Text on a wavy path
by kvalentz
This idea came from  Lexy, and I just loved it!  I saw one of her tags, and decided to use it in the tut for text on a wavy path that a lot of you have requested.
Here is the tag Lexy made

STEP 1.  open a new transparent image, 400x400

STEP 2.  copy and paste your bug to the new image as a new layer.  You can add a drop shadow at this time if you like, I used these settings
VERTICAL: 3
HORIZONTAL: 3
OPACITY: 41
BLUR: 2
COLOR: BLACK

STEP 3.   select your draw tool, ( the one that looks like a pencil)

STEP 4.  in your tool options box, use these settings:
FREEHAND LINE,
LINE STYLE: any straight line will work
WIDTH:2
ANITIALIAS not checked
CREATE AS VECTOR checked
CLOSE PATH not checked

STEP 5. go to your  COLOR PALETT, and null all boxes except the top styles box, and make that one black

STEP 6.  using your draw tool,  start at the bug's butt, and draw a line that reminds you of the motion of the bug flying.  Try to keep the curves kindof open, not cramped, so your text will fit nicely.  If you start your line going left to right, your writing will be on top of the line, right side up.  If you start drawing right to left, your writing will be upside down.  You may like it that way, depending on what sort of line you drew.


STEP7.  now get your TEXT TOOL and take your cursor, and hold it over the line you just drew, until you see the little arc.  When you get the arc, left click, and your text box will come up.

Select your color, font, font size, and whether it will be outline, or filled text. FLOATING AND ANTIALIAS are checked.  I used my font at SIZE 24, but it will vary on the style of the font. Type your name, over and over, no spaces.   You may have to play with your text, either change the size, or the amount of times you type it, until it fits nicely on the line you drew. You can always undo it and redo it if you don't like it. When you have everything selected, click OK.   I typed my name 9 times, then moved the bug up closer to the last name I typed.

STEP 8.  Now go to your layer pallet, and hover your cursor over each layer until you find the layer with your words. It should be the layer that says FLOATING.   Right click on that layer, and choose PROMOTE TO LAYER.

STEP 9.  Now we are going to remove the line we drew, so go back to your layer pallet and hover over the layers and find your line, then right click and choose DELETE.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, IT IS SO EASY, and many people think it is tough, but with the shortcuts, hehe, it's not.

Another way is to add a NEW RASTER LAYER before each step, and name it, BUG, LINE, NAME,
then when you go to promote to layer, and delete, they will be named for you.  Either way is fine.  When you get into a project that uses a lot of layers, naming them is the easiest way to work with them.