13. Getting Creative with Type
What You’ll Do
Introduction
The Type tool in Adobe Photoshop has advanced far beyond its humble beginnings. When Photoshop first appeared, the most you could expect from the Type tool was just the creation of text. Today it’s a powerful and creative tool. Not only can you place text into any open Photoshop image, you can also use text as a mask, path, or even warp text into any shape you desire. In addition, Photoshop now preserves type without rasterizing. That means you can create type in Photoshop of comparable quality to type created in Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe InDesign, regardless of the image’s resolution. When you work in Photoshop, type becomes as creative a design element as any other available feature.
Working with the Character panel gives you the ability to select a specific font, style, and size, as well as expand or contract the space between letters with tracking and kerning, or you can simply increase or decrease the physical width of the text. Baseline shifting even gives you the ability to raise or lower text off its original line. In addition, the Paragraph panel lets you create automatic breaks between paragraphs, and align rows of text to the left, center, or right, or to justify them to the margins.
When you’re working with large blocks of text, Photoshop’s Check Spelling command lets you identify and correct any misspelled words, and the Find and Replace Text feature makes quick work of identifying and replacing words or formats. You can isolate image pixels with a type mask to create words out of pictures. For example, you could type the phrase “Fall is Coming,” along with an image of leaves. The Type mask would make the words appear as if they were spelled out in colorful fall leaves. In addition, you could use a type mask in combination with Photoshop’s layer styles to create text that almost leaps off the page. Working with text in Photoshop is more than just typing words; it’s a process every bit as creative as working with graphic images.
Using Standard Type Tools
PS 6.4
Photoshop comes with a set of standard typing tools, which are controlled in much the same way typing tools are in any word processing program. However, the creative possibilities go far beyond those of a standard word processing program. When you work with the Type tools, you begin by typing some text and then controlling the text through the toolbox and the Options bar. Photoshop helps you maintain control over the text by automatically placing it in a separate type layer.
Use Standard Type Tools
Click and hold the Type tool on the toolbox, and then select the Horizontal Type tool.
Click in the document window and begin typing.
Photoshop creates a Type layer and places the text in the layer.
Important
When you work with the Type tools, the normal shortcut functions of the keyboard will not work. For example, holding down the Spacebar to access the Hand tool will only create a space at the insertion point of the text.
Move your cursor to a point away from the text, and then drag to move the text.
Did You Know?
You can create type on a path.Create a path using Photoshop’s Pen tool. Select the Type tool, and then click on the path. Photoshop creates an insertion point and when you type, the text follows the path.
Double-click to select a specific word, or drag across the text to select groups of words.
Change the text color by clicking the Options bar color swatch, and then choosing a new color from the Color Picker dialog box, or use the Swatches or Color panels to select a new color.
Delete the text by clicking within the text and pressing the backspace key to erase one letter at a time, or select a group of text and press the Backspace (Win) or Delete (Mac) key.
Insert text by clicking within the text to create an insertion point, and then type.
Did You Know?
You can edit type on a path.To edit text at any time in the creative process, double-click on the Type layer thumbnail, or select the Type tool, and then click on the text.
Working with Type Options
PS 6.4
Photoshop lets you control text through the Type options, located on the Options bar. To access the Type options you must have one of Photoshop’s Type tools selected. It is not necessary to change Type options after typing. If you know what you’re after, you can set the options, and then commence typing. However, if the need arises to change the text, Photoshop comes to the rescue with a host of type options, such as font family, size, color, justification, even high-end type processing controls like leading and kerning. You can preview font families and font styles directly in the Font menu. Font names appear in the regular system font, and a sample word (“Sample”) appears next to each font name, displayed in the font itself.
Work with Type Options
Open a document.
Select the Type tool on the toolbox.
To toggle between horizontal and vertical type, click the Change Text Orientation button on the Options bar.
If this option is selected on a preexisting type layer, the text switches between horizontal and vertical.
Click the Font Family list arrow, and then select from the fonts available on your computer.
Click the Font Style list arrow, and then select a font style, such as Regular, Bold, Oblique, or Italic. If the font family you select does not have any additional styles, this box will be grayed out.
Click the Font Size list arrow, and then select from the preset font sizes, measured in points (6 to 72).
Photoshop uses a standard PostScript measuring system of 72 points to the inch.
Click the Anti-aliasing list arrow, and then select from the available options.
Anti-aliasing creates text that is visually smoother to the eye.
Click the Left, Center, or Right Justification button.
Justification balances text created on two or more vertical or horizontal lines.
Click the Color Swatch button, and then select a color from the Color Picker dialog box.
Click the Warped Text button to apply special warped effects to text.
Click the Toggle the Character and Paragraph Panels button to show the panels or to turn them off.
Did You Know?
You can use non-preset font sizes from the Options bar.Select the current point size on the Options bar, type any point size, and then press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac).
You can change font attributes with the Character panel.Click the Character panel, select the text you want to change, and then use the options on the Character panel.
See Also
See “Using the Warp Text Option” on page 304 for information on warping text in your document.
Working with the Character Panel
PS 6.4
Each version of Photoshop brought it closer to becoming a true typesetting application, and with the ability to preserve text layers, and work with high-end type controls, that time has finally arrived. You can access the Character options without having any Type layers active. However, if you select the text in a Type layer, any changes you’ve made to the options will impact the selected text. Changes made to the active type layer do not impact any other type layers, and only the text actually selected in the type layer will be changed.
Use the Character Panel
Open a document.
Select the Type tool on the toolbox.
Click the Toggle the Character and Paragraph Panels button on the Options bar.
Select the Character panel.
Select from the following options:
Font Family.Click the list arrow, and then select a font family from the fonts available on your computer.
Font Style.Click the list arrow, and then select a font style, such as Regular, Bold, Oblique, or Italic. If the font family you select does not have any additional styles, this box will be grayed out.
Font Size.Click the list arrow, and then select from the preset font sizes, measured in points (6 to 72). Photoshop uses a standard PostScript measuring system of 72 points to the inch.
Kerning.Click the list arrow, and then select from the preset values for kerning. Kerning adds or subtracts space between character pairs.
Leading.Click the list arrow, and then select from the preset values for leading. Leading adds or subtracts space vertically between lines of text.
Tracking.Click the list arrow, and then select from the preset values for Tracking. Tracking adds or subtracts space between words.
Vertical Scale.Enter a value to change the vertical scale. Vertical Scale increases or decreases the height of the text.
Baseline Shift.Enter a value to set the Baseline Shift. Baseline Shift raises or lowers selected text, using the baseline as a reference.
Horizontal Scale.Enter a Value to change the Horizontal Scale. Horizontal Scale increases or decreases the width of the text.
Font Color.Click the color swatch, and then select a color from Photoshop’s Color Picker dialog box.
Font Attributes.Click the buttons to select additional font attributes, such as Underline and Strikethrough.
Spelling and Hyphenation.Click the list arrow, and then select a language reference for Spelling and Hyphenation.
Anti-aliasing.Click the list arrow, and then select from the available options. Anti-aliasing creates text that is visually smoother to the eye.
Working with the Paragraph Panel
PS 6.4
Each version of Photoshop brought it closer to becoming a true typesetting application, and with the ability to preserve text layers, and work with high-end type design options, that time has finally arrived. You can access the Paragraph options without having any Type layers active. However, since paragraph styles are applied to paragraphs of type, not individual letters or words, if you select a Type layer, the changes made with the Paragraph panel will be applied to the text within the layer without the necessity of making a selection.
Use the Paragraph Panel
Open a document.
Select the Type tool on the toolbox.
Click the Toggle the Character and Paragraph Panels button on the Options bar.
Select the Paragraph panel, and then select from the following options:
Justification.Click to choose from the various Justification methods.
Indent Left Margin.Enter a value to indent the left margin (values from -1296 to 1296).
Indent First Line.Enter a value to indent the first line of the paragraph (values from -1296 to 1296).
Indent Right Margin.Enter a value to indent the right margin (values from -1296 to 1296).
Space Before Paragraph.Enter a value to increase or decrease the space before each new paragraph (values from -1296 to 1296).
Space After Paragraph.Enter a value to increase or decrease the space after each paragraph (values from -1296 to 1296).
Hyphenate.Select the check box to hyphenate long words at the end of text lines.
Setting Anti-aliasing Options
PS 6.4
Photoshop’s Anti-aliasing option helps to make text appear smoother by painting the edges of the text with semi-transparent colors. When text is displayed on a computer monitor, the text is built using pixels, and since pixels are essentially bricks, the edges of curved type have a tendency to look ragged. By painting the edges of the text with semi-transparent pixels, the type blends into the background, creating a smoother look. Unless you apply a gradient or mask, text is typically one color; activating anti-aliasing can increase the colors (at the edge) by about 6-10 pixels. While this works to make the text smoother, it will also make small text (under 12 points) harder to read. The trick with anti-aliasing is to experiment with the various options to determine which one works the best, and that means occasionally turning anti-aliasing off.
Set Anti-aliasing Options
Open a document that contains a type layer.
Select the Type tool on the toolbox.
Select the Layers panel, and then select the layer containing the text.
Click the Anti-aliasing list arrow on the Options bar, and then select from the following options:
None.Turns off anti-aliasing.
Sharp.Creates visually sharp type in the active layer.
Crisp.Creates crisp type (not as sharp as the Sharp option).
Strong.Creates a heavier (bolder) type.
Smooth.Creates type with a smooth appearance.
Using the Warp Text Option
PS 6.4
Photoshop’s Warp Text option gives you creative control over the look of text. No longer are you confined to straight vertical or horizontal text. In the Photoshop world, text can be created in almost any size and shape. As an additional bonus, warping text does not require converting the text into raster data. So days later, you can access the warped text and change its font family, size, and color. It’s all about control...in this case, controlling text.
Use Warp Text
Open a document.
Select the Type tool on the toolbox, and then select a type layer in the Layers panel or create a new type layer.
Click the Warp Text button.
Click the Style list arrow, and then select from the following style options:
Arc
Arc Lower
Arc Upper
Arch
Bulge
Shell Lower
Shell Upper
Flag
Wave
Fish
Rise
Fisheye
Inflate
Squeeze
Twist
Click the Horizontal or Vertical option to warp the text in a horizontal or vertical direction.
Enter a percentage value in the Bend box, or drag the slider left or right (-100% to 100%). Bend controls the physical amount of bend applied to the text, based on warp style.
Enter a percentage value in the Horizontal Distortion box, or drag the slider left or right (-100% to 100%). Horizontal Distortion controls the amount of distortion on the horizontal axis applied to the text, based on warp style.
Enter a percentage value in the Vertical Distortion box, or drag the slider left or right (-100% to 100%). Vertical Distortion controls the amount of distortion on the vertical axis applied to the text, based on warp style.
Click OK
Using Spell Check
There’s nothing more embarrassing than creating a document that contains misspelled words. Although you wouldn’t use Photoshop if all you needed to do was create a text document, Photoshop includes a fully functional spell checking system, which at least lets you make sure all of your words are spelled correctly.
Use Spell Check
Open a document that contains one or more Type layers.
You do not need to have the Type tool selected to perform a spell check.
Click the Edit menu, and then click Check Spelling.
When Photoshop encounters a word not in its dictionary, it displays that word in the Not in Dictionary box, and allows you to choose one of the following options:
Ignore.Ignore this word one time.
Ignore All.Ignore all instances of this word.
Change.Photoshop will give you a list of possible alternative spellings. Select one from the Suggestions box, and then click Change.
Change All.Change all occurrences of the word, based on the selected suggestion.
Add.Add the word to Photoshop’s dictionary.
Photoshop continues to highlight misspelled words until the document is completely scanned.
When you’re finished, click Done.
Finding and Replacing Text
In the editing process, it is sometimes helpful to find and replace a particular word or phrase because the text needs to be changed, either in one spot or globally throughout the document. The Find and Replace Text command makes it easy to locate and replace specific text in a document.
Use Find and Replace
Open a document that contains one or more type layers.
Click the Edit menu, and then click Find and Replace Text.
Enter the text to locate in the Find What box.
Select from the following Find and Replace Text options:
Search All Layers.Select the check box to search all type layers.
Forward.Select the check box to search forward through the document.
Case Sensitive.Select the check box to search for the word in the same case as typed in the Find What box.
Whole Word Only.Select the check box to search for whole words as typed in the Find What box.
Enter the replacement text in the Change To box.
Click Find Next to locate the next occurrence of the word:
Click Change to change the word.
Click Change All to change all occurrences of the word.
Click Change/Find to automatically change the word and locate the next occurrence.
When you’re finished, click Done.
Using the Rasterize Type Command
When you are working with type, some commands, filters, and painting tools are not available. If you want to use Photoshop’s whole arsenal of image adjustment tools, you must first rasterize the type layer. When you rasterize a type layer, you’re converting the type into pixels, and once the rasterize operation is complete, the text within the type layer is no longer an editable font. Therefore, make sure you like the font family, and your text is spelled correctly before rasterizing. Once the text is rasterized, you can apply commands and filters normally reserved for images.
Use Rasterize Type
Open a document containing one or more type layers.
Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers.
Click the Layer menu, point to Rasterize, and then select from the following commands:
Type.Click the command to rasterize the type in the active layer.
Layer.Click the command to rasterize the contents of the active layer (does not have to be type). You can also choose All Layers to rasterize all layers in your document.
The Type layer is converted into a standard layer, and all of Photoshop’s painting tools, filters, and commands will work on the information in the layer.
Did You Know?
You can rasterize other types of data.Rasterize other types of data, such as: Shape, Fill Content, Vector Mask, Smart Object, Video, and 3D.
Creating Work Paths and Shapes from Type Layers
PS 6.3
When you work with type, there are certain restrictions to what you can do. You can’t apply filter effects to type, and many of Photoshop’s commands do not work with type layers. One solution is to rasterize the type layer. However, rasterized type is converted to pixels. What if you want the text converted into a vector path? Once type is saved as a path, you can manipulate it like any other vector path. A text path is no longer considered text; however, the original type layer is intact and editable. Creating a path and at the same time preserving the original type layer gives you the best of both creative worlds.
Create Work Paths
Open a document containing a type layer.
Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers.
Click the Layer menu, point to Type, and then click Create Work Path.
Important
Paths cannot be created from fonts that do not contain outline data, such as bitmap fonts.
Select the Paths panel.
Select any of Photoshop’s Pen tools to modify the path.
See Also
See Chapter 11, “Using the Paths Panel,” on page 253 for more information on the Paths panel.
Creating Shape Layers
PS 5.4
When you convert a type layer into a shape layer, the type layer is converted into a layer with a vector mask. In essence, Photoshop fills the layer with the color of the text, and then creates a vector mask to define the type. Once created, the vector mask can be edited just like any other vector shape. You gain the ability to manipulate the image as a vector shape; however, you lose the ability to edit the type.
Create Shape Layers
Open a document containing a type layer.
Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers.
Click the Layer menu, point to Type, and then click Convert To Shape.
Important
When you convert a type layer into a shape layer, Photoshop removes the type layer and replaces it with the shape layer. You gain the ability to manipulate the image as a vector shape; however, you lose the ability to edit the type.
Click the Vector Mask thumbnail in the Layers panel, and then edit the mask using any of Photoshop’s Pen tools.
Did You Know?
You can change the fill color of the text in your document.Click the Image Thumbnail, and then fill the area with a color, pattern, or gradient.
Creating a Type Mask
Photoshop has two type tools—the Horizontal or Vertical Type tools and the Horizontal or Vertical Mask tools. The former creates regular type, using the fonts available on your computer system. When you add type to the screen, the color of the font defaults to the current foreground color. When you use the type masking tools, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the selected font with the mask appearing as a red overlay. Once the mask is created, you can modify it just like any normal text layer, by changing the font, size, or even using the Warp feature. Unlike the normal type tools, Photoshop does not create a type layer for the mask; the mask simply appears in the active layer. Being able to create a mask from a font opens up all kinds of creative possibilities. For example, you could use a mask in conjunction with a photograph to create a unique fill or you could use a mask to create a chiseled look for your text.
Create a Type Mask
Open a document.
Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox.
Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type.
As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font.
Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font family, style, and size.
Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, or any other of Photoshop’s selection tools.
The mask converts from a red overlay into a traditional selection.
Move into the interior of one of the letters, and then drag to move the selection.
Isolating Image Pixels Using a Type Mask
One of the advantages to a mask is that you can create type using any fill you desire. For example, you’re doing an advertising piece for a real estate company in California, and you want something unique for the text, so you get an image of a sunset, create a type mask with the word SUNSET and then use the image and mask to create a unique fill.
Isolate Image Pixels
Open a document containing the image you want to mask.
Select the Layers panel, and then select the layer containing the image.
Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox.
Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type.
As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font.
Important
If you want a lot of the image to show through the mask, use a large, thick mono-weight font, like Impact.
Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font, style, and size.
Did You Know?
You can move the mask after you’ve converted it into a selection.Click any selection tool, and then drag from inside the selection. The selection area will move without modifying the actual image. In addition, you can use your arrow keys to gently nudge the selection left, right, up, or down.
Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, and then position the mask directly over the portion of the image you want inside the text.
Click the Select menu, and then click Inverse.
Press the Backspace (Win) or Delete (Mac) key to delete the inverse selection.
The Inverse command reverses the selection and the deletion removes all the pixels outside the mask.
Did You Know?
You can use Photoshop’s adjustment tools to control the selection.Instead of deleting the surrounding image, click the Image menu, point to Adjustments, and then click Levels. Move the middle gray slider left or right to increase or decrease the brightness of the surrounding pixels. That way the text will stand out against the original image background.
Creating Chiseled Type with a Type Mask
This technique is great for creating three-dimensional text on any image. For example, you could use this technique to create the raised text on a plastic credit card, or words chiseled in marble. The technique is simple, but the results are impressive. Using the Bevel and Emboss layer style creates the effect by darkening the upper left portions of the selection, while lightening the lower right portions. This creates the illusion of a light source falling across a convex or chiseled surface.
Create Chiseled Type
Open a document containing the image you want to use for the chisel effect.
Select the Layers panel, and then select the layer containing the image.
Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox.
Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type.
As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font.
Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font, style, and size.
Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, and then position the mask directly over the portion of the image where you want the words to appear.
Press Ctrl+J (Win) or 
(Mac).
Photoshop creates a copy of the image pixels inside the type mask, and then places them in a layer directly above the active layer.
Click the layer containing the copied image pixels.
Click the Add Layer Style button, and then click Bevel and Emboss.
Select from the following options that will give the text the appearance of being chiseled:
Style.Inner Bevel
Technique.Chisel Hard
Depth. ~150%
Direction.Down
Click OK.
See Also
See Chapter 12, “Working with Layer Styles,” on page 273 for more information on using layer styles.
Using Masks to Generate Special Effects
Using Type masks to generate unique fills or three-dimensional text are great features. However, the shape of the text is always predictable. The mask created with the Type Mask tool will always follow the curve and shape of the font used to create the mask, but not if you combine a Type Mask with a Layer Mask. For example, you create a marketing piece where you are using the word RADICAL, and you want the edges of the word to be more dramatic. You’ve looked at some of Photoshop’s Brush Stroke filters, but you don’t want to apply the filter to the image, just to the edges of the word. That’s where Type masks and Layer masks do their magic. By combining a Type and Layer mask, you can achieve exactly what you want using an image to fill type, and modifying the edges of the type without distorting the image.
Use Masks for Special Effects
Open a document containing the image you want to use for the type effect.
Select the Layers panel, and then select the layer containing the image.
Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox.
Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type.
As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font.
Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font, style, and size.
Important
Sans serif fonts, like Impact, always work best when you’re using images to mask text; however, experiment with different fonts.
Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, and then position the mask directly over the portion of the image you want inside the text.
Select the Layers panel.
Click the Add Layer Mask button.
Photoshop creates a layer mask from the type mask, and then selects the layer mask.
Important
The Background cannot hold a layer mask. If the layer designated as the masking layer is Background, move into the Layers panel and double-click on the Background thumbnail, give it a new name, and then click OK.
Click the Filters menu, point to Brush Strokes, and then click Spatter.
Modify the Brush Stroke options until you are happy with the results.
Spray Radius (from 0-25)
Smoothness (from 1-15)
Click OK.
Creating and Modifying Text on a Path
Using the type options, you can enter type that flows along the edge of a work path created by the Pen or Shape tool. When you enter type along a path, it flows in the direction in which anchor points were added to the path. For example, creating horizontal type on a path creates type that is perpendicular to the baseline, while creating vertical type on a path creates type parallel to the baseline. Once the type is created, selecting the Direct Selection tool allows you to reshape the path, and the type will change to fit the new form of the path.
Create and Modify Text on a Path
Select a Pen or Shape tool on the toolbox, and then create a path.
Select a typing tool (horizontal, vertical, or mask type tools) on the toolbox.
Position the pointer directly over the path, and then click once.
The path now has an insertion point added to the line.
Type the text you want. As you type, the words flow along the curve of the path.
Select the Direct Selection tool on the toolbox to access and modify the path by controlling the position and shape of the anchor points.
Select the Path Selection tool and click at the front of the text to move the text forward and backward on the path.
