How can I put text into the ribbons (see attachment...just a rough sketch of what I want to do) without having to place each letter individually and edit them so that they fit the curves? I'm using Photoshop 5.5 and would appreciate any advice or direction to tutorials.

Attached Link: http://www.extensis.com/support/5e.html

attached link.....download and use the 30-day trial version of extensis' photo tools. they have a neat 'text on a vector path' filter. otherwise, if you have access to any vector program like adobe illustrator or corel draw; they both have type on a path options. check that out. in case you need further help...just ask. :-) palash

text on a path won't warp the text however, so don't expect the filter to do everything for ya. Warpin' is good ol'tequila shootin' fun!

Thanks!...don't have the other app's but I really appreciate the link, I'll go get it now!

As Slynky pointed out, warping the text is going to take alittle more effort.

If you really want to push the image to the next level and make the type appear as if it's a part of the banner:
First, make your type go along the path you've created.
Second, make a copy of the type layer and "rasterize" it. (Turn off the view of your original type layer so you only see the effects done to your raster type)
Third, change the blend mode on you raster type layer to Overlay.
Fourth, select "Liquify" from the Filter menu and click the "Backdrop" checkbox to show the banner onion-skinned. (This will allow you the see just how much liquifing you need to do to distort the type enough to follow the folds and bends of the banner.)

Play around with the settings in the liquify filter and with a little practice and effort, you'll amaze your friends and family (not to mention co-workers and your boss!)

Now start pushing those pixels around!!

:)
retrocity

If you're using Photoshop, it's safe to assume you also have access to Illustrator? If so, Illustrator has a Type-on-a-Path tool, buried under the regular Type tool. That could create the waviness you're looking for, but Photoshop has a much nicer feature available in version 6 and later. It's called Type Warp. I won't go too far into it, but you can access it when you're using the Type Tool, by clicking on the button in the Control Bar at the top of your screen. It looks like a "T..." with a little curve underneath it. I doubt you'll be able to get the ENTIRE string of text to wave like that in one shot, but if you combine several text blocks, it could save you some serious work. I'd also reccomend applying the text using a blending mode like Overlay or Hard Light on the type layer if you're looking to maintain highlights and shadows in the underlying layers. For what it's worth... Questions always welcome, and anyone stumping me on a Photoshop question gets a pizza.

how many toppings?? ;) retrocity

Heheh...doesn't matter to me. So far, no one's managed to stump me, not even during the two years I spent teaching Photoshop. So if anyone's successful, they deserve a decent pizza in my opinion.

Dare this mere mortal female comment on the fact that LaurentC said "don't have the other app's". Also Adobe doesn't package Illustrator with Photoshop/Image Ready so it is NOT safe to assume that someone who has Photoshop has access to Illustrator but if they did, Illustrator not only has the text to path but Illustrator 10 added Warp to their Effect menu.

here's a question: Is it really safe to assume that if someone has access to Photoshop, they also have access to Illustrator? think hard now...

Cute lol .. when user states he is using Photoshop 5.5 and no other apps then I can safely assume he has access to that version of Photoshop and I can also safely assume he doesn't have Illustrator.

well aren't we on the same page dude. heh heh.

Really appreciated all the info guys and gals...thanks!