Bring back the classic word processor look: type a word, pick one of 16 retro styles, then bend it into an arch, wave or bulge, add gradient fills, outlines, 3D depth and a shadow, and download a crisp transparent PNG.
Last updated:
Press Enter for a second line. Up to 120 characters.
Styles
Shape
Style
Outline
3D depth
Leave it off for a transparent PNG.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the WordArt Generator
Type your text in the box. Press Enter if you want a second line.
Pick a style from the gallery. Each thumbnail shows your own word in that style.
Change the shape: choose arch, wave, inflate, peak or another shape and drag the Bend slider.
Fine-tune the font, fill colors, outline, 3D depth and shadow until it looks right.
Download PNG for a transparent image, or Copy image to paste it straight into a document or slide.
Which WordArt shape should I use?
Shape
What it does
Works well for
Arch up
Places the letters along the top of a circle, each letter turned to follow the curve
Badges, stickers, club names above a logo
Arch down
Runs the text along the bottom of a circle
The lower half of a circular badge or seal
Curve up / Curve down
Bends the baseline into a smile or frown while letters stay upright
Headings, banners, party signs
Wave / Double wave
Moves the letters up and down along one or two sine waves
Fun titles, beach and summer themes
Inflate / Pinch
Makes the middle letters taller (bulge) or shorter (squeeze)
Bubble letters, cartoon titles
Grow right / Grow left
Letters get taller toward one end, like text seen in perspective
Movie-style titles, sale banners
Peak
Raises the top edge to a point in the middle
Mountain, camping and adventure themes
How the effects are made
The text is first drawn flat on a canvas with its fill and outline. The shape is then applied as a warp. Column shapes (waves, curves, inflate, peak) move and stretch each 1-pixel column of the flat text vertically. Arches use a polar mapping: the horizontal position becomes an angle on a circle and the vertical position becomes the distance from the center, so letters fan out naturally around the arc. Gradients are applied before the warp, which is why a top-to-bottom gradient follows the curve of the letters.
The 3D side is built by stacking copies of the warped silhouette, one pixel apart in the chosen direction, with copies further back drawn a little darker. The shadow is a blurred copy offset in the same direction as the 3D side, so the light always seems to come from the same place.
Tips for great-looking word art
Use heavy fonts. Impact and Arial Black hold up best when text is bent, outlined and extruded. Thin fonts can look broken at strong bends.
Keep it short. One to three words read best. For arches, more letters need a stronger bend to look round.
Contrast the outline. A dark outline around a light gradient (or the other way around) keeps letters readable over any background.
Match the 3D color to the fill. A darker shade of the main color looks solid; a contrasting color looks more retro and playful.
Need it bigger? Raise the Size slider before downloading instead of enlarging the PNG later, so edges stay sharp.
Frequently asked questions
What is WordArt?
WordArt is the name for the decorative text effects that became popular in word processors in the 1990s: words bent into arches and waves, filled with gradients and given a 3D side. This generator recreates that retro look in your browser and saves it as an image you can use anywhere.
Is the PNG background transparent?
Yes. By default the download is a PNG with a transparent background, so you can place the word art over photos, slides or colored backgrounds. Turn on Background color if you want a solid background instead.
How do I put the WordArt into Word, Google Docs or PowerPoint?
Click Copy image and paste it into your document, or click Download PNG and insert the file as a picture. Because the background is transparent, it blends into any page color.
How do I make text curve in a circle?
Choose Arch up (text on top of a circle) or Arch down (text along the bottom) and drag the Bend slider to the right. At 100% the text wraps almost all the way around the circle.
Why does my font look different from the preview on another computer?
The generator uses fonts installed on your device, such as Impact, Arial Black or Georgia. If a font is missing, your browser substitutes a similar one. The downloaded PNG always matches what you see in the preview, so the image looks the same everywhere.
How large is the downloaded image?
The size depends on the text and the Size slider. At the default size a single word is roughly 700 to 1,000 pixels wide. Increase the Size slider for a sharper, larger image; very long texts are scaled down automatically to stay under about 4,200 pixels wide.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. All drawing happens with the canvas in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.