How to Curve Text in GIMP

Curving text in GIMP takes a few more steps than you might expect - There is no single "text on path" button. Instead, you draw a path, then use a menu command to flow your text along it. It sounds involved, but once you do it once it only takes a couple of minutes.

Step 1 - Draw the Path

A path in GIMP is a vector curve. It does not print or export - It is just a guide for other operations like text.

1. Press B to activate the Paths tool (also called Bezier tool).
2. Click on the canvas to place anchor points. Each click creates a new point. Drag while clicking to create a curved segment.
3. For a simple arc: click three points across the canvas in a gentle curve.
4. You do not need to close the path. Leave it open (do not click back on the first point).

Step 2 - Flow Text Along the Path

1. Switch to the Text tool (press T).
2. Click anywhere on the canvas and type your text. Do not worry about position - the text placement will be overridden.
3. Make sure the text layer is selected. Then go to Text > Text Along Path.
4. GIMP will generate a new layer with the text flowing along the path you drew.

The result is a new floating layer with the text shaped to the curve. The original text layer remains - You can delete it or keep it hidden.

Step 3 - Adjust Position and Appearance

The text layer created by Text Along Path is a regular rasterized layer. To fine-tune it:

• Reposition: Use the Move tool (M) to drag it into place.
• Change color: Use Colors > Hue-Saturation or Colors > Colorize to recolor the text layer.
• Change starting position: Edit your path (move the first anchor point earlier or later) and repeat the Text Along Path command.
• Scale: The text size is set by the original text layer's font size. Change the font size in your text layer and redo the command if needed.

Because the output is rasterized, editing the text content means going back to your original text layer, editing it, and running Text Along Path again. This is similar to the workflow for other text effects - Keeping your original editable text layer hidden but intact makes iteration faster.

Making Circular Text

To curve text in a full circle (like a stamp or badge):

1. Go to Filters > Render > Gfig - This is a graphic shape editor. Create a circle and convert it to a path. Alternatively:
2. Use the Ellipse Select tool to draw a circle on the canvas (hold Shift for a perfect circle).
3. Go to Select > To Path. This converts the circular selection into a path.
4. Switch to the Text tool, type your text, and run Text > Text Along Path.

The text will flow around the circle. For a full 360-degree wrap, you may need longer text or a larger circle. You can also use two separate text-on-path operations - one for the top arc and one for the bottom - to get text on both the top and bottom of a circular design.

Tips and Variations

• Flip text to the inside of the curve: Reverse the path direction. In the Paths tool, you can flip the path in Path > Flip Path or edit the anchor points to change direction.
• Spacing between letters: Adjust letter-spacing in the original text layer's Tool Options before running Text Along Path.
• Keep the path for reuse: Paths are saved with the .xcf file. If you want to place different text on the same curve later, keep the path in the Paths panel.