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How to Curve Text in Photoshop

Published: 11/11/2022

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You can make your real estate photos outstanding by adding text captions to provide details of the property. Knowing how to curve text in Photoshop allows you to blend text with the image artistically, making the photos aesthetically appealing.

How to Curve Text in Photoshop

Photoshop is a sophisticated image manipulation and graphic designing application that allows you to type and edit text like a text editor, convert it to pixels, and then add effects and distortions to make it unique and appealing.

Open Photoshop on your device, navigate to File and then choose New to open a New document dialog box. Alternatively, you can hit Control + N if you are using your Windows PC or Command + N if you are using a Mac.

In the dialog box that appears, specify the file name of your new document, its width, and its height. Set the color modes depending on whether you intend to print the real estate documents or share them online. Once your document is set, use one of the following tools to curve the text.

Opening a new document on Adobe Photoshop 2019 with different real estate images with a well-kept front lawn

Warp Tool

Locate the Type Tool on the tools panel on the left side of your screen, or press the T key on your keyboard to activate it. Click the location on your document where you want to add your curved text. Type the text and then click on the checkmark icon at the top menu bar once you're through with typing.

Double-click on the text layer to select the text. Modify the text using the given options on the top menu bar, such as font style, font effects like italic, bold or regular, font color, font size, and weight.

A yellow house with a clean swimming pool and spiral staircase is being edited using the Warp tool to curve a text in Adobe Photoshop

Curve the Text

With the Type tool activated and the text layer selected, click on the Text Warp tool on the top menu bar to open a dialog box. Its icon looks like the letter T with a curved line below it. Click on the Style drop-down menu to reveal the different styles for creating curved text, such as the Arc.

Usually, the level of distortion in your text depends on the style you choose. For instance, the Arc option might have minimal distortion on your text than other styles. Play around with the styles to view their effects on the text. Check the Horizontal option and drag the Bend slider to the right or left.

Typically, this Bend slider will allow you to set the intensity of the curve. Photoshop applies the changes you make to your highlighted text, allowing you to preview their effects on the text. Adjust the horizontal and vertical distortion values to your desired positions. Once satisfied with the results, click OK.

A yellow house with a clean swimming pool and spiral staircase is being edited using the Bend Slider on Warp tool to curve a text in Adobe Photoshop.

Ellipse Tool

An ellipse tool is among the tools in Photoshop that allows you to draw and design varying geometric shapes. If you want to use it to curve a text, create a new document using the above steps and then pick it from the toolbar on the left side of your screen.

If you cannot locate the tool on the toolbar, click and hold the Rectangle tool to display the related tools, and then choose the Ellipse tool.

  1. Change your tool mode from Shape to Paths.
  2. Change the Fill and Stroke color configurations to None so you can have an invisible vector path.
  3. Draw an ellipse by clicking and dragging anywhere in your document. Alternatively, click anywhere in your document, adjust the size of your ellipse using the pixel values, and set similar values for width and height.
  4. Activate the Type tool and move your cursor on the edges of your ellipse to change your text cursor to text on the Path cursor.
  5. Click on the edge of the shape and type your text. If the text is not properly aligned, reposition it using the Path Selection tool.
  6. Click the eye icon near the layer's name to hide the ellipse layer from your text canvas. Usually, this leaves your text displayed as an image without any shape below it, allowing you to make the captioning of your real estate photos unique.
Ellipse Tool in Adobe Photoshop is used to edit a real estate image of a yellow house with a clear glass window and a clean swimming pool

Pen Tool

The Pen tool is a tool in Photoshop you can use to create shapes and paths of varying sizes. You can then use these paths and shapes to make selections and apply masks. Use the following pen tooltips to create text that follows the shape of the curved line you create.

Pen Tool in Adobe Photoshop is used to edit a real estate image of a yellow-colored house with a clear glass window and a spiral staircase

Pick the Pen Tool and Draw a Line

Create a new document using the above steps and then navigate to the main toolbar to pick the Pen tool. Select it to reveal a series of pen-related icons. Choose the Curvature Pen tool and set the mode to Path so you can set the starting and endpoints for your text.

Click a point in your document where you want your curve to start, and then click on the spot where you want the curve to end. This makes Photoshop automatically draw a straight line between the two points.

Curve the Line

Left-click anywhere on the line to create anchor points that dictate how your curved text will look like. Control-click and drag on the anchor point so that your line starts to curve depending on your anchor point's placement. 

If you are using a Mac, simply Command-click and then drag the anchor points. Once satisfied with the results, Control-click anywhere on your canvas to deselect the path option. Again, if you are using a Mac, Command-click anywhere to deselect.

Highlight the Horizontal Type tool and move your cursor over your curve to change to a squiggly line. Click it to turn your curve into a text area. Type your text and adjust the size and color to your liking. Once through, hold Control and hit Enter to deselect the text. If using a Mac, hold Command and hit Enter.

Transform Tool

Start by creating a new document and typing in your text like when using the warp tool. With the text layer highlighted, navigate to Layer, Smart Objects, and then choose Convert to Smart Object to convert the text layer to a smart object.

Navigate to Edit, select Transform, and then select Warp to activate the warp transformation tool. Alternatively, press Control +T and then right-click if using your windows PC or Command + T and then click if using a Mac.

The tool will display anchor points on your text in varying locations. Stretch the anchor points of the warp grid in different directions depending on your liking to warp the text. Press the Enter key on your keyboard once you are satisfied with the results, or click on the Commit Transform icon in the menu bar.

A yellow-colored house with a clear glass window and a spiral staircase photographed with a clear blue sky and sunset as the background

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Curve Text Into a Shape?

Yes, you can curve text into a shape. However, for the best results, consider converting the text layer into a shape layer and then editing it as a shape. Simply right-click the text layer and then select Convert To Shape. You can then distort the text as a shape object rather than trying to curve it to form a shape.

Can I Edit a Curved Text in Photoshop?

Yes, you can edit the text even after curving it in Photoshop, as long as the text is still in a text layer. The text will become uneditable once you rasterize the text layer into a pixel layer. Generally, the text is still editable if the text layer has a small T icon on the highlight. 

Final Thoughts

Learning how to curve text can help you add artistic design to your real estate photo captioning, making them unique and appealing. Simply type and format your text, and then use transformational tools such as the warp, ellipse, and transform tools to curve the text.

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