwards, consequently moving the Bezier Curve upwards.
Note
When you hover the cursor over any of the eight outer boxes, you will see the following black arrows.
 
You are then able to left-click and drag the square handles, to warp and stretch the bounding box.
Note: As you move the path, the type will stay where it is; this is normal, and it will snap to the path, later.
Now, grab the top upper-right square handle, (illustrated below left), and drag it downwards and inwards, this moves the path and bounding box accordingly - the bounding box will warp and stretch in the direction you drag the handles. Continue manipulating the outer boxes, until you are happy with your type’s position.
 
Tip
You can move the bounding box, pixel-by-pixel, by tapping either, the left-facing, upwards, right, or downward facing arrows of your keyboard.
To move the bounding box and curve, in their entirety; hover your cursor inside the bounding box, and when you see a solid black arrow, drag and reposition it accordingly.
After you have changed your curve’s shape, and successfully repositioned it.
From the Options bar, left-click the following Commit transform tick. 
The bounding box will immediately change to the following, and you will notice that the type has automatically snapped to it.
To commit the change; from the Options bar, click the following Dismiss target path tick.
You are now ready for the next step - changing the type’s colour.
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To change your type’s colour, (from the foot of the Layers palette), click the Add a Layer Style (f-fx) indicated below, then click your choice from the drop-down list. In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, play with the settings and find a Style you like. I chose a Gradient Overlay.
 
Tip
To edit the type’s placement; from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Step Backwards. The target path bounding box will then return, allowing further editing.
Alternatively, to reposition your type along the Bezier Curve; activate the Direct Selection Tool.
And hover your cursor near the end circle of the Bezier Curve. 
As soon as you see the following left-facing black arrow. 
Left-click, and simultaneously drag your cursor towards the left. Your type will follow your cursor, subsequently moving to the left.
Warning
Be careful, the Direct Selection Tool also places type underneath the path; therefore, if the following happens.
Position your cursor above the path, this places the black arrow (circled below), above the path, returning your type to its original position.
Utilising The Free Transform Command And The Move Tool
Another way of altering the type’s placement, is by utilising the Free Transform command. (Top menu then Edit then Free Transform). Once activated, your type will be surrounded by a vector transformation bounding box, my lesson Here explains how to utilise this command. A final tool that will help with your type’s relocation, is the Move Tool.
Changing The Type’s Attributes
To edit your type, ensure its layer is active. 
Then from the top menu, choose Window, then click a tick before Character, and the following Character palette will appear on your workspace.
Now, activate the Horizontal Type Tool, and (with your cursor), highlight the type.
Now, edit the settings in the Character palette, and your type will change accordingly.
Play with different settings and see how they change your type’s appearance; for example, the Anti alias tool effects the smoothness of the types edge, thus blending it with its background. Additionally, you will find different fonts, and indeed their size (pt), require different Anti alias settings. For example, small font sizes need a very Sharp setting and larger fonts prefer a Smooth setting - experiment and see how the Anti alias effects your text.
Adjusting The Type’s Kerning, Leading and Tracking
You can fine tune the type (after it has been applied to your curve), by adjusting the following attributes in the Type Character box.
Leading (1)The vertical space between lines of type is called leading (rhymes with sledding).
Tracking (2) is the process of loosening or tightening the spacing between the characters in selected text or an entire block of text.
Kerning (3) is the process of adding or subtracting space between specific pairs of characters.
Create A Hand Drawn Curve
To create a hand drawn curve, activate the Freeform Pen Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Now, draw a curve in a swooping motion.
Then apply your type.
Change its attributes, and reposition the Bezier Curve - as explained in this lesson.
When you are completely happy with your type; from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image, and save your work as described Here.
Familiarise yourself with the tools and commands mentioned in this lesson; once mastered, you can have lots of fun creating individual curved type.
Wendi E. M. Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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