5.5 Type Tools
Used for adding
text to images
Found at # 22 in the Toolbar diagram at left
The type mask, vertical type, and vertical type mask tools are hidden under the type tool. To access them, click on the type tool in the toolbar and hold down the mouse button. Drag across the icons that appear to the one you want, and release.
When you select a type tool in the toolbox, your cursor will change to an I-beam pointer. A small line across the I beam marks the location of the type's baseline. For vertical type, it marks the center axis that the type will be created along.
Clicking in the image will open the Type tool's dialog box [see below]. You can resize this box to allow larger text to be seen all at once. Remember, that to edit any type already entered, you need to select that text in the dialog box's text box before making changes in size, font, tracking, color, etc.
Be sure the Preview box in the type dialog box is checked to select it. I can't imagine why anybody would deselect this.
Text should be repositioned before the clicking OK in the dialog box. When you move the pointer over the image while the dialog box is open, the cursor will become the move tool, and you can drag the text wherever you want it. If you want to move the letters of a word independent of each other, create them separately, i.e. click with the type tool, add a letter, click OK, and then click again with the type tool to create another letter.
To edit type that you've already added, double click its layer in the Layers palette. The type dialog box will open, and you can edit, and move that text.
Each time you use the type tool, a new layer is created with that text on it. To edit that type, double click that layer, and the type dialog box will reopen.
The type mask tool creates a selection outline in the shape of the letters typed. You can do anything with that outline that you can do with any other selection. Unlike the regular type tools, this one does not appear on its own layer. The type is added to the current, active layer. It is preferable to use this tool on an image layer, and not any type layer that you may have added previously.
You can do anything with a type layer that you can do with a regular layer such as duplicating it, changing the stacking order, applying layer effects, and changing layer opacity. However, some of the Photoshop features will not work on a type layer. For example, if you want to apply filters to your type, you will need to first turn the type layer into a regular layer. After you've done this, the type becomes part of the image and cannot be edited as type any more. To turn a type layer into a regular layer, select the layer in the Layers palette, and then choose Layer > Type > Render Layer.
Please note that the type tool doesn't work very well on 1 bit Bitmap mode, or Index color mode images since they don't support layers. If you add type in these modes, it will be added directly to the image and cannot be moved, or edited.
The illustration on the left, below, is the type tool's dialog box. When you click in an image with any type tool, this box will appear. It also opens if you double click an existing type layer in order to edit it.
Fonts have a drop down menu which will show all the active fonts that you have installed. Various style options are offered, as well as the usual size options. To choose a font Color, click on the box, and the color picker will appear. The faux bold, and italic will simulate these styles in fonts that were not created with them.
Though I know what they are, I'm not familiar enough with Kerning, Baseline, or Leading to enter values. I do use the Tracking box, by trial and error (enter a value, and see if it's enough, or too much) if the type doesn't quite fit where I want it to go. You do have to select the type that you want to apply tracking values to before you change the setting.
The Anti-Alias menu that is shown activated should be taken note of. You should try out all the options to see which you like best. Different fonts, image resolutions, and type sizes will look best with different settings for anti-aliasing.
Fractional Widths should be deselected if you have problems with very small text running together in online presentations.
The white space in the bottom of the box is where you enter the text you want in your image. It will appear there, and in the image, simultaneously. You can press Enter to create a line break. Edit the text entered by first selecting it, and then changing values in any of the menus above. Move text in the image, by dragging it with the cursor before you click OK in the dialog box.
The illustration on the right is the context sensitive menu found by right clicking in the image while the type tool is selected in the toolbox.
Please note that all descriptions, and illustrations featured refer to files which are in Photoshop's .psd format, and which are in RGB color mode. Other file formats, and color modes may generate different options. Some Photoshop features are not available for images not in .psd format, or RGB color mode. To find what color mode your image is in, choose Image > Mode.
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