A far cry from the conventional perception of photography, the modern-world usage of photographs ranges from the classic diorama to the more forward calendars, virtual cards and even the occasional business presentation. To add to the impact using photography in spheres that are far detached and removed from their more traditional stance, a well-worded caption or even a tagline work like no other, especially when they augment the theme you aim to create by using these images. Many conservative photographers and image editors had hitherto shunned this approach on account of the patchwork effect that was created by former versions of image editing software. However, this is one of the avenues Photoshop has broken new ground in, allowing a dizzying array of features that don't just present the caption in a palatable format, but also allow you to use text with an image to enhance the overall effect you're looking to create.
Photoshop not only allows you to caption your image, but also blend the text in, so that instead of standing out as a jarring addition to your photograph, it merges in as an integral part of the frame. To do this, Photoshop uses a technique called Anti-Aliasing, which smoothes the edges of the text you type, by partially filling in the pixels along the edges. What's more, you can even choose the extent to which your text is smoothened from 'strong' to make your text appear heavier, to 'sharp' which makes the letters more prominent, but not crude.
If you are working with very small text that is below the font size of 10 or 12 points, then as Photoshop specialists recommend, steer away from using Anti-Aliasing by setting the preference to 'None'. This keeps the text from being modified inconsistently, a factor that comes into play when working with images of a very small size, or of a low resolution. The 'smooth' and the 'sharp' alternatives live up to their name with the effects they bring about, but if you are looking for something in between, try the 'Crisp' option which, as the name suggests, makes your text appear decisive. To work with Anti-Aliasing, choose the option you intend to work with from the menu, which you will find in the 'Type' layer segment of the Layer Palette. You can move to this menu either by selecting it from the 'Options' bar, or from the 'Character Palette'.
When working with the 'Type' options, you first need to activate the 'Type' tool with the letter 'T'. This will bring all the Type Tool alternatives into the Options bar, all of which can be used to add or modify the text that you add to your image. Of the various tools that you find on the Options bar, the first two let you choose between a Type Layer and a Type Mask to work on your image with. If you are looking to add a relatively large piece of text to your image, you can also consider creating a Type Layer, on which you can click and create a rectangle or square to make a text column. You can then work this column to the relevant section of the image, to ensure more accuracy. And if you choose to type directly on the layer, you must remember to pay attention to the 'I beam' on the image, which has a small horizontal line across it, to denote the baseline. Adhering to the baseline will further augment the accuracy with which you position your text, saving you a lot of valuable time and effort in the entire process.
While Photoshop does allow you to preview the font and the character size of your text before you type it in, sometimes it can be quite difficult to figure out what the final product's going to look like at the very outset. And if you are befuddled about which font you want to stick with for your text, you can simply fill it in, highlight in and then choose the font and style that seems most appropriate to your text and overall image. Color is yet another avenue where you can let your imagination run wild. Photoshop lets you coordinate the color of your text from character to character, or even hue your image in an assortment of colors, all within a single layer! You can either choose your color from the Color-Picker window or from the image itself by moving over the pertinent segment of the image while the Color-Picker window is still open.
After you're through with working on your image and are ready to showcase it in all its creative glory, you can exit the 'Type' mode with the 'Enter' key on the Numeric keypad. Other ways to move out would be by clicking on any other tool in the toolbox, or the checkmark in the Options bar. For any oversights you want to correct, there is always the 'T' icon in the thumbnail section of the Layer's Palette, double-clicking on which, you can go back to the 'Editing' mode once again. An easy way to resize or reposition the text is to simply click and drag it as per your preference while holding down the 'Shift' key. This prevents your text from getting distorted in relation to the proportions you set out with and if you aren't too particular about the same, you can also stretch your text out, or flatten it by not using the 'Shift' key.
As Photoshop continues to advance and develop, it also expands in the opportunities it offers photography enthusiasts of every level of skill from beginners who are exploring new avenues to experts who seek challenge to rein their creativity. Learning your way about this software can seem an uphill task, in view of the expansive features that it boasts of, and all the possibilities it opens new doors to. If you haven't begun already, master Photoshop today and let your ingenuity startle you with the heights it soars to!
Photoshop not only allows you to caption your image, but also blend the text in, so that instead of standing out as a jarring addition to your photograph, it merges in as an integral part of the frame. To do this, Photoshop uses a technique called Anti-Aliasing, which smoothes the edges of the text you type, by partially filling in the pixels along the edges. What's more, you can even choose the extent to which your text is smoothened from 'strong' to make your text appear heavier, to 'sharp' which makes the letters more prominent, but not crude.
If you are working with very small text that is below the font size of 10 or 12 points, then as Photoshop specialists recommend, steer away from using Anti-Aliasing by setting the preference to 'None'. This keeps the text from being modified inconsistently, a factor that comes into play when working with images of a very small size, or of a low resolution. The 'smooth' and the 'sharp' alternatives live up to their name with the effects they bring about, but if you are looking for something in between, try the 'Crisp' option which, as the name suggests, makes your text appear decisive. To work with Anti-Aliasing, choose the option you intend to work with from the menu, which you will find in the 'Type' layer segment of the Layer Palette. You can move to this menu either by selecting it from the 'Options' bar, or from the 'Character Palette'.
When working with the 'Type' options, you first need to activate the 'Type' tool with the letter 'T'. This will bring all the Type Tool alternatives into the Options bar, all of which can be used to add or modify the text that you add to your image. Of the various tools that you find on the Options bar, the first two let you choose between a Type Layer and a Type Mask to work on your image with. If you are looking to add a relatively large piece of text to your image, you can also consider creating a Type Layer, on which you can click and create a rectangle or square to make a text column. You can then work this column to the relevant section of the image, to ensure more accuracy. And if you choose to type directly on the layer, you must remember to pay attention to the 'I beam' on the image, which has a small horizontal line across it, to denote the baseline. Adhering to the baseline will further augment the accuracy with which you position your text, saving you a lot of valuable time and effort in the entire process.
While Photoshop does allow you to preview the font and the character size of your text before you type it in, sometimes it can be quite difficult to figure out what the final product's going to look like at the very outset. And if you are befuddled about which font you want to stick with for your text, you can simply fill it in, highlight in and then choose the font and style that seems most appropriate to your text and overall image. Color is yet another avenue where you can let your imagination run wild. Photoshop lets you coordinate the color of your text from character to character, or even hue your image in an assortment of colors, all within a single layer! You can either choose your color from the Color-Picker window or from the image itself by moving over the pertinent segment of the image while the Color-Picker window is still open.
After you're through with working on your image and are ready to showcase it in all its creative glory, you can exit the 'Type' mode with the 'Enter' key on the Numeric keypad. Other ways to move out would be by clicking on any other tool in the toolbox, or the checkmark in the Options bar. For any oversights you want to correct, there is always the 'T' icon in the thumbnail section of the Layer's Palette, double-clicking on which, you can go back to the 'Editing' mode once again. An easy way to resize or reposition the text is to simply click and drag it as per your preference while holding down the 'Shift' key. This prevents your text from getting distorted in relation to the proportions you set out with and if you aren't too particular about the same, you can also stretch your text out, or flatten it by not using the 'Shift' key.
As Photoshop continues to advance and develop, it also expands in the opportunities it offers photography enthusiasts of every level of skill from beginners who are exploring new avenues to experts who seek challenge to rein their creativity. Learning your way about this software can seem an uphill task, in view of the expansive features that it boasts of, and all the possibilities it opens new doors to. If you haven't begun already, master Photoshop today and let your ingenuity startle you with the heights it soars to!
About the Author:
Did you enjoy this article? Interested in learning photoshop fast? Well now you can by reading this free report...what are you waiting for?
