PSE 10 - text paths

[lagtn]

Does anyone know where I can find instruction to use the text paths now on PSE 10? I tried it, but have not had much success in making a fluid path -- mine are very irregular lines.

[Loretta]

I'm going to add to this thread as I've had the same problem. I've tried to watch YouTube videos but most have not been overly helpful, so for now that feature is not getting used on my PSE10. Would love some help.

[lagtn]

thanks Loretta -- now I don't feel so alone

That was a main reason I upgraded to PSE 10 so was frustrated and disappointed when I had such dismal results.

[dmrdm]

Linda had a discussion on it...scroll down to TYPE ON A PATH on this page. She has a video on it also and there is a link to it in the thread.

It's not exactly the same as Photoshops so it's not as functional.

What exactly are you trying to do? Could you explain the situation? Maybe we can have people offer some tips. I played with a long time ago and didn't have too bad of results or maybe the Tip of the Week (new name-Digi Scrap Tutorial) people might be inclined to do a segment on it in the future to help out. I do remember that if you had real wavey lines it didn't work well. Scrunched stuff up too much.

[Linda Sattgast]

I just finished the videos on the new Type tools for my Learn Digital Scrapbooking class. They should be uploaded by the end of the week. Which tool did you try to use?

[Loretta]

I just finished the videos on the new Type tools for my Learn Digital Scrapbooking class. They should be uploaded by the end of the week. Which tool did you try to use?

I've tried using the 'texts on a custom path' and just couldn't figure it out. I watched a YouTube video (can't remember where it was from-maybe Adobe) and it helped some, but it wasn't enough and it didn't make sense for all of it. If we've taken the Learn Digital Scrapbooking class will we have access to the videos as a former member?

[Ruth316]

I was wondering the same. Glad you asked.

[Linda Sattgast]

I've tried using the 'texts on a custom path' and just couldn't figure it out. I watched a YouTube video (can't remember where it was from-maybe Adobe) and it helped some, but it wasn't enough and it didn't make sense for all of it. If we've taken the Learn Digital Scrapbooking class will we have access to the videos as a former member?

I'll be putting the new type tutorials in the current Learn Digital Scrapbooking class this week, hopefully, but not in the one from November 2010, since it was a teacher led class that ended on a certain date. The type was really the only new thing for PSE 10, so it didn't seem logical to completely redo the current class for that, so instead, I'll just add the type tutorials to the current class which is self-paced and doesn't end on a certain date.

However, let me give you some tips on how to use the Text on a custom path:

• Zoom in close. The farther you are zoomed out the bumpier the path, in my experience.

• Draw shorter segments and then continue the segment by clicking and dragging near the end of the path. PSE will add the two segments together. It's much easier than trying to draw the entire path at once.

• The thing that makes the path bumpy is all the points on the path, so remove as many as you can. To do that, click on the path to activate it. You will then see the points. (If you don't see the points, then click on the Refine Path icon next to the Pencil in the Options Bar before clicking on the path.) Press Alt (Mac: Opt) to get a minus sign next to the Pen tool cursor. Click on a point to delete it.

• Adjust the points OR the segments (lines between points) by clicking and dragging on them with the Pen tool.

• If you need to add a point, press Shift and click on the path.

• Occasionally I run across a segment that refuses to be adjusted! I'll click and drag on it, but instead of it moving, I'll get an extra line sticking out. I've found that Ctrl/Cmd Z or the Undo History panel will not let me undo it, so here's how to get around it: Click on the Cancel button in the Options Bar, then click on a prior history state in the Undo Hx panel. That will take you back and you can continue on from there.

I think I figured out why a segment refuses to be adjusted—If you drew the path using more than one pen stroke, the first segment where you added on seems to be the problem. You can work around it by adjusting the other segments, or you can delete the connecting anchor point, and then it seems to work fine.

• When you're satisfied, click on the check mark in the Options Bar.

Let me know how it goes!

[Loretta]

Thanks Linda. I'll try this in the next few days and see if I can figure it out. I appreciate your instructions, now the trick is if I can do it!