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Photoshop Tips - Get your Image To Work

by: DavidPeters
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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 relies on the principle of Anti-Aliasing, which literally blends the text in with its background, so that the final result of your editing efforts is not a scintillating image and a few well-thought over words but an image of which the text and the photograph are fundamental parts. Anti-Aliasing works on the pixels of your text, partially filling in the edges to have them merge with the image. And this remarkable tool also allows you to be flexible and discreet in the extent to which you use it. If you are looking for an effect that is well-blended and yet retains the distinctiveness of the text, the 'Sharp' option allows you just what you're looking for, while the 'Strong' alternative makes the text heavier than the rest of the image.

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'.

A swift way to reach for the Type tool is with the letter 'T'. This brings the Type Tool options to the Options bar, from where you can use the ones you want to work with. The first two buttons let you choose between creating a Type Mask, or a Type Layer, which you can, depending on what you're more comfortable with. If you have a large amount of text you want to fit into your image, the best way to go about it is to create a Type Layer, click and drag a rectangle or square to size your text and fit it in the section of the image where you want the text to be featured. If you plan to type directly onto the document, you can save on a lot of time and effort by referring to the I-beam that appears on the image. The small horizontal line that cuts across the beam indicates the baseline, which you can use to align your text with the image, even as you're working on it!

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.

Once you are satisfied with the text you have added, you can exit the typing mode by hitting the 'Enter' key on your 'Numeric Keypad', click on any other tool in the toolbox or simply click on the checkmark in the Options bar. For last minute touch-ups, look for the 'T' in the thumbnail area of the Layer's Palette and double click it, which will bring the text back into the editing mode. You can also move your text around, after you have added it, or even scale it to size. Only remember to hold down the 'Shift' key when you are doing so, to retain the text proportions. If you choose to make your text taller or wider, you can still use the 'Free Transform' mode and not use the 'Shift' key.

No longer a marvel confined to the realm of the seasoned pros Photoshop is also a very handy tool for the nervous beginner once he gets over the initial learning curve. The trick here lies in getting as much practice and as creative as you can and let the software work its charm for you the masterpieces that you churn out will be well worth the toil!

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Photoshop Tips - Get your Image To Work

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