Postage Cancellation Mark using Text on a Path

I found this method works well for me. It enabled me to place my text very accurately and I was also left with a template that I could use again and again.

The resulting postmark will be close to an inch in diameter at 300 ppi but can easily be enlarged or reduced without degradation. 

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New image white raster background 400 X 400 at 300 ppi

Turn on grid [View Grid] set at 50 pixels vertically and horizontally

Select Ellipse tool> circle Background null, Foreground Black #000000 Line width 3 pixels and draw a circle starting with your cursor at 50, 50 and ending at 350, 350 Check that the circle is centred.

Edit> Copy this layer. Edit> Paste as a new layer and Image resize [all layers unchecked] 90%

Objects > Convert to path. Rename layer Circle one.

 Again Edit> paste as a new layer - this will paste your original circle from the clipboard as a new layer.

Image resize 75% and again convert to path. Rename Circle two.

 We are going to place our text neatly between these 2 latter circles, leaving a gap between the text and outer circle.

Make sure your uppermost layer [smallest circle] is selected and choose your text tool.

Foreground null and background black #000000. Find a suitable Font, size 35-36.  A Blocky fonts work best. I used Bodini MT with alignment centre.

Make sure also that your text "Offset Setting" is set at 0. [Often this setting is obscured on the extreme right hand side of the toolbar.]

Place your cursor as close to "12 o'clock" as you can.

 Type your text. 

 Click apply and carefully shift to horizontal centre if it is a bit out of plumb using the grid lines as a guide :) The text may slightly rotate as you move it.

Now return to the first inner circle [Circle one] on the layer below and making sure that the circle layer itself is selected use your pen tool to edit the path to go in an anticlockwise direction. Right click and "Reverse Path"

Select text tool and with cursor in "6 o'clock" position type text using the same settings. Zoom in and carefully centre as before. [The text will slide into position nicely]

Now turn off the visibility of both inner circles:

New Vector Layer and print time and date in the Centre:

You can make sure it is centred perfectly by Objects>align> centre in canvas.

This is how it will appear on a printed page at 300ppi:

Save your image as a .pspimage and then you can edit size and any of the text and materials as you wish. I suggest that you use an installed font if you do so.

 I usually prefer a grungy look when using in an image – achieved by using materials with texture.

I also like using a cancellation stamp as a label :) – it is very adaptable J