Simple Text - Beginning Level
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This tutorial focuses in on putting text into your projects.
In this particular tutorial, we will only be discussing how to do simple text.
More advanced text additions will be covered in other tutorials.
You should already know how to open a new image, save the image, add a new raster layer,
and rename a layer.
If you do not know how to do this, refer to the tutorial,
Introduction to Layers and Opacity.
You should also know how to select a color, gradient, or pattern.
If you do not, please refer to the tutorial, Colors, Gradients,
Patterns and Textures.
I used Paint Shop Pro 9 for this tutorial, however, you should be able to use other versions as
well.
For a free trial or to purchase Paint Shop Pro, click on the above link.
Step 1
Open a new transparent image or an image in which you would like to add text.
If you start with a new transparent image, flood fill with any color, gradient or pattern you wish.
You may also add a new raster layer and flood fill with another color,
gradient or pattern with a texture.
Name and save your file.
Step 2
Now select your text tool.
It is found on the toolbar on the left hand side.
It is circled in red below:
Step 3
Once you select the Text Tool, the Text Toolbar will appear at the top.
Here is what part of it looks like:
The whole toolbar is quite long.
Because of this, you'll probably see little triangles in various places along it:
Clicking on one of these will make other parts of the toolbar visible.
If you don't see the item we are talking about on your toolbar,
you will need to click on one of these triangles for it to show.
Follow along on the toolbar as we discuss the various choices on it.
Create as: has three choices in the drop down menu.
For this lesson, we will only be using the Vector option.
For adding text quickly and easily, this is the best way.
It creates your text in Vector format which will allow you to resize while keeping a crisp and
clean look.
Direction: controls the way the text will be displayed.
Direction also has three choices in the drop down menu.
The one shown in the sample above, will have the text display horizontally.
The red arrows show the direction the text will display (horizontally in this case) and
the black arrows show where the next line of text will appear (below in this case.)
The other two choices show the red arrow pointing down.
In both these, the text will display horizontally.
The difference between the two is the black arrow.
The one with the black arrow pointing to the left will print the next
line to the left of the first line.
The one with the black arrow pointing to the right will print the next
line of text to the right of the first line.
You may use any of the choices, but we will be using the horizontal in this lesson.
Font: is where you choose your font.
Just use the drop down menu to select the font you want to use.
Size: is where you choose the size of your text.
While there is a drop down menu with some choices of size,
you are able to manually enter in other numbers.
Font size can be confusing as to what size it is when printed.
There is a formula you can use to figure out how large (or small) your text is.
If you are interested in it, you can find it in your help file in "Text Size Details."
You can also find it in your Paint Shop Pro manual.
Stroke width (pixels): applies only when you "outline" your text.
This is the width of the outline, in pixels.
Font style: refers to "B" for bold, "I" for italic, "U" for underline,
and "A" for strike-through.
Just click on the ones you want to apply.
Click again to not apply it.
Alignment: refers to left justify, center, or right justify.
Select the one you prefer.
Anti-alias: gives you three choices.
You can choose Off, Sharp, or Smooth.
Anti-alias smooths out your letter to help it blend better and not look so jagged.
It does so by blending your letter color by softening the edges.
If you choose "Off" there will be no blending.
Which one you use is a matter of your preference.
Try them to see which you prefer.
Line Style: applies when you have a stroke width (when you outline.)
You can choose any from the drop down menu, which includes a solid line,
several dashed or dotted lines, and various other choices.
When you are choosing to outline your text, you can choose any of the lines you prefer.
You'll probably notice you will use the solid line the most, but for special looks, try others.
Join and Miter Limit have to do with the joining at the corners.
This is a matter of preference and doesn't matter much on text.
Warp: will allow you to curve text on a path.
If this is checked, and there is a vector shape to curve around, your text will do so.
If you want your text straight, leave the box unchecked.
Offset: only applies when using Warp.
Anything other than zero here will move the text away from the path
while still following the path shape.
Leading: sets the vertical space between lines.
Sometimes you want them closer together, sometimes farther apart.
Auto Kern: checking this box will use the font's built in kerning values.
Kerning: allows you to set the spacing between letters.
A setting of 1 is the normal - 1 em.
Tracking: allows you to set an equal amount of space among characters.
Step 4
To put text on the document, just click in the approximate are you want it to appear.
You can always move the text where you want it later.
Once you click on your document, a window will appear for you to enter your text:
Enter your text here.
Hitting the "Enter" key will add another line to your text.
If you plan on using the same text again, or even correcting it, check the "Remember text" box.
You will be able to see your text on your image (move the text entry box over if necessary.)
If you wish to change the font, size, or whatever, select the text (highlight it) before making
any changes.
Any changes you make in the Text Toolbar will only be made to the selected text.
You may also make changes to the foreground and background colors at this point, using any
color, gradient, or pattern, and even texture.
If you prefer one to be transparent, just click on the "Transparent" button, shown below.
Remember, for the changes to apply to the text, it must be selected in your Text entry box.
When you are ready, you may click on the "Apply" button in the Text entry box.
Save your file.
Step 5
If you want to move your text around or change the size now, it's very easy.
If you have already used the Deform tool, you'll see how similar it is.
The deform tool is used in the tutorial on Photos and Mats.
You should notice the image on your current layer surrounded by a "box".
If you don't see this, you'll have to select the Object Selection Tool in your right toolbar.
It's near the bottom:
You may also have to select your object, which is your text.
In the center is a circle and to the right a "lever".
Putting your cursor in the circle, and then holding down your mouse buttone will
allow you to drag your text and move it anywhere.
The lever to the right will allow you to rotate the the around the center.
If you want to resize, you can do this by dragging any of the nodes
(there's one in each corner and one in the middle of each side.)
To resize keeping the same proportions,
you'll need to drag one of the corner nodes while holding the right mouse button down.
Go ahead and give it a try.
This is all you need to know to add some text to your image.
There are many other options, too, but those will have to be for another tutorial.
You are also able to add a drop shadow and do other effects on your text,
however, it must be converted to raster.
No problem, when you try to do any of these, it will automatically ask if you want to convert.
A bit of a warning on vectors and rasters.
Vectors will allow you to resize with no loss in quality and sharpness.
Once you convert to raster, any change you make can affect the quality and sharpness of the item.
Assignment:
Play around with adding text with different characteristics.
Then play around with resizing your text.
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