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Spiral Text

Learn this simple technique to create a spiral text effect using the text on path feature of photoshop CS.

Start a new file, mine is 500x500.

Then create a new layer. Use the rectangular marquee tool to create a selection half of the whole canvas and fill the selection with black like the image on the left.

 

Now apply this filter to the layer:
Filter » Distort » Twirl
Angle: 999

Now press CTRL+F (or Filter » Twirl) to reapply this filter.

Now we want to load the selection of the spiral, to do this, move your cursor over to the spiral layer's (named Layer 1) icon and CTRL+Click.

See below

Now open the "Paths" pallette, it should be on the same panel as your layers, if not, go to Windows » Paths

Now in the Paths pallette, click the "Make new path from selection" Button. This will create a new path layer with the converted selection into vector.

 

Switch back to the Layers pallette, and you should see a path version of your spiral. You can even hide your spiral's layer to see your complete paths.

Select your Type tool, then in your Paragraphs pallete (Windows » Paragraphs), set your text align to "Right Align"

Then move your text cursor over to the center of the spiral until it changes to .

Then click to type. While typing, your text should follow the path of the spiral outward.

To hide the paths so you can see your text better, press CTRL+H.

DOWNLOAD PSD FILE

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User Comments

Rachel Feb/28/2010 16:39I'm working with Photoshop 4.0 and can't find "paths" palette in the Window drop down. I'm stuck at this step. Help! Thanks!
MOHAN Jan/06/2010 01:26IT IS VERY USE FULL TO ME REALLY I LIKE THIS WEBSITE
Ninah Jan/02/2010 10:58had it done in two minutes. great page, as i teached photoshop by myself i do things 'my way' this helps me a lot to do it how it should be without srewing things up! thxx
ilike2photoshop Nov/13/2009 01:36Wow, this is a great effect.
SHIRLEY Nov/12/2009 06:36This is a hard text to do. Well i don't really like it but, it's OK! $H!R13Y************
SHIRLEY Nov/12/2009 06:36This is a hard text to do. Well i don't really like it but, it's OK! $H!R13Y************
Rose Nov/05/2009 13:51That was the best 10 minutes I've has in ages. What brilliant instructions, its been so long since I'e used PS but now I remember how much fun it is I'll be playing for hours.
Leslie Sep/21/2009 20:56Gah, It's not working for me either! It just does the text like normal. And my friend can't even get to the Twirl part! Arrggghhh!
Zico Sep/15/2009 16:41Fantastic ... I have no idea its so easy to create a spiral text
mobi Jun/30/09 17:54nice work dear
sin is in Jun/27/09 00:25there is missing one step if you download the psd file you will notice that on the path is little arranged on the vortex of the spiral....
jonny May/18/09 06:48i got the same problem, i can't see my text when i type no matter what way i try it
Jaqui May/7/09 00:21No pueedo selleccionar sólo el esspiral, me trabé en la parte de Layer 1 ctrl + click... cómo hago??
Jeff Apr/18/09 06:55It does seem to take some playing around unless one is quite familiar with PS. My question is: HOW TO DO THIS IN GIMP? And a related problem: When I use the "Text along Path" function in GIMP to align some text with the circumference of a circle, all I get is a purple-coloured OUTLINE of the letters.. How to get the actual letters in a circle??
CLAUDIO Apr/18/09 02:23Help, I get this anchor looking point when I try to type in the text and can't see my text. Am I doing something wrong? help :(
CLAUDIO Apr/18/09 01:20A MI ME FUNCIONO HACER LA ESPIRAL SOBRE LA FORMA USADON FILTRO - DISTORCION -MOLINETE , TENGO EL CS3 ESPERO HABERLES AYUDADO. A VER COMO ME VA CON EL RESTO DEL PROCEDIMIENTO JEJE
whaddupyo Apr/16/09 16:15For those of you having probs, try the "Rectangle Tool" under the "Custom Shapes" Button INSTEAD of the "Rectangular Marque Tool," it took me almost 3 hours and playing w/ 3 or 4 other Tuts before coming back to this one to figure it out but that's what worked for me. Once I got that figured out, it worked like a charm!
sagar Apr/13/09 23:52its very helpful thanks
Lynne Mar/30/09 04:25It's not working for me either. It creates the path, etc, but no text ever shows up. Is there a step or two being missed here?
ediaal Mar/27/09 10:23This is not working for me.
jabez india Mar/16/09 19:59it very nice it is useful for me thank u
Sofía Mar/10/09 06:58Fantástico, de verdad!
marina Feb/20/09 22:36thanks for the tut by the way - its the easiest way i've seen to create a spiral - :)
marina Feb/20/09 22:35cOOLIO - did you make the black swirl on a new layer or the background?
Camila Feb/11/09 04:11i can't apply the first filter... some help? please!!! TY!
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