Setting type on a path in Vectornation by Zaweba
How to set text along a curve or line with Type on a path in Vectornation by Zaweba, and how to style it with effects for badges, logos and labels.
Lettering that follows a curve is everywhere: round badges, stamps, bottle labels, maps and logos. In Vectornation by Zaweba you set it with type on a path. The text runs along any line or curve you draw, stays live and editable, and can take the same effects as other text.
Setting text on a path
Draw the path first. An arc for a badge, a circle for a stamp, a wave for a playful caption. Then use the type on a path tool and click on the path to start typing. The letters sit along the line and follow its curve.
Keep the path smooth. Every bump in the line shows up as a jolt in the lettering, so a path with few, well placed points gives the cleanest result.
Badges and round labels
The classic round badge has text running along the top of a circle and more text along the bottom. On the top, letters sit on the outside of the curve and read left to right. On the bottom, they usually need to sit on the inside so they read the right way up. That often means using two paths, or two copies of the text on separate arcs, rather than trying to make one line do both.
Leave a gap between the top and bottom lines, and use small decorative marks or stars at the sides to separate them if the design needs it.
Spacing on curves
Letters on a tight curve spread apart on the outside and crowd together on the inside. Large text on a small circle can look uneven. Give the text room by using a larger circle or smaller type, and adjust letter spacing if needed in the Character panel. Short words sit more comfortably on tight curves than long phrases.
Adding effects
Text on a path takes effects like any other text. A drop shadow, a glow or a stroke can help curved text stand out from a busy background. Because the effects are live, they follow the text if you change the wording or reshape the path.
You can also combine type on a path with warps and envelopes for more dramatic lettering, but keep it readable. Curved text is already harder to read than straight text, and adding more distortion makes it harder still.
Editing later
The path stays editable after the text is on it. Reshape it with the point tools and the text follows. Change the wording by typing in place and the letters reflow along the curve. This is a big advantage over converting text to outlines early, and it is the reason to keep text live until the very end of a job.
If a print shop or cutter needs outlines, Create outlines turns the path text into shapes at the end, once everything is approved.
Common problems
If text seems to disappear, the path may be too short for it, or the text may be running off the end. Lengthen the path or reduce the size.
If letters look tilted oddly on a sharp bend, smooth the curve there. Sharp corners on a path rarely look good with text.
If the text runs the wrong way round a circle, try starting from a different point on the path or using a path drawn in the other direction.
Type on a path is a small tool with a lot of uses. With a smooth path and a little care over spacing, it gives Vectornation artwork polished curved lettering that stays fully editable.
