Fitting text to a path
Every vector object has a path that defines its shape. You can fit vector text to a path to create fun and interesting effects.

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo aligns the text along the path, starting from the spot where you click to insert it. You can also set the alignment style for the text: left-aligned text starts where you click; centered text is centered on the spot where you click; and right-aligned text ends where you click. When you fit your text to a path, you can adjust the distance between the text and the path.

Text is displayed differently on open and closed paths. Open paths are lines on which the start and end nodes do not meet; closed paths are shapes such as circles, squares, and rectangles. On open paths, text that is longer than the path hangs from the end. The angle of the last line segment determines the direction in which the text hangs. On closed paths, text that is longer than the path wraps around itself. For more information about lines and shapes, see "Editing shapes".

To fit text to a path
1. Create a vector line or shape.
2. Click the Text tool .
3. On the Tool Options palette, choose Vector from the Create As drop-list, and set the other text controls.
If the Materials palette is not displayed, choose View Palettes Materials.
4. On the Materials palette, click the Foreground and Stroke properties box, and choose a color for the text outline.
5. Click the Background and Fill properties area, and choose a color for the text fill.
6. Click the line or shape.
7. To position text on a vector object or path without attaching it to the object or path, hold down Alt and click the path or shape.
8. In the Text Entry dialog box, type the text.
9. Click Apply.

• If you want to warp the text around the curved section of a path, mark the Warp check box. If the path is not curved, the effect is not apparent. Warping is set on a per-character basis, so you can warp specific characters in a text block.

To attach an unattached text object to a path
1. Choose the Pick tool .
2. Select the text.
3. Hold down Shift, and click the vector object.
Both the text and the vector object are selected.
4. Choose Objects Fit Text to Path.

• After you align text to a vector object, you can make the object invisible. On the Layers palette, click the Visibility button next to the object.

To detach text from its associated path
1. Choose the Pick tool .
2. Select the text.
3. Choose Objects Detach Object from Path.

To adjust the position of text fitted to a path
1. On the Tools toolbar, choose the Text tool .
2. Click the text.
The Text Entry dialog box appears.
3. On the Tool Options palette, set a value in the Offset control.
Positive values position the text above the path; negative values position the text below the path.
4. In the Text Entry dialog box, click Apply.