Curved Text

[KR@adobeforums.com]

I have read the Help menu in InDesign and it was very confusing. Anyone have really simple idiot proof instructions for creating text that is curved?

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

1. Click on the pen tool.
2. click on the canvas.
3. click on the canvas again in a different spot and drag while clicking to make a curve.
4. Click on the Type tool (hold button down while clicking) and select the type on path tool.
5. Place the cursor over the curve and click when you see a "+" (plus sign) appear.
6. press the appropriate keys on your keyboard to make words appear on the curve. :P
7. Right click on the words and select "type on path>options" for more options.
8. justify centered if preferred.

VIOLA! We have text that is curved.
I hope 8 steps isn't too much for ya! <g>

[KR@adobeforums.com]

Thank you very much! I think I maybe kind of figured it out now. (Now on to perfecting that curve.)

Also (and perhaps I should post this as a separate question, but maybe you would know the answer to this too)

Do you know how to create a drop shadow of the text? (Similar to how it is done in Photoshop.) Or, is this not something that can be done in InDesign? (Oh, I hope so!)

Thank you!

[Bob_Levine]

Object>drop shadow.

Bob

[mikewitherell_at_jetsetcom_dot_net]

Make sure there is no fill on that text frame object

Mike Witherell

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

If you right click text frame using the "Selection tool" you will also see the drop shadow menu.

The drop shadows in InDesign are ok but if you really want advanced custom settings for a drop shadowed text, do it in Photoshop and bring it into InDesign.

FYI: You can place PSD files in InDesign 3.0 or higher. Set the transparency to multiply if you want to knock out the white background of the text.

P.S.
I forgot to mention in the last post that you can change the stoke to zero on the curve to make the path invisible.

[Bob_Levine]

If you're going to use text from Photoshop, don't use PSD, use PDP
(Photoshop PDF format).

Bob

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

Oh yes, that's another thing you should do KR. If you use PDF it will retain the transparency information better without flattening and the vector text will print out a lot nicer.

Bob, is that an accurate statement?

[KR@adobeforums.com]

Thank you everyone! I think I'll just stick with the InDesign shadows, etc. (I have Photoshop Elements.) Just tested the drop shadow option and it seems to work fine!

You guys are always so helpful and you have made my Friday better!

[KR@adobeforums.com]

Wait, just got what I wanted except that line is still there. I am guessing that is what you meant by,

"P.S.
I forgot to mention in the last post that you can change the stoke to zero on the curve to make the path invisible."

Just curious, how do I do this?

[KR@adobeforums.com]

Nevermind. Figured it out! I will stop talking to myself!

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

Glad you worked it out KR :)

[Greg_Gaspard@adobeforums.com]

I love happy endings...

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

I like the Scooby Doo endings.

[Gene Trujillo]

I just wanted to add that InDesign has been able to use PSD files since version 1.