Curved text is a quick way to elevate magazine layouts, posters, infographics, and more. Learn how to curve text in InDesign.
Whether you’d like to arch text, curve it along a wave, or thread it along a totally customized shape, InDesign makes it easy. You’ll first create a path and then type your words along that path. Here’s how.
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Video Tutorial: Curving Text in InDesign
If you prefer live-action instructions, check out this quick tutorial on how to curve text in InDesign.
How to Curve Text in InDesign
Step 1: Launch your current InDesign project and create a path. To do so, in the Tools panel, click and hold over the Rectangle tool to bring up a submenu, and then click on the Ellipse tool.
Step 2: Now, click and drag on your project to draw an ellipse, or hold down the Shift key while dragging to create a perfect circle. We’ll be using this shape as our path, so that the text can follow along the curve. (Make sure the shape has no stroke or fill so that it remains invisible.)
Step 3: Go back to the Tools panel and choose the Type tool (it looks like a T). Click and hold to bring up a submenu, and then select the Type on a Path tool. Hover anywhere along the path until you see a small plus sign (+) appear and then click to start typing. (If you’ve already typed something out, paste the text with Ctrl/Cmd+V.)
Step 4: When you start typing along a circular path, the text will curve around the circle. If you’re not happy with the text’s start and end points, choose the Selection tool from the Tools panel (it looks like a black arrow), and then click on the shape to select it. You should see a box appear around the shape. Now, click and drag on one of the box’s corners to rotate your shape in either direction, and your text will rotate along with it.
How to Curve Text in Both Directions
Using the same circular shape as a guide, you can also create multiple lines of text that go in different directions. Here’s how:
- Click on your shape with the Selection tool, and you’ll see a tiny blue dot in the center of the selection box.
- Go back to the Tools panel and select the Ellipse tool again. From the center point of your original circle, Shift+Alt+click and drag outwards to create a second circle. (It can be larger, smaller, or the same size as your original shape, depending on where you need the second line of text to go.)
- Select the Type on a Path tool, hover over your second circle until you see the plus sign (+), and then click to start typing.
- Adjust the placement of your new text by highlighting the words and right-clicking to bring up a submenu. Select Type on a Path > Options, and then adjust the settings (especially Flip and Align) until the text looks perfect.
Cover image via tmn art.
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