Tutorial 4: Text INSIDE a shape

I thought for this tutorial, I would show you how to do text filling the inside of a shape. (This is different that text written IN a shape - which I will cover in another tutorial soon). You can do this in ANY shape you want - heart, circle, star, or whatever you want!! Obviously, some shapes will work better than others, but experiment with different fonts and text sizes and see what you come up with. Now, this tutorial is only for Photoshop, and not for Photoshop Elements (SORRY!!!). Hmmm...maybe I will have to think of something different for you Elements folks.

STEP 1:
Draw your shape on your layout. It can be a simple circle, or it can be a custom shape like a star or heart, or even something more complicated that you have put together.

STEP 2:
Hold down the control key on your keyboard, (Ctrl) and click on the shape in your layers palette (not on your layout). You should see marching ants around the shape (on your canvas - not in the palette).

STEP 3:
In your layers palette, at the top, click on the Paths tab. Then at the bottom of the palette, click on "Make work path from selection" (4th button from the left - looks like a dotted circle with some ends sticking out - hows THAT for a description!).

STEP 4:
Choose the text tool. When you hold it over the shape in your layout, it should look like a cursor with a dotted circle around it. This means you are inside the path you created. When you click now, you will be typing inside the shape.

STEP 5:
Type your text! You might have to adjust the size and/or font to get it to fill the shape nicely.

STEP 6:
You can delete your path (drag it to the trash in the palette) and your shape.

Yahoo! Text in a shape! Again, I would love to see any layouts done with this tutorial!! Just put a link in the comments!!