# How can I move a “text along path” vertically?

How can I move a "text along path" vertically? Currently, I'm using a path with modified endpoints to place the text, and then draw the actual line.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{decorations,decorations.text}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\node (p1) at (0,0) {1};
\node (p2) at (5,0) {2};

\path[
postaction={
decorate,
decoration={
text along path,
text align=center,
text={|\small\color{blue}|My curved text}
}
}
]
(p1.25) to [bend left=15] (p2.155);

\draw (p1) edge[<->,bend left=15] (p2);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


Bonus points if the solution works regardless of the path orientation (moving the letters along the path's normal, i.e. a line perpendicular to the path).

The PGF documentation pgfmanual.pdf.gz, in the Text Decorations section, says:

Each character is positioned using the center of its baseline. To move the text vertically (relative to the path), the additional transform key should be used.

transform should actually be a hyperlink to de documentation for /pgf/decoration/transform=<transformations>, which is in the Positioning Decorations Relative to the To-Be-Decorate Path section.

So if you want to just move the text vertically, use transform={yshift=1cm}:

\draw[
<->,
postaction={
decorate,
decoration={
text along path,
text align=center,
transform={yshift=1cm},
text={|\small\color{blue}|My curved text}
}
}
]
(p1) to [bend left=15] (p2);


If you want to move the text along a line perpendicular to the path, then use the /pgf/decoration/raise key, like so:

% I Increased bending and set text align=left so we can se the effect better.
\draw[
<->,
postaction={
decorate,
decoration={
text along path,
text align=left,
raise=1cm,
text={|\small\color{blue}|My rounded text}
}
}
]
(p1) to [bend left=100] (p2);


Note also the /pgf/decoration/mirror=<boolean> key, also described in the Positioning Decorations Relative to the To-Be-Decorate Path section, which puts the decoration on the other side of the path.