Inspiring

Answered

Is it possible to move non-path type onto a path?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
July 29, 2025
2 replies
371 views

So, I have some text I created.. then later created the geometry for the path I want it on.

Is it possible to somehow 'move' that text onto the path?

Correct answer Monika Gause

I've tried w/ both Area Type and Point Type. In neither case can I discern a set of steps to 'move' the type to the path, other than @Monika Gause 's suggestion.

It seems as though @Bobby Henderson is indicating that perhaps @creative explorer is omitting the need of an plugin to achieve this?

Text on a path and reform text are two different things: https://youtu.be/Njs6G_TsSNA

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Select your text with the text tool.

Then copy

Then click on the other path with the text tool. If it's a closed path, you have to Alt-click.

Then paste the text.

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DoYouLikeHamAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks, @Monika Gause - I was able to do it with these steps.... though, not really modifying the existing text as I was hoping (and as @creative explorer states is possible and a common task), but rather, creating a new copy leaving me to have to delete the original. If I use 'cut' instead of 'copy', it leaves an empty text object.

B

Bobby Henderson

Community Expert

Are you trying to apply an Area Type object to a path? It kind of looks like that in the example image you posted earlier.

Astute Graphics' Reform Text effect sort of works in the manner you're describing. An existing Point Type string of lettering can be selected and a target object selected. The Reform Text effect will visually move the string of lettering onto the target object. But the original copy is made invisible and left in its original position. If the effect is expanded the original string of text will disappear and the remaining lettering on the path will be raw paths rather than live text.

creative explorer

Community Expert

@DoYouLikeHam Yes, you absolutely can "move" existing text onto a path in Illustrator! It's a common task, and while you don't literally "move" the text object in a drag-and-drop sense onto the path, you apply the "Type on a Path" functionality to your existing text.

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DoYouLikeHamAuthor

Inspiring

@creative explorer -

How does one "apply the "Type on a Path" functionality to your existing text"?

If I select the Text, or select the Text and a Path, in both cases, the Text on Path is disabled... anything I try to do just creates a new Text object.

creative explorer

Community Expert

@DoYouLikeHam Here is a video explaining how to use 'Type on a Path'

And from Adobe https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/illustrator/using/creating-type-path.html

m

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