Photoshop

Create a work path from type

You can work with type characters as vector shapes by converting them to a work path. A work path is a temporary path that appears in the Paths palette and defines the outline of a shape. After you create a work path from a type layer, you can save and manipulate it as you do any other path. You cannot edit characters in the path as text; however, the original type layer remains intact and editable.

 Select a type layer, and choose Layer > Type > Create Work Path.
Note: You cannot create work paths from fonts that don’t include outline data (such as bitmap fonts).