Text on a Circle

Placing Text on a Circle

Hey there! 🎨 Ready to add a magical touch to your designs in Photoshop Elements? Let’s dive into a fun and creative tutorial that shows you how to put text around a circle—and yes, even flip it correctly across the bottom. That’s the part that stumps most people, but don’t worry, I’ll guide you every step of the way.

Project File: Text on a Circle 2026.zip

🌀 How to Curve Text Around a Circle in Photoshop Elements

Including That Tricky Upside-Down Bottom Text!

Hi, George here! In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to wrap text around a circle in Photoshop Elements, including the tricky part—getting the bottom text to read right-side up. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you know the technique!

✨ Project Files & Written Steps: If you're a member of my HTG Photo Coach, you’ll find the project files and a step-by-step written tutorial in the Project Guide section. If not, I’ll drop a link at the top of the video description—it's a great resource for learning and reference.

🖼️ Step 1: Create a New Blank File

Go to File > New > Blank File
Set the dimensions to:
- Width: 6 inches
- Height: 4 inches
- (This gives you a nice horizontal layout)

🖼️ Tip: Use Ctrl + 0 to maximize the workspace.

📐 Step 2: Add Guides to Find the Center

Go to View > New Guide
Set to 50% Horizontal, then repeat for 50% Vertical

Now you’ve got crosshairs marking the center—perfect for drawing a symmetrical circle.

🟠 Step 3: Draw the Circle

Select the Ellipse Tool from the shapes panel (left-hand side)
In the options bar:
- Choose Circle
- Enable Draw from Center
Click and drag from the center point outward
(You can use any color—it’ll be changed later)

🌠 Step 4: Add an Image (Optional)

You can spice things up by placing an image inside the circle:

Drag in your image (like the Alice in Wonderland graphic I used)
Use Ctrl + T to resize and position it inside the circle

🎨 Step 5: Add a Gradient to the Circle

Right-click the Shape Layer and choose Simplify Layer
Hold Ctrl and click the layer thumbnail to select the shape
Select the Gradient Tool
- Use a Black to White gradient (or your own choice)
Click and drag across the selection to apply the gradient
Press Ctrl + D to deselect

✏️ Step 6: Add a Stroke (Outline)

Go to Layer > Layer Style > Style Settings
Check Stroke, choose a color (I used black)
Set the size to about 5 px
Click OK

🔤 Step 7: Add Top Curved Text

Select the Text on Shape Tool (Text tool > second option)
Choose the Ellipse shape
Draw a circle slightly outside your original one
Click along the top edge to insert text
Type: Alice in Wonderland

If the text is oddly placed—don’t worry!

Use Ctrl + T to rotate the text box
Keep adjusting until it fits the top curve nicely

🧙‍♂️ Tip: You might want to reduce the font size to balance spacing for the bottom text later.

🔁 Step 8: Add Bottom Curved Text (Flipped Correctly)

Here comes the magic part! ✨

Use the Text on Shape Tool again
Draw another ellipse slightly below the first circle
- This ellipse should have its baseline on the outside edge
Click along the bottom curve and type: White Rabbit

Uh-oh, it’s upside-down? That’s expected!

Here’s how to flip it:

Triple-click the text to select it all
Hold Ctrl and drag the text inward
- This flips the baseline inside the circle and corrects the text direction

🎯 Pro Tip: Use Ctrl + T to fine-tune the angle and positioning.

🎨 Step 9: Customize Text Colors

Use the regular Horizontal Text Tool
Triple-click your top text, and change the color (e.g. red)
Do the same for the bottom text (e.g. black)

Match your colors to the image for that perfect, cohesive look.

🚫 Step 10: Clean Up the Workspace

Go to View > Uncheck Guides to hide your center lines
Deselect any text layers to remove the editing outlines

And there you go! 🥳 You now have perfectly curved text both above and below a circular image—fully aligned, styled, and looking professional.