When designing a Google Slides presentation, creating an engaging and attention-grabbing experience for your intended audience is essential. One effective way to achieve this is by incorporating curved text. Not only does it make your slides more dynamic, but it also allows you to design around elements, such as images, tables, and diagrams. This ensures that your presentation is impactful, effectively communicates your ideas, and captivates your audience visually.
Curved text comes in various forms, with the most common being either an arc or a full circle, as shown below:
Now, you might be wondering how to curve text in Google Slides. Unfortunately, Google Slides does not have a direct feature for curving text. However, you can create curved text using PowerPoint and copy and paste it into your Google Slides presentation.
If this method doesn’t work for you (maybe you don’t have access to PowerPoint, which might be why you are using Google Slides in the first place), don’t worry. There are plenty of workarounds, which we’ll discuss below.
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How To Curve Text in Google Slides in 2024
You don’t have to wait for Google to introduce a built-in feature for curving text. In this guide, we have gathered four methods that enable you to curve text in Google Slides, taking your presentations to the next level.
Let’s explore each method in detail and determine which one suits your needs best.
Method 1: How To Curve Text in Google Slides through PowerPoint
Curving text in PowerPoint is fairly straightforward. You only need to create the text with the WordArt Styles tool and copy-paste it into Google Slides.
To curve text in Google Slides through PowerPoint, simply follow the steps below:
- Open PowerPoint on your computer.
- Click on the “Insert” menu.
- In the “Text” group, select “Text Box.” Then, click on the slide to add a text box.
- Type your desired text into the text box.
- Go to the “Shape Format” tab. (Note: This tab will only be available if you have selected your text).
- Go to the “WordArt Styles” group. From there, select “Text Effects” to expand the drop-down menu.
- Select “Transform.”
- Here, you can choose from several effects. To add curved text in Google Slides, pick the third option under “Follow Path” called “Arch.” You can also choose “Circle” if you want your text to be in the shape of a full circle.
- If the appearance of your text needs adjustment, you can modify the curve by clicking on any circle on the text box’s corner and dragging it inward or outward.
- Customize your text further using the formatting tools you can find under “Font” in the “Home” tab. Here, you can change the font, spacing, color, and more.
- Once you are satisfied with how it looks, right-click on the text box and choose “Copy.” Alternatively, you can select the text box and use the shortcut Ctrl + C on Windows (Command + C on Mac).
- Open your Google Slides presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to add the curved text.
- Right-click on your slide and choose “Paste.” Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl + V keys on your Windows keyboard or (Command + V on your Mac).
- Position your curved text in Google Slides as desired. You can resize and rotate your curved text by dragging the icons along its edges.
When using PowerPoint to add curved text to Google Slides, the text’s background will be transparent by default (unless you have added a colored background to your curved text). This will allow you to place the text on top of other elements without any white portions obstructing their visibility.
Method 2: How To Curve Text on Google Slides Using Canva
If you don’t have PowerPoint, you can still add curved text to Google Slides using design tools like Canva. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to arch text in Google Slides:
- Go to Canva.com.
- Start a new design by clicking the “Custom Size” button on the right.
- Set your custom size. If you want your curved text to form a circle, make sure your canvas is in the shape of a square. For example, you can set a custom size of 500 x 500 px. However, if you simply want to add an arched text to Google Slides, ensure the width is longer than the height, such as 800 x 400 px.
- Click “Create New Design.”
- Go to “Text” on the sidebar, and select “Add a Text Box.”
- Type your desired text.
- Use the tools on the toolbar to modify the text’s size, color, and other attributes.
- Click on “Effects” in the toolbar. This will open a menu of text effects, including “Style” and “Shape.”
- Under “Shape,” select “Curve.” You will notice that this alters the shape of the text in the text box, converting it into an arc.
- Use the slider under “Shape” to adjust the curve according to your preference.
- Continue customizing your text. For example, you can apply Styles such as “Life,” “Outline,” and “Splice” to make it more striking. Please note that this is optional, as your text’s visuals should be based on your Google Slides design.
- Note: Your text’s background will not be transparent if you don’t have Canva Pro. To ensure that your curved text blends with your Google Slides theme or background, make sure to change the background color on Canva to match. For example, if you used a yellow background in Google Slides, set your curved text’s background to yellow.
- To change the background color, click on your canvas. Then, select “Background Color” in the toolbar. Next, pick the same color as you used in Google Slides from the options on the left.
- Open your presentation if you used a specific background color in Google Slides.
- Go to “Background” on the toolbar.
- Click on the “Background Color” icon. Hover your cursor over the color you used and note the hex code (the color directly under “Custom Color”). In the example below, the hex number is “#B6E9FF.”
- Go back to Canva and click “Background Color” in the toolbar.
- In the text box, type the hex number. Then, click on the color to apply it to your background.
- Once you have finished customizing, click “Share” in the upper right corner, and then select “Download” to save the design to your computer.
- Choose the desired file type and click “Download.” The file will be saved in your “Downloads” folder by default.
- Open your Google Slides presentation and select the “Insert” tab. Go to “Image” from the drop-down menu and then “Upload From Computer.”
- Select the file you saved from Canva.
- You can adjust its placement once it’s on your slide by dragging it using your mouse.
Can I Make the Text Circular Using Canva?
Yes, you can make your text circular using Canva. Follow Steps 1 to 9, as mentioned above, to create your curved text. Once you have your curved text, follow these additional steps:
- Go to “Spacing” in the toolbar.
- Adjust the “Letter Spacing” slider to the right, increasing the gap between letters. Continue adjusting until your text forms a circular shape.
- Use the rotating tool to correct the starting point of your curved text. In the example below, we rotated the text box to ensure that the letters “S” and “T” from the word “Spreadsheet” are in line with each other. (This step is optional but makes your text easier to read).
Method 3: How To Make Text Curve in Google Slides Using Shutterstock
Shutterstock is another tool you can utilize to create curved text in Google Slides. What we love about it is that you can turn the background transparent without subscribing to a paid plan. Here’s how to curve text in Google Slides through this tool:
- Open the Shutterstock Editor.
- Choose either “Sign Up” or “Log In” to be able to edit your design later on. If you don’t have a Shutterstock account, you can easily connect it to Google, Facebook, or Apple.
- Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be taken back to the Shutterstock Editor. Select “Text” from the sidebar and then “Add a Heading.”
- Type your desired text in the text box.
- Go to the toolbar and click on “Curved Text.”
- On the sidebar, choose between “Circle” and “Arc.” We suggest using “Arc” for Google Slides presentations to add visual interest to the text. “Circle” is better suited for logos.
- Adjust the “Curvature” slider to achieve the desired curve for your text.
- If the letters are too far apart or close together, simply change the font size by clicking the “Font” tool on the toolbar.
- Customize your curved text further by changing the font, color, spacing, and other formatting options available on the toolbar.
- To minimize the white space surrounding your curved text, resize your text box until it occupies the entire horizontal space. You can do this by dragging the text box’s corners outward until it fills the entire horizontal space.
- Then, click on your white canvas and go to “Crop Canvas.”
- When cropping the canvas, aim to retain only the curved text. Remove as much of the white canvas as possible.
- Select “Apply” once you’ve finished cropping your canvas.
- Set the background to be transparent to achieve a clean look and allow the curved text to be placed in front of other elements. Then, click on any remaining white space around the curved text.
- Select “Change Color,” and under “Canvas Colors,” click on the second circle representing a white and gray grid to enable a transparent background.
- Select the red “Download” icon in the upper right corner to save your image. Choose a file type like PNG or JPG, and then click “Download.”
- Open your Google Slides presentation, navigate to the “Insert” tab in the menu bar, and select “Image.”
- Choose “Upload From Computer” from the options and select the image you saved from Shutterstock. It will likely be in your computer’s “Downloads” folder.
- Once uploaded to Google Slides, select the image and position it correctly on your slide. You can further customize its color, size, rotation, and more using the “Format Options.”
Method 4: How To Bend Text in Google Slides Using MockoFUN
One of the quickest ways to add curved text to Google Slides is using a curve text generator like MockoFUN. This tool provides a dedicated feature for creating curved text, making it easy to incorporate this text style into your presentation with just a few clicks.
Do note that you’ll need to create an account to use MockoFUN. However, you can simply sign up using your Google account to bypass the lengthy registration process.
Here’s how to use MockoFUN to bend text in Google Slides:
- Open the MockoFUN Editor. Once you’re there, click “Text” on the sidebar.
- Choose the “Curved Text” option, which is represented by the second circle next to “Single Line.”
- This will add the text “Curved Text” to your canvas. Double-click on it to edit.
- A box will appear below the text. Replace the text in the box with your desired content.
- By default, the curved text will be in the form of an arc. If you want to change the curve style, go to “Curving” on the toolbar and expand the drop-down menu.
- Choose from the curve styles such as “Spiral,” “Arched,” and “Waves.” You can even create a custom curve shape. Note that there’s no right or wrong here — just go with the one that suits your design needs. In the example below, we selected the style “Waves.”
- Go to “Background” on the sidebar to make the background transparent.
- Click on the box next to “Color” and select the white-and-gray grid option.
- Save your image by clicking the “Download” button in the sidebar, represented by the third symbol from the bottom.
- Choose a file type such as JPG, PNG, or GIF, and then click “Download.” Note that if you want your background to be transparent, you’ll need to download it as a PNG file.
- Note: If you’re using the free version of MockoFUN, you must click “Download (I Agree to Give Attribution).” This means you’ll have to insert a link to MockoFUN in your Google Slides presentation. Make sure to copy the attribution link because the dialog box will close once you click “Download.”
- Open your Google Slides presentation.
- Go to “Insert” on the toolbar and then “Image.”
- Click “Upload From Computer” and select the file you saved from MockoFUN. The file should be in your “Downloads” folder by default.
- Once the image is uploaded to your slide, use your mouse to position it appropriately.
Among all the tools we’ve mentioned in this guide, MockoFUN offers the most extensive range of curve designs. This means you can venture beyond typical arc and circle curves and incorporate more visually captivating elements into your presentation.
Final Thoughts
Who says your Google Slides presentation can only consist of straight lines of text? Now that you’ve learned how to curve text in Google Slides feel free to incorporate various curve styles such as arches, circles, and waves. With curved text, you can add a touch of creativity and take your presentation to the next level.
For presentations that stand out, make sure to use our premium templates, which you can get at 50% off using the code SSP.
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