How to Curve Text in Illustrator: A Complete Guide

Want to make your Adobe Illustrator designs pop? Whether you're creating logos, posters, or digital illustrations, mastering the art of curving text can add the extra flair you’re looking for.

To get started, delve into the various techniques and methods for curving text in Illustrator. In a matter of minutes, you’ll be able to bend and swerve any snippet of text with precision and finesse.

Understanding the Concept of Curving Text

The graphic design software Adobe Illustrator open on a computer screen. The canvas displays the text ‘all new recipe,’ which is curved to match the shape of two lines. — In the Skillshare class “Adobe Illustrator CC – Essentials Training,” teacher Daniel Scott shows students how to curve text quickly and easily.

Curving text involves bending or shaping text along a rounded path in Illustrator, whether that path is along the outside of a sphere, following a dotted line or spiraling like a vortex. When you’re able to curve text, you’ll be better equipped to create dynamic layouts, add visual interest and convey messages in a more compelling way. And as an added bonus, you’ll also be that much closer to mastering Adobe Illustrator and its wealth of features.

The examples of the impact curved text can have is practically endless. It can be used for creating logos, designing typography-based artwork or simply adding a decorative touch to a design in need of a unique element.

3 Easy Ways to Curve Text in Illustrator

Thanks to Illustrator’s many tools, there are several ways you can curve text. None is objectively better than the other, but some may be better suited to your needs than others.

To cover all your bases, learn how to execute all of these three simple yet effective text-curving methods:

1. Warp

Illustrator open on a computer screen. The canvas displays an image of a square-shaped apple below green text that reads ‘weird,’ which the user has curved into an arched shape. — In the Skillshare class “Warp Shapes & Text in Adobe Illustrator - A Graphic Design for Lunch™ Class,” teacher Helen Bradley uses the Warp tool’s settings to customize the way a snippet of text curves.

Illustrator’s Warp tool makes it possible to easily distort and manipulate just about any object, including text. To curve text with the Warp tool, follow these four steps:

Select the text you want to curve.
Go to Effect > Warp (or press Shift + R on your keyboard), then select the warp style of your choice—if you’re not sure which to use, try Arc or Wave to get started.
Adjust the settings to customize the curvature of the text.
Click the ‘OK’ button to apply the warp effect.

2. Envelope Distort

Illustrator open on a computer screen. The canvas displays a pink heart which contains the word ‘love’ written in black letters. — Bradley uses the Envelope Distort tool to perfectly fit text inside an asymmetrical heart shape.

Envelope Distort offers more flexibility in shaping text along custom paths, especially when you’re trying to fit text inside an irregular shape. Here's how to use Envelope Distort to curve text within any shape:

Create a shape using the tool of your choice (or digitize one of your sketches and use that as your shape instead).
Add your desired text, then place it beneath the shape you created in the previous step.
Navigate to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object.
Make any necessary adjustments to ensure your design looks just right.

3. Type on a Path

Illustrator open on a computer screen. The canvas displays the word ‘illustrator,’ which is curved around the outside of a circle. — In the Skillshare class “Type on a Path in Adobe Illustrator - A Graphic Design for Lunch™ Class,” Bradley types on a curve in Illustrator with the help of the Type on a Path tool.

The Type on a Path tool allows you to effortlessly add text along any open or closed path in Illustrator. To curve text using this method:

Draw a path or add a shape using the tool of your choice.
Select the Type on a Path tool from the toolbar (hint: it’s represented by a logo that looks like the letter T sitting on top of a curved line).
Select the path or shape outline where you want your text to start.
Type your text, and it will automatically follow the curvature of the selected path.

Exploring Linearity Curve: A Text-Curving Illustrator Alternative

Using Linearity Curve instead of Illustrator to create your graphic designs? You can easily curve text in that software, too. Here’s how:

Create any shape you’d like.
Use the Text Tool to create a text box, then type your desired text inside it.
Select both the shape and the text.
Navigate to the Path Tab, and select Place Text on Path.

Elevate Your Mastery of Adobe Illustrator

Learn how to round text in Illustrator and you’ll open up a slew of creative possibilities. Whether you're a seasoned designer or are just learning the basics of Illustrator, honing your text manipulation skills will only take your designs to new levels.

Want to keep upgrading your designs? Skillshare’s library of in-depth online Adobe Illustrator classes can help, no matter your skill level. We also have plenty of classes on every program in the Adobe Suite, so you can improve your Photoshop masterpieces, Lightroom edits and Premiere Pro movies alike.

Written By

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.