Adjusting vertex and tangent controls

The following procedures provide information on working with vertex and tangent controls in the Path Text effect.

To specify the location of the vertices and tangents:

Do one of the following:

• Drag the points in the Composition or Layer window. Dragging the outer circle of a point dynamically updates the shape of the curve in the Composition window. To constrain the point to its current vertical or horizontal coordinate, press Shift while dragging its cross hair.
• Click the cross hair for the point in the Effect Controls window, and then click in the Composition window.
• Click the coordinates for the point in the Effect Controls window, and then specify new coordinates.

Note: If you have animated the position of one or more points over time, you can modify their individual motion paths in the Layer window when you select Path Text in the Layer window menu.

To move the Vertex 1/Circle Center and the Tangent 1/Circle Point together:

Drag the outer circle of the Vertex 1/Circle Center.

To move only the Vertex 1/Circle Center:

Drag its cross hair.

To automatically snap the Tangent 1/Circle Point on top of the Vertex 1/ Circle Center:

(Windows) Select the pen tool, and then click the outer circle of Tangent 1.

(Mac OS) Command-click the outer circle (not the cross hair) of Tangent 1.

To snap the Tangent 1/Circle Point to increments of 45° from the Vertex 1/Circle Center:

Shift-drag the outer circle of Tangent 1.

To move Vertex 2 and Tangent 2 together:

Drag the outer circle of Vertex 2.

To move only Vertex 2:

Drag its cross hair.