How to Curve Text in Paint 3D

That is the short answer to how to curve text in Paint 3D. Below are the three methods that do work, from quickest to cleanest.

What the Text tab can do

Click the Text tab and the right panel shows every text control the app has. There are two text types at the top, 2D text and 3D text. Under them sit the font list, the size list, a color box, Bold, Italic and Underline, three alignment buttons, and a Background fill checkbox.

That is the full list. There is no curve, arc, bend or path setting. The only curve tools in the whole app live in the 2D shapes tab, and they draw lines, not text.

Two things the Text tab can do help us here. A text box can be rotated while you are still typing in it. And each 3D text item stays a separate object you can turn at any time.

Method 1: One 2D letter at a time

This gives a flat, simple arc. It works best for short words.

1. Click the Text tab, then 2D text.
2. Click on the canvas where the first letter should go, and type one letter.
3. Use the rotate handle on the text box to tilt the letter slightly. Hover around the box edge to find it.
4. Press Shift + Enter to commit it. Pressing Esc throws the letter away instead.
5. Click a little to the right for the next letter. Tilt it a bit more than the last one.
6. Repeat until the word is done.

Keep the tilt small. For a gentle arch, the middle letter stays straight, letters on the left lean left, and letters on the right lean right. Each step out from the middle leans a little further.

Once a 2D letter is committed, it becomes part of the picture. You cannot move it as a text item any more. If a letter lands in the wrong place, press Undo and place it again.

Method 2: One 3D letter at a time

This takes a little longer, but you can fix the arc later. Each letter stays a separate object that you can move or turn again at any point.

1. Click the Text tab, then 3D text.
2. Click on the canvas and type one letter. Commit it with Shift + Enter.
3. Repeat for each letter, so every letter is its own object.
4. Click Select, then click a letter. Round handles appear around it.
5. Use the handle for Rotate on the z-axis to spin the letter flat on the screen, like the hand of a clock. Hover over a handle to see its name.
6. Drag each letter into place along your arc.

Keep the view straight on so the letters look flat. The other handles spin a letter on a different axis or slide it closer or farther away, which is not what you want for a flat arc. If you tilt one by mistake, press Undo. Our guide on how to rotate and flip in Paint 3D explains every handle.

Method 3: Make the curve in WordArt, then bring it in

This is the only way to get a smooth, even curve. You need Word or PowerPoint. Microsoft's own steps are short:

1. In Word or PowerPoint, click Insert, then WordArt, and pick a style.
2. Type your text over the placeholder.
3. With the WordArt selected, open the Shape Format tab, click Text Effects, then Transform.
4. Under Follow Path, pick an arch or Circle. Drag the sizing handles to adjust the curve.

To use it in the app, save the WordArt as a PNG picture first. In PowerPoint, right-click the WordArt and choose Save as Picture. Then open Paint 3D and use Menu, then Insert, to add it to your project.

If you want the text on a see-through background, for a logo for example, our guide to a transparent background in Paint 3D covers the settings.

Tips for a cleaner arc

• Pick a simple font. Plain, even letters line up better along a curve than script or decorative fonts. The app uses the fonts installed in Windows, so our guide on how to add fonts to Paint 3D shows how to get more.
• Use the same size for every letter. Set the size once in the size list and keep it.
• Work zoomed in. Small tilt differences are easier to judge up close.
• Space letters evenly. Uneven gaps show up more on a curve than on a straight line.

FAQ

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