How Do I curve text?

[gib65]

Hello,

I'm using Gimp 2.10. I assume my question should go here.

I'm trying to give an arch to my text selection and I'm not getting the look that I want.

Here's a screen shot of the text along with a curvy arrow:


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q221a59al...0hkyr&dl=0

I would like to distort the text so that it curves with the arrow, something like this (but more professional looking, obviously ):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zipzmqmk6...q8j8w&dl=0

My Google searches have lead me to using Filters > Distortion > Curve Bend... but the look I get isn't quite what I want:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nhu42ytfq...68148&dl=0

This tool seems to squish the selection around the area it distorts/curves. I end up not being able to read the text.

So I'm wondering if there's a way to accomplish what I want without compromising the legibility of the test. Something like creating a snake-like distortion, like the text follows the body of the snake in that it has the same girth at every point such that nothing is ever "squished".

Just FYI, the text is rasterized. It's not a text layer.

Thank you in advanced!

[Ofnuts]

For text, the canonical solution is to use the "Text-Along-Path" function. Prepare the text with the text tool, draw a path, then in the Layers list, right-click the text layer and Text along path.

However this is very lacking in options and not very forgiving, so there is an alternate way that uses a script.

[gib65]

Thanks Ofnuts,

Using the Text Along Path tool seems to do what I want. Is it normal, however, for the end result (the curved text) to be on no specific layer? What I mean, I see the curved text, but there doesn't seem to be a new layer in the layers list and it doesn't seem to be on any existing layer (as I'm able to hide all layers and the curved text still shows). Is this expected, or is my Gimp glitching out?

I'll also try the script.

[Ofnuts]

(12-30-2023, 07:35 PM)gib65 Wrote: Thanks Ofnuts,

Using the Text Along Path tool seems to do what I want. Is it normal, however, for the end result (the curved text) to be on no specific layer? What I mean, I see the curved text, but there doesn't seem to be a new layer in the layers list and it doesn't seem to be on any existing layer (as I'm able to hide all layers and the curved text still shows). Is this expected, or is my Gimp glitching out?

I'll also try the script.

This creates a "path". You have to fill it/stroke it to a layer (same with the output of the script...)