Canva is a popular graphic design tool that makes it easy for anyone to create beautiful designs, even without prior design experience. One of the many great features of Canva is the ability to curve and bend text around shapes, images, and other objects on your design. This allows you to create more visually interesting layouts and draw attention to specific elements on your design.
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Steps to Curve Text Around Objects
Curving and bending text in Canva is simple. Just follow these steps:
1. Add a Shape, Image, or Object
Start by adding a shape, image, or other object that you want your text to curve around onto your Canva design. This can be a simple shape from the Canva elements menu or an imported image. Position and size the object how you like.
2. Add Your Text
Next, add the text box that you want to curve around the object. You can type directly into a text box or copy/paste text in. Style the text how you want – font, size, color, etc.
3. Position the Text Behind the Object
Now comes the key part – position and layer the text behind the object you want it to curve around. Select the text box and use the send backward option to position it directly behind the object.
4. Adjust Text Position
With the text box layered behind, you can now adjust its position to curve and bend around the shape as desired. Zoom in close for precise positioning. Make sure portions of the text box touch or overlap the object to get the curved effect.
5. Refine Curved Text
Customize the curved text as needed – adjust individual letter spacing, font size, line height, etc. to get it sitting nicely against the object. You may need to experiment a bit to get the ideal curved text effect.
Tips for Curving Text Effectively
Follow these tips when curving and bending text around objects in Canva for best results:
- Use a high contrast between the text and background object colors for easy readability.
- Curve text around simple vector shapes for clean curves. Complex images can make text appear cluttered.
- Adjust letter, line, and paragraph spacing carefully to help text sit neatly against the shapes.
- Make sure to visually review curved text at different zoom levels to identify any issues.
- Pay attention to the flow and continuation of text when bending it at sharp angles.
- For more stability with extensive curved text, group the text and object together after final positioning.
Advanced Technique: Converting Text to Shape
An advanced Canva technique for curving text is to convert it into a shape. This allows for some unique curved text outcomes:
1. Type Text on Central Shape
Add a vector shape to your design, then add text directly on top of the shape. Style the text as desired.
2. Group Text and Shape
Select both the text and underlying shape and choose ‘Group’ to combine them.
3. Path > Convert to Shape
Right click the grouped object. Choose Path > Convert to Shape. This will turn your text into a vector shape split by individual letters.
4. Manipulate Letter Shapes
With the letter shapes selected, you can now manipulate them individually. Stretch, skew, warp, and curve letters for unique bent text effects.
This advanced technique takes some practice but allows you to curve text in new ways.
Example Uses of Curved Text
Curving text is popular for:
- Wrapping text around circular logos, icons, and graphics
- Bending text across wave or splash images
- Angling text across specific design elements
- Creating artistic layouts with text hugging custom vector shapes
