Text on a curved path in GIMP

Question

I am trying to make some text follow a curved path in GIMP. I want it to look similar to the text on the "Galaxy Quest" posters.

I have altered the text, so I can no longer use the 'text to path' function, and I can't alter the text AFTER I make it follow the path due to how I intend it to be altered.

Any thoughts/ideas/advice?

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Answer 1

I would like to suggest that you don't use GIMP for this. I know you asked for GIMP, but this would be much easier done using the free vector image editor Inkscape, by making use of its Envelope Distort path effect.

Here's an example of what can be achieved. I have tried to show the control paths which show how the distortion works.

Here's how to do it:

1. Create some text, and click Path > Object to Path. This converts the letters into outlines so that they can be distorted. After this has been done, like in GIMP, the text is no longer editable as text.
2. Click Path > Path Effect Editor. In the dialog that opens, click on the dropdown under "Apply new effect", and choose the "Envelope Deformation" option. Then click Add.
3. Select the top blend path "Edit on Canvas" button, and using the "Edit by Nodes" tool, click on the path to bend it or move the nodes. You can click and drag the pathto bend it, and you can adjust the bend of the paths with the Bezier handles.
4. Do the same for the left, right and bottom paths - and try to position them similar to the above example

Once you have completed this, you can then export the image as a PNG from Inkscape, and use it in GIMP.

Answer 2

If you can work with paths:

1. SG Warp text can warp your text (in your example, the text is curved but also resized)

2. To just curve the text, there is the standard "text-along-path" function or the enhanced text-along-path script.

Answer 3

There is a new script that does exactly this:

• Given a source path which is the path on which you start the script (active path or else) (in red)
• You provide an envelope path made of two strokes (in blue)
• The script produces the bent path (in green) by stretching the input path vertically.

The script only deals with the existing path control points and so is very fast.

ofn-bend-path is here, and is discussed/demoed there.