How to make curved font in Photoshop Elements

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Webpage date 2022 Instruction based on Photoshop Elements 11, in Expert mode.
This tutorial shows several ways to make and alter text, including making curved font, curve text, or warped text etc.

Photoshop makes images. The result of this tutorial is an image you can add to social media, newsfeed, or to webpage, eBook or to any text writing program such as Word, Goggle docs, Kompozer html writer etc.
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If you are proficient with Photoshop Expert, skip to making curved text

	Buy Photoshop Elements Photoshop elements training
	Curved Font This is an image of text. It is not text. Photoshop makes.jpg or .gif or .png images that can be sized to fit project.
Photoshop can be used to write text, but when saved, it creates an image of text. You can write text with photoshop, then copy, and paste the text into a text-writing program such as Open Office, Kompozer, Google Docs, or paste text into social media ... however the Photoshop font is not transfered with the paste.

New workspace
Open Photoshop Elements, select Photo Editor, then select Expert (not Guided or Quick) located near top of program.
Workspace and tools appear.
At top, on menu, go to File, New, Blank file.
Select 600 px x 600 px size, RBG, white, OK. You can choose any size. Typically an eBook image or Facebook image etc might be 600 px wide.
The white Background layer appears in workspace.

If you are proficient with Photoshop Elements Expert, skip right to making curved text`

-Additional feature #1: If your keyboard has Print Screen, or computer has Screen grab, you can open the image in Photoshop. Go to to menu, File, New, Image from clipboard, and the image appears in workspace. Or drag and drop any image into photoshop workspace.
Remember, these are images and not text.

Larger image
Layout of photoshop elements in Expert mode
Choose Expert (not Guided or Quick).

The menu bar appears at top of workspace.

The Layers Panel appears on right side. Go to menu located top of program, and click Windows, then click Layers, and the Layers Panel opens to right of workspace. Or use shortcut located bottom of program.

The workspace appears in center and shows the 600 px x 600 px image that was created in steps shown above. The 600 px image also appears as Background Layer in the Layers Panel.

The toolbar is located on left side.
Hover mouse over each tool to identify function.
Tip: Each tool offers additional options located below the workspace.

Menu bar

The menu bar is located at top of workspace.
In Expert mode, the menu options include File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, Filter, View, Window, Help.

-Go to menu then File and note 'Save As' so you can save the .psd photoshop file and work on later. Note 'Save for Web' where you can optimize quality and exact size of curved font image, and save in .jpg format etc.
-Go to menu then Edit and note location of Undo. You can use this to reverse any prior action, or easiest to use Undo shortcut located at bottom of program, or use keyboard shortcuts including Ctrl + z, Ctrl + y, etc.
-Go to menu then Image and click Transform, and note location of Free Transform, Skew and Distort. Later, you can select these options to bend, shape, and rotate text.

-Go to menu then Edit, Preferences, General, put checkmark in zoom scroll with mouse.
Now you can scroll in and out using scroll wheel on mouse.

Tip: In addition to menu, you can use keyboard shortcuts, plus shortcut features located at bottom of program, and Layers shortcuts located top of Layers Panel.

Toolbar
Go to menu, then Window, and click Tools.
Toolbar opens on left side of workspace.
Hover mouse over each tool to identify function.
Click a tool to activate. Tip: Be sure keyboard cap locks off, or working with tools is difficult.
We will use Type Tool, Move Tool, Color Picker. And other tools.

Tip: At very bottom, below workspace and to the left, click Tool Options

Type Tool has options that appear below the workspace.
All tools have options that appear below workspace.

-Start by selecting Type tool, then place cursor in workspace, and start typing. Then select size, font, etc from options located below workspace.
When finished, click green checkmark to approve.

-You can use Move Tool to position the text anywhere on the workspace. Tip: click mouse cursor slightly outside the text, to ensure the text is selected, then move text, then click green checkmark to approve change. Click Ctrl + S to save work so far.
-Additional feature #2: Select Rectangular Marquee Tool, draw rectangle around text, then go to menu, edit, copy, then paste. And it makes an image of your text on a new layer. It does not make text on the new layer.

Layers/ what to do
Go to menu, then Windows, and put checkmark next to Layers, or use shortcut located bottom of program.
Layers Panel opens on right side of workspace.
White Background layer shows in Layers Panel.

-Next, select Type tool and type 'Curved font,' or any text, into workspace and photoshop will automatically make a new text layer in Layers Panel.
-Then make a duplicate layer of the text. Go to menu, then Layer, then Duplicate Layer ... and exact copy of text appears as another text layer in Layers Panel. Tip: use shortcut features located at top of Layers Panel.

-The white Background, shown Fig-5 #1, is titled Background.
The Background layer is always at the bottom with other layers stacked above.
Tip: Rename layer by double-clicking the name.
Tip: Move layer up or down using mouse to drag. Background layer cannot be moved.
Tip: Click anywhere on a layer and it highlights in blue Fig-5 #3.
Tip: The blue color means the layer is active. Only the active layer can be worked on.
Tip: An eyeball is located next to each layer. Click eyeball off to make layer invisible in workspace, Fig-5 #2.
Tip: A layer must be visible before it can be active in blue, and before it can be worked on.

Fig-6: shortcuts and options at top of Layers Panel
1. Drag any layer up to icon #1 to create a duplicate layer.
Or click the duplicate layer icon #1, and it creates a new blank layer.
2. Click icon #2 to view drop down menu and choose Gradient and it creates a new layer with a gradient. Other options can be explored.
3. Drag a layer into icon #3 trash can to delete.
If needed, go to Edit and click Undo.
4. Click icon #4 and select Duplicate layer, or Delete hidden layers, or Simplify lets you simplify a gradient or simplify text layer etc.
5. Dropdown menu on #5 offers effects that can be applied to any layer.
6. Opacity slider #6 lets you make an active layer more transparent.
7. Blue color indicates #7 layer is activated and can be worked on.
8. Eyeball is clicked off on #8, making the layer invisible in the workspace. A layer must be visible and activated in blue before work can be done on that layer.

Type some text and make duplicate layer
Select Type tool. Click in the workspace, then type any text using the Type tool.
For example, type 'Curved Font' in the workspace. The color will be black by default.
The text will appear in Layers Panel as a new layer above the white Background layer.

Method 1: Change Text Color using Tool options
The Default font in Photoshop is black.

Fig-7: If you want red text, then use Type tool options located below workspace. Double-click the text to activate. Then click COLOR among tools options located below workspace.
Click dropdown menu on color swatches to view selection.

Method 2: Change Text Color using Color Picker
Color Picker is located at bottom of toolbar.
Fig-8: Click COLOR at bottom of toolbar and the Color Picker opens, Fig-9.

Double click anywhere on the red, or click anywhere on the narrow vertical box with a slider to navigate colors.

Click OK, and your text will change to that color, then click green checkmark to approve change.

Select text font and size
Choose Text tool and double-click on text in workspace and then use options located below workspace.
Suggest using 60 or 72 pt for size.
Choose Algerian Font, for example.

When finished, click green checkmark to approve change.
To reverse to any edit, go to menu, then Edit and click Undo as many times as needed, or use shortcut located bottom of program.

-Additional feature #3: Make arrows using Custom Shape Tool, select Arrow from shapes, then right-click layer in Layers Panel and simplify. Use move tool to position arrow.

Start here
Information above is about using Photoshop features

1) Warp, or curve the text
Use Text tool and double click text in workspace, then among options at the bottom of workspace, select 'create warped text' ... warp text appears as a T with a small curve below it.

Warped Text box comes up. Select 'Arc' from drop down menu.
Experiment with 'Arch' etc, and then use slide bars to find right combination of bend and shape.
Click OK.

Now you have a text layer with warped text.

Tip: You can make a duplicate layer so you have 2 layers with exact same font etc. Then change colors, each with different color, for example purple and green, and use Move Tool to offset one layer to give shadow effect.
More can be done, as shown below.

2) Make duplicate layer of the warped or curved text
Go to menu then Layers, and choose duplicate layer, OK. Or use shortcuts located above Layers Panel to make duplicate layer.
Now you have a duplicate layer of warped text so you can try different warps and fonts etc without losing work done so far.

Not losing previous work is the reason for making duplicate layers, and then working on newest layer.

Try fonts: Algerian, Rosewood Std, Old English, Day Poster, Callistroke, Aerial Rounded Bold etc.
Click green checkmark to approve each change.
Make as many layers as you want, then choose which warped text suits your project.

-Additional feature #4: Add fonts to Photoshop (and Word etc) by adding new fonts to your computer, such as BlindMelon or Questrial.

Search internet for Questrial font. There are sites that offer free fonts or fonts for a price.
Download font file .zip from internet, right-click the .zip folder, choose extract and move .ttf file into Font Folder located in Control Panel.

3) Apply Styles

Activate a text layer by clicking on the layer in Layers Panel so it is blue.
Then single click the Text Tool, but do not click on the text in workspace.
Located among Text tool options is a box with diagonal Red line.
Click the box to apply 'Styles.'

Styles are cumulative. So you apply a Style and then apply a second style, and Photoshop keeps adding versions of each style onto the last to achieve nearly endless variety of looks.

For example there are 10 options for 'Bevel shadow,' and 23 'Complex,' and 8 'Drop Shadow' styles that can be added in any sequence.
Tip: If you want text to be readable, then too many effects and too small size might be a problem.

3a) Continue using Styles from step 3) shown above.
Select Text tool and choose Type vertical from tool options below workspace to make Yes.

Image to right: The font selection is Arial Rounded MT Bold. Text color was changed to purple. Then a small curved font (or warped text) was added.

Click the purple-colored font layer in Layers Panel, then click Text tool, but don't click on text in workspace.
In Tool options located below workspace, click box with red line.

Choose 'Drop Shadows' from menu, and select 'fill outline,' or choose another.
Next, choose 'Image Effects' from dropdown menu.
To make the red image shown to right, select 'Colorful Center,' then choose 'Photographic Effects' and 'Outer Glow,' and choose 'Fire.'

Tip: To avoid losing previous work: Go to menu, Layer, and then duplicate layer. It makes a new layer which is exact copy. This is why layers are important: to preserve work done so far.

Tip: You can choose any layer to work on, and turn off other layers by clicking eyeball located next to each layer.

4) Simplify text layer
Tip: Some features require Text to be simplified.

In the Layers Panel, right-click any text layer and it becomes active, and then select Simplify Layer.
After a text layer is simplified, the text is no longer text, and cannot be edited with the Type Tool.
Once simplified, the text layer is a picture of the text and can be modified as shown below.

	Another tutorial: How to add drop shadow to Curved Font

5) Drop Shadow continued
There are two ways to add Drop Shadow ... in Styles shown above in step 3), and Layer Style shown here.

b) When using Layer Styles to make drop shadow the text must be simplified.
Here the font is '42 day later,' which was imported to the computer.

The text color was changed from black to red. Then a curved font was added then text layer was simplified.
-Right click layer in Layers Panel, and select Simplify.

Then go to menu, then Layer. select 'Layer Style,' then 'Style Settings.' Put checkmark in 'Drop Shadow.' Use sliders and options to select best effect.

6) Add more effects: Filter
Background or Layer 1 is blue-green, then duplicate of background was made using shortcut at top of Layers Panel.
Then gradient layer was added using shortcut at top of Layers Panel, then a duplicate gradient layer was made using shortcut at top of Layers Panel, then the duplicate gradient layer was simplified.
Note, the gradient will be the color that shows in Color Picker located bottom of toolbar on left side of program. Click Color Picker to change color before gradient is made.
The simplified gradient layer and duplicate blue-green background were both activated (hold down shift key and click each layer), then right-click and select Merge Layers, result is titled Gradient Fill 1 copy.
A curved font layer was added in blue color then simplified, then two duplicate layers of red text.
Top text layer was activated, then go to menu, Filter, and filter applied to top layer of text.
Then Gradient Fill 1 layer was activated, then menu, Filter and several filters were applied.

Tip: Note the activated layer is titled Gradient, and opacity is 17%. Use opacity slider located at the top right of Layers Panel to make a layer more transparent so the layer below can be partially seen

6) Change curved font layer using distort/ text must be simplified

Click on a 'Curved font' layer to activate. Right-click and simplify.
Go to menu then Image and click Transform, and choose Distort.
Using the points at each corner of Curved font, you can experiment with different distortions.
Choose Skew, and use the point located in center to slant the layer.

You can choose Free Transform to rotate: a box appears around the Curved font. Click mouse slightly outside the left side of box and this will ensure mouse is going to work on that layer and not jump down and activate the white layer below.

Go to menu then Edit and Undo to reverse any action.
Click green checkmark to approve changes, and imagine after several trys that one of the curved fonts that appear on different layers is good for your project.

A text Layer is a font. Font can be rotated using move tool, then do not click anywhere, instead go to menu Image, Transform, Skew, use point in center to change angle of text, then click green arrow to confirm.

-Additional feature #5: Flip Text, or any layer, upside down or reverse: Go to menu, Image, Rotate, Flip layer horizontal or vertical.

Text layer does not have to be simplified

7) Add Effects to a simplified text layer Larger image
>The brick image started as Text.
>Text was Warped.
>Fig-14 #1&2 Styles were added to text.

>The Text was simplified.

>Fig-14 #3 Click fx so Effects are selected.
>Fig-14 #4, choose Filters, Styles, or Effects.
>Each action adds over top of previous action.
>Fig-14 #5, shows Brick Wall option among Styles.

-Additional feature #6: Not shown: Use Marquee tool or Lasso tool to select part of a simplified text, then apply Effect and it will add Effect to the selected part of image. Go to menu, and click Inverse and apply second Effect to other half of image. When finished, click Deselect to remove Lasso.

8) Save work
Drag unnecessary layers up to trash can icon at top of Layers Panel, or turn off eyeball so they don't appear in workspace.
Then go to File, Save, and this will save the .psd file so you can experiment or edit later.

At this point, crop the image as needed. Select Crop tool and draw rectangle around the curved text, click green checkmark to approve crop.
Then go to File, Save for Web, choose JPG, High quality, Optimized, choose width (For example, 600 px for eBook), and then Save.
The result is an image of your curved text.

Other effects:
More effects are possible, and here are some ideas to get started...

Go to menu then Filter, and try different Filter effects.

Hold down mouse on the picture of a font in Layers Panel, not the blue part of layer, and click Ctrl key at same time. Marching ants appear around all the letters in the word.
Go to menu then Layers and create new blank layer. Not a duplicate layer, but a blank layer.
Use color picker and paint brush located on tool bar to add color to outline of the text.

Go to top of Layers Panel and click 'new fill or adjustment layer' icon, then select Gradient in dropdown menu.
Double click gradient layer and Box with options comes up. Rotate the gradient etc.
Right click Gradient layer and select Simplify if you want.

When finished, go to menu, then Select, then deselect. Or use Ctrl + D
If you don't like the gradient, make the gradient layer invisible by clicking eyeball.
Or use the Opacity slider located at the top above the Layers Panel, to make the gradient layer more transparent.

Another tutorial
Make image of G, or any capital letter, for your eBook.
Use a screen grab, or keyboard 'print screen,' or clip tool to capture G, or any letter.

Next, in photoshop, open a blank workspace and you can edit the G in photoshop.
Or simply type a G in photoshop and choose a size and font, like Algerian.
Crop photo with white space on either side or top or bottom of G to best fit your eBook.

Why do this? Adding a large image of any letter lets you start each chapter with large capital letter and wrap text around the letter.

Once letter is made, then go to File, Save for Web, and save the letter in size that fits project.

Example using large G made in Algerian text, 129 px tall and 122 px wide:
The white space to left of G is part of the image that was created when cropping in photoshop. Make the white space larger or smaller to find best fit.

oodwill provoked him to start making peanut butter sandwiches for the neighborhood children. It was hard with his arthritic hands, especially in cold months. And despite costing a considerable portion of his meager check, it paved a new road to heaven for an otherwise unqualified man. Or maybe not, as the next bolt of lightning would tell.

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