Creating Text Along a Path

Selected 3D text can be placed along a path and the text appearance can be adjusted after placement.

To create 3D text along a path:

1.	Select the text and a path object. The path must be long enough for the text, or text along path conversion will not occur.

2.	Select Text > Text Along Path.

The Text Along Path dialog box opens. Specify the options for creating the text along the path.

 

Parameter	Description
Text Size	Specifies text size options
Preserve Height and Width	Maintains the aspect ratio of the text, keeping width and height parameters the same as they were in the original text
Scale Width Only	Changes the width of the text to fit the path, but does not change the height accordingly (resulting in wider, shorter text, depending on the path)
Scale Height and Width	Changes the width of the text to fit the path, and then changes the text height to match (resulting in wider, tall text, depending on the path)
Create Text As	Specifies the format for converting the text
Curves	Converts the text into a group of polylines (if the path is drawn on the ground plane) or NURBS curves (if the path has a Z height or a Rot about Path greater than 0)
Surfaces	Converts the text into a group of NURBS surfaces
Extrusions	Converts the text into a group of extrude objects; specify the Height of the extruded letters

3.	Click OK. The selected text follows the path object, and the original path object is deleted.

The Text Along Path parameters can be edited in the Object Info palette. The parameters are identical to those in the Text Along Path dialog box, with two additional parameters.

 

Parameter	Description
Above Path	Places the bounding box of the letters directly above the path; “above” depends on the direction that the path was drawn. Deselect this option to place the letters “below” the path. Depending on the path and letters, the appearance of the text may be improved by switching it above or below the path.
Rot about Path	Indicates the angle of rotation about the path, using the path as a rotation axis

The path object can be edited by selecting Modify > Edit Group, and then selecting Path. The path object can be edited with the 3D Reshape tool. The direction of the path object can be reversed by clicking Reverse Direction; this affects the text placement above or below the path.