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Text
On A Curve Tutorial
for PSP 8 |
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In this tutorial you will learn
how to bend text around a curve.
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| Add a Vector layer to your
image (Layers menu, New Vector Layer) |
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Click on the Text tool
Set up the materials pallet:
On your materials pallet, set the background
colour to be the colour of fill you want for your text.
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Create The Text
You should already have the text tool selected.
Enter your text in the Text Entry Box.
Highlight the text you have in the box (drag across it with the left
mouse button held down).
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Select a font from the pull down list
Set the size for the text (don't be afraid of
using large sizes - 48 or 72)
Stroke width 1
Make sure anti-alias is ticked
Alignment Center
It doest matter if some of the text has
disappeared off the edge of the image at this stage.
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Draw A Curve:
Click the Preset Shapes tool.
Set the Tool Options as shown here:
Select the Elipse shape and make sure that
"Create as vector" is ticked.
Drag diagonally on your image to draw a circle
(for a perfect circle hold down the shift key while you are drawing it)
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Bend The Text:
Click on the Object Selector Tool (at the bottom
of the Tool Palet). In PSP Photo XI use the Picker tool.
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The ellipse (circle) should get a selection box
around it like this. If it doesn't then click somewhere on the
curved line.
Point at the spot in the center and drag the shape
(hold down your mouse button) to where you want it.
To adjust its size, drag the handles on the
corners of the shape in or out diagonally.
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With the Object Selector Tool still selected (or
Picker tool), make
sure the ellipse (circle) is still selected (if not then click on the
curve). The hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard (its the one
directly under the Caps Lock key) and click on your text.
The selection box should automatically enlarge so
that it is around both your text and the ellipse.
The side edges of the selection box might be off
the sides of the image like mine are.... that's OK
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Click on the Objects menu and choose "Fit Text
To Path"
The text will be bent around the curve of the
ellipse.
Use the Rotation Handle sticking out from the center
of the selection box to rotate the text if necessary.
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Hide The Curve:
On the Layer Pallet, click the + sign next to the
Vector Layer.
Click the "eye" on the line for the
Ellipse. This will make the ellipse invisible.
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If you want to add a bevel or drop shadow to your
text, then convert the Vector Layer to a Raster Layer (Layers menu,
Convert to Raster Layer) and continue through the tutorial.
Note: There is no need for the text to be
selected (have marching ants) because it is on its own layer.
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Add an Inner Bevel
Effects menu, 3D Effects, Inner Bevel.
Use the settings shown here.
If you want to save these settings as a preset,
click the disk button next to the presets pull down
list.
Once it is saved you will be able to choose these
settings by selecting the name you've given them from the Presets list.
To see the effect of the bevel on your image,
before applying it, click the eye symbol. Click it again each time
you change a setting to see your image with or without the bevel
applied.
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Add A Drop Shadow
The shadow makes the text really stand out.
Click the Effects menu, 3D Effects, Drop Shadow
Use these settings:
Vertical=2, Horizontal=2, Opacity=50, Blur=6,
Colour=Black
Note: Use higher opacity if your text is on a
dark background.
This is how the text should look when its
finished. |
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