Put text on a curve or a path
Text along a circle, an arc or any curve: draw the path, click it with the Type tool, then adjust the start, the lift and the side. Three common shapes and the spacing fix that makes curved text readable.
Beginner2 min readUpdated 27 September 2026Editor · Type on a path
Three shapes
| You want | Path | Settings |
|---|---|---|
| A badge: words around the top of a circle, more around the bottom | A circle (Ellipse, Shift-drag, Fill removed) | Type the top words; set Start so they are centred at the top. Duplicate the text layer for the bottom words and Flip side so they read the right way up. Lift the top text slightly off the path. |
| An arc over a headline | A wide, shallow curve with the Curvature pen (three clicks) | Centre with Start; keep the arc shallow, under about 20 degrees of bend, or the letters lean visibly. |
| A wave | An S-curve with the Curvature pen (four or five clicks) | Keep the waves long and gentle; short waves make letters collide. |
Steps
- Draw the path with the Shape tool (U) or the Pen family (P, Shift+P to cycle to the Curvature pen) in Path mode.
- Press T and click exactly on the outline or path. The cursor changes when it is over it.
- Type. Set font and size in the Character panel. Add 20 to 60 units of Tracking so the inside of the curve does not jam.
- In Properties, drag Start along the path to slide the text, Lift off the path to raise it above or below the line, Flip side to put it on the other side of the path.
- Edit the path reshapes the curve with the text following; Release from path turns it back into straight text.
Why does the text sit inside the circle instead of outside?
Flip side. It moves the text to the other side of the path, and the baseline faces the other way.
Can I make the bottom text read left to right too?
Yes: use a second text layer for the bottom words and Flip side on that one, then slide it with Start along the path. That is how badges are set.
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