Get Creative: Wrapping Text Around Irregular Shapes
Photoshop enthusiasts, prepare to be amazed! Ever wanted to wrap text around shapes, no matter how irregular or quirky they are? Well, we’re diving headfirst into this exact technique today. This is a game-changer for those of you who want to elevate your design skills and give your creations that extra touch of professionalism and flair. Whether you’re dealing with simple geometric shapes or the intricate contours of a photograph, this tutorial is your ticket to mastering text wrapping in Adobe Photoshop.
Selecting Your Shape Like a Pro
First things first, you will want to choose an image that you’ll be wrapping your text around. This could be a straightforward shape—nothing wrong with the basics—or an elaborate photograph. For this example, imagine we’ve chosen a vibrant image from Shutterstock.
The key to success here is making an accurate selection around your chosen shape. Photoshop offers several tools for this, but the Quick Selection Tool stands out as a versatile choice. Simply drag the tool over the subject, or leverage the “Select Subject” button for a swift, automatic selection. To check your selection, hit Q for a Quick Mask check and then again to toggle back.
Refining Your Selection for Perfect Text Flow
Once you’ve nailed your selection, the next step involves refining it using the Select > Modify > Expand function. This allows you to control how snug or loose your text clings to your shape. By expanding your selection by user-defined pixels—let’s go with 40 pixels here—you can adjust the alignment of your text relative to the shape.
To proceed, invert your selection with Ctrl or Cmd + Shift + I, creating a new selection frame where your text will reside harmoniously.
Defining Your Text Borders
Now, let’s set up the text area. Get the Rectangular Marquee Tool, click the “Intersect With” icon, and define your text boundary by dragging over the desired area. This action sculpts a frame confining your text, eliminating any portion outside the specified rectangle for precise text flow.
Switch to the paths game by visiting the Paths panel. If it’s incognito, a quick trip to Window > Paths will reveal it. Create a work path from your selection with a standard tolerance of 0.5 pixels to maintain crisp edges.
The Final Touch: Text Customization
Text time! Access the Horizontal Type Tool and click inside your work path. Photoshop CC 2014 users (and later versions) will see the infamous Lorem Ipsum text pop up, offering a sneak peek into how your ultimate text will look. Extend it using Type > Paste Lorem Ipsum to fully utilize your defined area.
Return to your Layers panel, double-click the text thumbnail to select it, and prepare for some typographic fun. Adjust text size using the Character panel (Window > Character) by sliding the size icon left or right, achieving your ideal typography size. Leading—space between lines, is just as pliable, granting more tweaks to your text’s look and feel.
Aligning and Coloring for Consistency
To add flair to your masterpiece, change the text color using the color box, invoking the color picker for endless color possibilities. Currently hugging the right edge of the path? Let’s realign! Hop into the Paragraph tab, realign left by selecting the left alignment icon, or justify your text along both edges for impeccable symmetry.
And there it is—your text gracefully flowing around your shape like it’s casually strolling down a scenic path.
Final Words on Text Wrapping Mastery
Photographers, graphic designers, and digital creatives, wrapping text around irregular shapes in Photoshop can revolutionize how you present your images. It provides a polished touch and ensures your text doesn’t just float but integrates seamlessly within your creative visions. Armed with these techniques, your creative potential is limitless!
Whether you’re creating eye-catching advertisements, expressive editorials, or stunning social media graphics, this text wrapping technique is your new trusty companion. Keep exploring, keep creating, and let your imagination guide you through the vast world of design possibilities! Thanks for joining us on this creative journey.
P.S. Don’t forget to play around further with the alignment options to discover what best suits your design style.
