Concentric text in Photoshop

One day you might just be insane enough to want to write concentric text in Photoshop. It is quite illegible and likely to give you a headache but if you still want to do it read on.

Creating the concentric line

Please note this only works in Photoshop CS and above. If you are on an older version of Photoshop this technique won't work.

To create a line for the text to follow we need to create a path for it. This is where you will need to be handy with the pen tool but with a bit of practice it is straightforward. First turn on Gridlines by going to View > Show > Grid. Then select the Elipse Tool and draw three circles that you will use as a guide to draw with. Make sure they are evenly spaced. The grid comes in handy here as you can just click on a point, hold down shift and draw the circle.

Following the curve

Then select the pen tool and in the options at the top make sure you have Path selected and not shape layers. Begin drawing your path and try to follow the edge of the circle as closely as possible. Don't worry if it isn't perfect as you can come back at the end and fix it. Personally I don't like my line to be precisely perfect but that is up to you. Once you have completed the path you can use the Direct Selection tool and the Pen tool to move any points that you are not happy with, or even create new ones. Here's what I ended up with.

Adding in the text

Make sure the path is selected and then select the text tool. Hover over the start of the Path and you will see the icon change. This means that the text will follow the route of the path you have chosen. Then click and begin typing. All of your text will have to be on one line and if the text is longer than the space available it won't show. You can get round this by selecting all the text and then reducing the font size.

Comments

yugandhar Mar 6 2007

very good text

P.Prasanna Kumar Mar 7 2007

Thanks - a very good technique.

Jakah Mar 7 2007

Hi, i just wanna say i have no clue how to make the circles to follow as a guide line.

Jakah

Jakah Mar 7 2007

you use the eleptic marquee tool for the circles right?

George Ornbo Mar 7 2007

@Jakah - If you are unsure as to how to make the path I suggest you have a look at this pen tutorial. There are also many others around the web. Knowing the path tool is key to this technique. You need to draw a path that the text will follow using the pen tool. The circles are just a guide - I find them useful to help draw the path.

Bo Mar 17 2007

when I hover the cursor over the start of the path, nothing happens (the icon doesn’t change), what am I doing wrong?

George Ornbo Mar 21 2007

@ Bo -you need to make sure the path is selected. Check in the paths menu - Window > Paths. If it has a dark background it is selected. If not then it isn’t. Once it is selected change to the text tool and hover over the path. You should see the icon change. Click and type and the text will follow the path.

Phillip Guld Mar 26 2007

You forgot to mention one thing. That only works in the CS versions, I know it doesn’t work in and 7, and I only wnet from 7 to CS2, so I don’t know if it goes between, but I think it’s only fair to mention that it does only work in a few specific versions. ‘cause, I know I tried for a few hours…in 7. >_>;;;; And got nothing, and then I realized, I should just use my home version of CS2 to do it, ‘cause I know it works in there.

George Ornbo Mar 26 2007

@Phillip - Thanks for pointing that out. It is supported by Photoshop CS and above so I’ve added a note to the article to point that out.

donna Jul 16 2007

can you do this effect using photoshop elements 5?

George Ornbo Jul 16 2007

@donna I don’t think this is available in Elements. You might want to check out this thread for workarounds and suggestions.

Don Haney Oct 26 2007

Hey thanks for this post! I had done this before but could not remember how. I searched Google for “photoshop text on line” and yours was 4th one listed. I liked the title and clicked and WOW Short and sweet without all the annoying Bullshit ads!

Thanks for the quick refresher!

DeeJay Jul 1 2008

The article talks just about the things that I want to do in Photoshop. It really helped.
Thanks!

Indy Jul 3 2008

I tried to do it up to the point where I hover over the path and click on text tool, but the minute I click on the space where I type my text in, the circles collapse and I’m only left with an arc. I did check to see, when I go to window, paths is checked (im using CS3). What am I doing wrong?