How to Curve Text in InDesign

Curved text in InDesign is a fundamental skill for creating eye-catching designs and layouts. Whether you’re creating a logo, print project or a digital graphic, this is a key skill to know.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of wrapping text along a path or curving a shape using InDesign. You’ll learn the basics of creating curved text and customize it to fit your design needs.

We’ll also share five helpful tips on how to make curved text look and feel natural and effective.

Create a path or shape

First, you need a path or shape that your text will conform to. You can use the Pen Tool, Ellipse Tool, or any other drawing tool to create a custom path or shape. Here are the steps to create a simple circle shape:

1. Select the “Ellipse Tool” (L) in the “Tools” panel.
2. Click and drag on the canvas while holding down the “Shift” key to create a perfect circle.

You can also use the “Pen Tool” (P) to draw a custom path if you prefer a more unique shape for your curved text.

Add text to the path or shape

Now that you have your path or shape, it’s time to add text to it:

1. Select the “Type on a Path Tool” in the “Tools” panel. You can find it by clicking and holding the “Type Tool” (T) and selecting it from the drop-down menu.
2. Click on the path or shape where you want to start adding text. This will convert the path into a text container.
3. Type your text, and it will automatically match the shape of the path.

Adjust the text position and formatting

You can...