How to Curve Text in Illustrator

Last Updated: April 25, 2020

This wikiHow will show you how to curve text in Adobe Illustrator using the Warp option in the Effects menu or by using the Type on a Path Tool on a computer. Unfortunately, the mobile app, Adobe Illustrator Draw, does not support the features used in this wikiHow.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Menu

1
Open your Illustrator project. You can do this from the Illustrator “File” tab or you can find the file in your file browser, right-click, and select “Open With…” and “Illustrator.” This method is the easiest and works for both Mac and Windows computers.
2
Select the text you want to curve. You can create new text by clicking the text tool from the tool menu or pressing "T" on your keyboard.

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3
Click the Effect tab. You'll see this either above your project area or along the top of your screen.
4
Click the Warp tab. A menu will slide out to the side.
5
Click Arc. A window will pop up.
- Click to select the box next to "Preview" so you will see the changes as you make them.
- You can play around with the percentages here to change the curve of your text, but the default settings provide a basic arc.^{[1]
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6
Click OK to apply those settings. If you had "Preview" enabled, you will see the same settings you had set in the dialog box applied.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Type on a Path Tool

1
Open your Illustrator project. You can do this from the Illustrator “File” tab or you can find the file in your file browser, right-click, and select “Open With…” and “Illustrator.” This method works for both Mac and Windows computers.
2
Draw a circle or shape with the Ellipse Tool. You'll see this in the tool menu. You can also press "L" to select the Ellipse tool.
- Drag and drop your mouse on the canvas to create a circle.
3
Click and hold down on the text tool in the tool menu. More options for the text tool will pop up to the side.
4
Click the Type on a Path Tool. This is usually 3rd in the list.
5
Click the circle to activate your cursor. As you type, the text will hug the circle. Although this method focused on writing on a circle, you can write on any shape.
- Click the Direct Selection tool from the tool menu (it looks like a cursor arrow) to edit your text.^{[2]
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