Focused workflow comparison
A focused look at Canva's documented curve controls when words need to follow an irregular route on a photo.
Text Brush
Draw the precise route first; the phrase follows it.
Canva
Controls before the route
Text Brush starts with the route itself: draw on the picture, then the words follow that line.
Try Text BrushFor text that needs to trace a fingertip-sized, uneven route over a photo, an effect and pointer controls add a positioning step after the wording is chosen.
Add text
Choose Curve or TypeCraft
Adjust the curve or pointers
We reviewed each product's own documentation for one narrow task: placing exact words along an irregular, hand-drawn route over a photo. Last reviewed July 2026.
Canva documents a Curve effect for arches and curves. Its optional TypeCraft tool bends or warps text with movable pointers.
Documented workflow
The drawing work is open source.
Explore the brush/photo/video drawing project behind this route-led workflow.
