How to Bend Text in Adobe Photoshop

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Shape your text into a curve on Photoshop with this simple guide

Co-authored by Shari Fairclough

Last Updated: July 3, 2024 Tested

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The Pen Tool

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The Warp Text Tool

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Video

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Expert Interview

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Q&A

Do you want to bend letters or words on an image in Adobe Photoshop? This wikiHow article will teach you how to use the Pen and Warp Text tools to align text along curves or warp text into a curved shape.

Things You Should Know

Begin by using the Pen Tool in Photoshop, represented by the icon of a fountain pen nib.
Click Path in the drop-down menu next to the pen icon in the upper-left corner of the window.
Create a start and endpoint for your curve. Then, add an anchor point after the straight line appears.
Curve the line by holding Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ (Mac) as you click and drag the anchor point.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

The Pen Tool

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1
Open or create a Photoshop file. To do so, double-click on the blue app icon that contains the letters " Ps ," then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and:
- Click on Open... to open an existing document; or
- Click on New... to create a new document.
2
Click on the Pen Tool. It's the icon that's shaped like a fountain pen nib near the bottom of the toolbar on the left side of the window.
- Alternatively, simply press P to switch to the Pen Tool.
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It's in the drop-down menu next to the pen icon in the upper-left corner of the window.
Do so by clicking anywhere on the current layer.
5
Create the endpoint of the curve. Do this by clicking on another place in the layer.
- A straight line will be created between the two point.
Do so by clicking on the line, near the middle.
Press and hold Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ (Mac) as you click on and drag the anchor point until the line is at the same arc at which you want the text to bend.
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Click on the Text Tool. It's the T icon near the Pen Tool in the toolbar on the left side of the window.
- Alternatively, you can simply press T to switch to the text tool.
9
Click on the curve at the point where you want the text to start.
- Use the drop-down menus in the upper-left and center of the window to select a font, style, and size.
As you type it will align with the curve you created.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

The Warp Text Tool

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It's the T icon near the Pen Tool in the toolbar on the left side of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Do so in the area where you want the text to be.
4
Type the text you want to bend.
- Use the drop-down menus in the upper-left and center of the window to select a font, style, and size.
It's at the top of the window, toward the right side.
It's the button at the top of the window that looks like a T with a curved line beneath it.
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Select an effect. Do so by clicking on the options in the "Style:" drop-down menu.
- As you select styles, the text will change to preview the look.
- Use the radio buttons to choose a vertical or horizontal bend.
- Change the degree of the text's arc by moving the “Bend” slider to the left or right.
- Increase or decrease distortion of the text with the "Horizontal" and "Vertical" Distortion sliders.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I get the text to be the same size when I use the warp method?

Community Answer

You have to make the path longer to fit the text. The text won't go all the way to the end of the path. It's a pretty clunky tool.

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