Problem with reversing path with text on curve

[imlost]

Hi,

I'm trying to reverse the path for some text I'm placing around the bottom of a circle. I've successfully placed the text around the top of the circle, but the option for reversing the path is grayed-out, so I'm stuck.
I can really use some help. ...Frustrated.

Thanks,
Mike

[LeviFiction]

Two things.

1) Make sure you've converted the Ellipse (circle) to a Path. Objects -> Convert to Path

2) Make sure the Path is selected specifically in the Layers palette with the pen tool selected. This won't work with the pick tool.

[imlost]

I know that the ellipse is converted to a path, because when I place my cursor close to the edge of the circle, it changes to a "T" with a curve shown next to it.

With the pen tool selected and the ellipse selected in the Layers menu, I choose "Objects", then "Edit". The options under "Edit" are all grayed-out, including "Reverse Path".

[LeviFiction]

The cursor will change to a T with a curve when you hover the text tool over any vector. So that actually means nothing other than that the circle is a vector.

Select the circle and go up to your Objects menu. IF "Convert to Path" is greyed out then then it's a path. If it's available then it's not a path.

You can also look at the symbol in the layers palette. A path layer looks like a blob. The Symmetric Shape layer looks like a star. The Rectangle looks like a rectangle the ellipse looks like an ellipse text looks like a "T."

So I would double check

[imlost]

When you say "select", I'm assuming you mean that the layer is chosen in the Layers menu. It is highlighted, so I'm assuming it is selected.
In the Objects menu, "Convert to a Path" is greyed-out.
I know that the ellipse has been converted to a path, because I am able to enter text on a curve when this ellipse is selected in the Layers menu.

[photodrawken]

You need to ensure that you've selected the ellipse and not just its vector layer. Expand the vector layer to see the ellipse itself.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

This is what you want:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[LeviFiction]

Thank you for the picture reference Ken.

Imlost - Again, text on a path is not only for paths. I can put text on a curve on a rectangle, an ellipse, and a symmetric object. These are not paths but still can have text on a curve added to them.

Text on a curve is not proof of the object being converted to a path. If you have not manually converted the ellipse to a path then it is not a path.

[imlost]

Ken,
Thanks for showing me that. I did not have the ellipse selected. OK, now that it is selected, I click on the pen tool, then go up to "Objects" and "Edit' and I can now choose "Reverse Path". After I do that, I click on the font tool and then click inside the ellipse. ...The font is still going in the wrong direction! What am I doing wrong? I feel so incredibly stupid right now.

[Kathy_9]

This is not an area I excel in but I do remember seeing a good tutorial that explains it.

http://www.michelespaintshop.com/psp-text-on-curve.php

[photodrawken]

imlost,

What, exactly, are you trying to achieve? If you can find a sample and post it, we can give instructions.

If you want something like this:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
be aware that you need to create two circles (by simply duplicating the original circle) -- one used for the text at the top, and another circle with its path reversed for the text along the bottom.

[trueblue]

Hi,

I'm trying to reverse the path for some text I'm placing around the bottom of a circle. I've successfully placed the text around the top of the circle, but the option for reversing the path is grayed-out, so I'm stuck.
I can really use some help. ...Frustrated.

Thanks,
Mike

Here's a tutorial I wrote on text on curves that may help you.

http://creative-designs.com.au/paintsho ... curves.pdf

[imlost]

I finally got it to work. It turned out to be nothing specific to the general procedure for getting the path to reverse - In other words, I wasn't doing anything wrong.

The design I'm working-on has a lot of layers, and for all intents and purposes was complete. It's for a sticker that will be distributed nationwide, so we thought it would be good to add some copyright information - so this whole thing boiled down to trying to add a couple small lines of text. I started thinking that maybe the other layers were interfering with the function of the program. The first thing I did, was move the layer up to the top of the hierarchy. My thinking was, that if the other layers were interfering by being on top of this layer, then this would give me a better chance of getting the job done... wrong. I still couldn't believe that there was something I was doing that was wrong, so I opened a totally different file, drew an ellipse, placed text around the top of the curve, reversed the path, and successfully placed text around the bottom of the curve. Pause. Cuss. Cuss some more. I then went back to the original design, turned-off (the visibility) of all of the other layers, and was FINALLY able to get the #$@&@#! path to reverse. AHHRRRGH! The other layers were definitely preventing me from reversing the path. I'm not sure if this is because the program is buggy, or if it's some sort of built-in feature that keeps it from being buggy. Whatever - now I know.

Thanks, everyone. I read your posts (and tutorials) over and over. Good stuff!