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Jamie_Steel
Known Participant
November 4, 2016
Answered

Reversing Text on a mirrored Path

  • November 4, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 26520 views

Hi,

I am having a nightmare trying to essentially flip text that has been mirrored. I am working on creating machinery stickers, it is a symmetrical design on either side so I have mirrored the template, this is when my problem with the text path occurs.

I have text on a curved line, when I try and flip the text round in the 'Type on a Path' options all it does is flip the text to the other side of the path baseline.

When I select flip with the scewed option I get something that is relative to what I am looking for - but with scewed text (see below).

Is there anyway to invert the text so it does not read back to front without having to try and create a new path? Mirroring the templates is a must - but surely there must be an easier way?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jamie

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer MichaelStephens

As far as I know, once you add text to a path there isn’t a way to get the path back through a command. However, you can create a duplicate of the path that doesn’t retain the mirrored text attributes.

I created a path, used the Text on a path tool to add the text “Text on a path,” mirrored it and now have the following:

Use your direct selection tool to select just the path.

Press Ctrl+ C to copy the path, press Ctrl+ Shift+ V to paste in place, select the original text-on-path shape, and delete it. Now you’ll have a stroke that’s exactly where the old path was but it doesn’t have any of the text properties applied to it. (I’ve added a color to the stroke so you can see it in the image below.)

Select your type on a path tool again, click on the new path and add your text again.

The text will be upside down, so go into your Type on a Path Options and turn on the Flip option.

Now you can change the text alignment and your text will be on a mirrored path but right reading.

Ideally, mirroring the path prior to using the Type on a Path tool is the better option, but this will give you a way to do this if you’ve already used the tool.

2 replies

A
Astronomie-Québec
Known Participant
November 29, 2019

Hmm… I don’t know if it’s the new version of InDesign (I’m running ID 2020), but it doesn’t work for me… (MacOS)

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 29, 2019

"Hmm… I don’t know if it’s the new version of InDesign (I’m running ID 2020), but it doesn’t work for me… (MacOS)"

This is the Illustrator forum.

    MichaelStephens
    MichaelStephensCorrect answer
    Legend
    November 4, 2016

    As far as I know, once you add text to a path there isn’t a way to get the path back through a command. However, you can create a duplicate of the path that doesn’t retain the mirrored text attributes.

    I created a path, used the Text on a path tool to add the text “Text on a path,” mirrored it and now have the following:

    Use your direct selection tool to select just the path.

    Press Ctrl+ C to copy the path, press Ctrl+ Shift+ V to paste in place, select the original text-on-path shape, and delete it. Now you’ll have a stroke that’s exactly where the old path was but it doesn’t have any of the text properties applied to it. (I’ve added a color to the stroke so you can see it in the image below.)

    Select your type on a path tool again, click on the new path and add your text again.

    The text will be upside down, so go into your Type on a Path Options and turn on the Flip option.

    Now you can change the text alignment and your text will be on a mirrored path but right reading.

    Ideally, mirroring the path prior to using the Type on a Path tool is the better option, but this will give you a way to do this if you’ve already used the tool.

      L
      lkreisz
      Participant
      May 26, 2018

      Thanks Michael, this worked for me! Great instructions BTW. I appreciate the time you put into this for us newbies.

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