(AS Posted By PHOSPHOR)

Q: "I've created an image that has a smooth flowing S-curve. I'd like to place some text so that it follows this curved line. Is this possible in Photoshop?"

A: No, this can't automatically be done using Photoshop's native tools at this time. You could try using Photoshop 6 or 7's "Warp Text" function if the curve isn't too complex; or you could endure crazy tedium by moving each letter separately to conform to the curve, but beyond a few words, you'll be ready for an asylum.

Most people who want to do this will create the "Text-on-a-Path", as it's known, in Illustrator or in another vector-based illustration program and then import the result into their Photoshop document. One way to do this is to create a new document with just the curved object you want your text to flow beside, then open that new document in Illustrator. Lock this layer in Illustrator, and in a new layer draw a path that follows the curve. Use the Path Type Tool to set your text (see Illustrator's "HELP" for detailed instructions). Copy the text and paste it as pixels into your original Photoshop document; dragging it from the Illustrator window to your Photoshop document will do the same thing. Before you hit the "Enter" button, you'll be able to resize the bounding box around the text to fine tune it to your needs.

Of course those instructions don't help you if you don't have a dedicated illustration program or can't afford one.

There have been a couple plugins that will allow you to create text following a path directly in your Photoshop document. The best one that I've used was Extensis' "Photographics". I still use it quite often (in Mac OS 9.2.2 and Photoshop 7.0.1...does not work under OS X.x), but unfortunately it is no longer being offered for sale. The other one commonly referred to is Human Software's "OttoPaths" plugin (USD 99.00/EUR 96.11). It works, but isn't nearly as elegant as Extensis' former product.