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On Day 14 we’ll cover how to use the type tool in Photoshop! We’ll show you how to add, format, and style text, including choosing fonts and adjusting letter and line spacing. We’ll also explore the new Dynamic Text feature that automatically adjusts text to fit a specific area, and how to place text behind objects in your image.
Follow along with all 30 episodes as we explore the the magic of Photoshop together!
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AFTER
BEFORE
Beyond Basic Text
Adding text to a photo is a great way to help communicate more information, and the Type Tool in Photoshop makes it easier than ever to integrate text into your images! We’ll show you everything you need to know about the Type Tool, from basic text formatting to leveraging the powerful new Dynamic Text feature that streamlines your workflow and ensures your text always looks its best.
Adding & Formatting Text
1. To begin, select the Type Tool by pressing T on your keyboard. Once selected, a new toolbar will appear at the top, allowing you to choose your font, font weight, size, and alignment.
2. Click anywhere on your canvas to create a text layer and begin typing. For example, you can type “explore the unknown.” You can adjust the alignment and other basic settings as you type.
3. To commit the changes, click the checkmark icon in the options bar.
4. For more advanced formatting options, open the Character menu by going to Window > Character. This panel gives you granular control over your text, including leading (the space between lines of text) and tracking (the space between individual letters).
You can adjust these by clicking and dragging on the respective icons next to the input fields. You can also turn on features like all caps and even apply different font weights or styles to individual words within the same line of text. To select all the text on a layer, use the shortcut Ctrl/Command+A.
Use Dynamic Text
The Dynamic Text feature automates text formatting. To convert your text, click the lightning bolt icon in the Character panel. With Dynamic Text enabled, you can resize the text box and the text will automatically adjust its size and line breaks to fit. This saves you from manually tweaking sizes and returns, ensuring your text is always visually balanced within your layout. You can still hold Ctrl/Command to move the text layer around while the tool is active.
Place Text Behind
To create the effect of your text being behind an object, you’ll need to use a layer mask.
1. First, select your object or area using the Color Range tool under the Select menu.
2. Once you have an active selection, make sure your text layer is selected in the Layers panel and click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the panel. To freely move the text without moving the mask, click the chain link icon between the layer and the mask thumbnail to unlink them. This allows you to reposition the text while maintaining the “behind” effect.
That’s a wrap on the Text Tool! Tomorrow, we will continue our journey through Photoshop’s powerful tools with a deep dive into the Liquify tool, perfect for pushing, pulling, and distorting pixels to create stunning effects.
