How to curve text for a logo, a badge or a sticker
Curved text is what makes a round logo look like a badge and a sticker look like a seal. It's quick to do once you know a few tricks about spacing and size.
Curve a line
- Open the curved text generator and press Curve your text.
- Double-click the text to type your own words. It lies straight while you type and bends again when you're done.
- Press Effects and move Curve: right for an arch, left for a smile.
The letters keep their size and spacing as they bend, and the box around the text grows to fit the curve.
Make a round badge
A classic badge has the name arched over the top and a second line, such as a place or a year, smiling along the bottom.
- Make the top line, curved as an arch, say +60.
- Duplicate it, change the words, and curve it the other way, -60.
- Move the second line down until both sit on one imaginary circle.
- Put a circle shape behind them, and a small icon or the year in the middle.
Tip: the bottom line reads better a little smaller and with wider letter spacing. Set it in Spacing.
Spacing and size
- Short words curve better. Four or five words is about as many as an arch holds before it's hard to read.
- Capitals work well on curves. They have no descenders to crowd the circle.
- Open the spacing a little on strong curves. Letters on the inside of a circle bunch together.
Effects bend too
Shadow, outline, neon and the background highlight all follow the curve. An outline in a contrasting colour makes curved text readable over a photo.
Download for a logo or a sticker
Choose PNG, no background for a transparent cut-out ready for a sticker print or a website. For a printer or a sign maker, download PDF or SVG: the text stays real text, each letter turned, so it's sharp at any size.
