This is for getting a gradient to follow along your text on a path. if your wanting special types of gradients to follow in repeat mode, for a general gradient across your text, you don't need a path to accomplish this, just use the gradient tool:
1. Open your image and determine the path you want the text to take, perhaps text on rolling hills. If working on an existing photograph or current drawing, create a new transparent layer first, before laying out your path.
2. Lay out your text, which will automatically create its own layer (we won't need this layer after we have the text follow a path).
In the text toolbox, select Text Along Path:
The result:
3. Turn on both path layers in your Path Dialogs, but highlight the path layer and NOT the text path layer.
You want to be able to see both paths, but work only with the path line, using the Path tool.
Select the Path tool and move the path line so that it runs centered down text path:
4. Select your Airbrush tool and use the following settings:
Change the spacing of the brush (19) to 1:
Make sure the brush is wider than the text path:
5. Select (highlight) the text path, and click Path to Selection:
Select (highlight) the Path line layer (remember, your text path is now selected and has marching ants, but now we are going to use the path line to stroke that gradient)
Right click the path line layer and select, "Stroke Path"
Now make the correct selection (earlier you set up your airbrush for this):
Turn off your path layers (click the little eyes) and turn off your selection (Select - None).
View the results:
Stroke the text path with a thin line of black (or any color of your choosing):
This was accomplished by right clicking the text path layer and choosing Stroke Path, only this time instead of stroking with a brush, you stroke with a 2px line:
That's it. You're done! Enjoy...
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"In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."
~ Miguel de Cervantes