3D Text to a Circular Path. With the introduction of Gimp 2.8.0 some of the functions on placing text on a path have changed.Due to the changes I felt that there was a need to re-write the instructions on placing text to a circular path.Some felt the text was not clear so I have used the A4 template which gives 300 pixels to the inch instead of 75.Request from a Youtube subscriber asked for add 3D effect to the text this is also covered in this tutorial.

Go to [File] and click [New].Use the down arrow and click 'A4 (300ppi)

Type in the Height the same as the Width..209.97 [OK]

Go to [Image] open [Guides] andSelect [New Guide (by Percent)] The 'Scrip' may load on the the task

bar.Open (the default is) Horizontal [OK]

Return to step (3) and use the down arrow and choose, Vertical click [OK]

Your work canvas should have the Guide lines as in this example.

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Create a new layer by clicking this icon

Transparency and click [OK]

Select the [Ellipse] tool.Check [Expand from centre]Check [Fixed Aspect ratio]

Drag a circle from the centre, leaving room for text

Select the [Paths] tab and click “Add a Path” icon.

Select the [Text] tool choose a large bold font. Scale the text up to 200 pixels. Enter your text. Then go to [Layer] on the menu bar. Scroll down a click [Text along Path]

Return to the layer dialog by click the tab. Select your text and place it in the waste bin.

Return to the [Path] dialog by clicking the tab. Select the Text Path layer.

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In the [Tool box] select the [Rotation] tool.

Click this [Path] button.

Make sure this is selected.

Now rotate your text along the 'Path' so it's even at the top of the circle.

Turn the circle Eye back on and make sure the path is selected

In the tool box select the[Flip] tool click [Vertical] & click the [Path] button, Move to work screen and click once.

Select the [Text] tool and type your text for the lower part of the circle. Then go to [Layer] and click [Text along Path].When the text is on the Path delete the Text layer in the layer channel. As in step (12)

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Go to [Select] and click [None]

In the [Path] channel Turn Off the Circle path [Eye]

Right click the text Path layer & 'Merge visible Paths'

Click the [Path to Selection] button.This selects all your text.

In the tool box click the foreground colour & choose a colour (in this example it's Red).Select the [Bucket fill] tool.Click radio button [Fill whole selection] move to the selected text and click in side the selection.

Go to [Select] and click [Grow]

Grow the text by 2.

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Change colour backto Black.

Go to [Edit] and click [Stroke Path]

Line Width change to 4.Then click [Stroke]

Turn the 'Eye' off and return to the 'Layer' channel. Also turn off the selection.

Duplicate the layer by clicking this icon.Go to [Filters] and choose [Motion Blur]

In the 'Blur' dialog change the 'Length to 40 and the Angle to 30.Then click [OK]

Turn off the main text layer by clicking the Eye and the background eye.

Now duplicate the Blur layer about 6 times using this icon.

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After duplicating the Blur layers 6 times Right click the top layer and [Merge Visible Layers]

Move the merged blur layers under the main text layer using the down arrow. Turn on the text layer eye and Background.

Right click the top layer and [Flatten Image].

Go to [Image] as in step (3) select [Guides] and choose remove all Guides.

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