Type on a path

[sPretzel]

Hello,

I have several questions regarding type on a path. Here is the objective: create a background box around text on a path. But I have a number of questions before getting there (if that's at all possible). The text I refer to is typed on a path (in the example, the path is a straight horizontal line).

1- How can I centre the text area to the centre of the line, horizontally?

2- Is there are way to centre the the text area to a specific point (perhaps by entering its coordinates), horizontally?

3- Can I resize the text area so that it is flush (precisely, not eyeballed) with the text on the path?

4- I can create a box behind the text by adding a fill and converting to shape, but the box' dimensions appear to refer to the object (path), not the text area. Is it possible to achieve my objective going this route?

This is for CS4.

Thanks.

[Monika Gause]

1. Set the text to align center. But then the text brackets need to be at the far ends of the path.

2. Entering coordinates: no. But again the text brackets enable you to move the text

3. I don't understand this, please show.

4. Please show.

How to create type on a path in Illustrator

[sPretzel]

Thanks for the replies.

Monika:

1- I know that but based on your answer, there is no other way than having the text brackets elsewhere than at the ends of the area. That's a limitation.

2- OK.

3- Say you have a straight line of width 1 in. You type text on the line (on the path) such as "hello" in Times New Roman 12pt which would be about 0.33 in wide. What I asked was if it is possible for the area type brackes to be flush with the typed text, sticking to the h of hello on one end and the o of hello on the other end. So the text brackets would span about 0.33in wide.

4- I guess the answer would be no. Taking the example in 3. Even if the text brackets are moved inwards towards the text, when I select the object, it is the entire 1 in line that is selected, not just the text. So any effect I apply would apply to the 1 in object , not the text only. I can' apply any effect to the text on the path only.

Larry:

What you show is what I described originally in #4, at least for the part of placing a box (convert to shape) behind the text on the path. But I want to achieve thise in the context of "type on a path", not just any type.

[Monika Gause]

You might want to show your actual artwork and maybe someone comes up with a solution.

Also: why text on a path and which shape exactly will the path have? Straight line or curved as well?

[Larry G. Schneider]

Is this what you are trying to achieve? If you are trying to use all caps, you will need to use a Transform effect to move the Convert to Shape part of the object up or down to visually center the line of text.