Creative image manipulation using Serif PhotoPlus

Creative image manipulation using Serif PhotoPlus (serif-2)

Task 8 Working with text layers

Objectives

To add and manipulate text layers.

Comments

You can create type (text) anywhere in an image in PhotoPlus. When you create text a new layer is added to the layers palette. You can then manipulate it like any other object (image, shape, selection, etc), and the text itself will remain editable as long as the file is saved in the .Spp format.

Adding a text layer

8.1

Create a new image with dimensions 400px x 400px with a white background (see task 7.1)

8.2

Activate the Text Tool:

 In the Tools toolbar, select the Text Tool

and left-click inside your new canvas. This will automatically create a new layer.

Note The Text Tool comes bundled with the Text Selection Tool. This enables the creation of a text-shaped selection.

 In the Text Tool context menu (Figure 29) choose a font and size from the font options (for example Arial, 48pt).

 Ensure the Anti-Alias option is checked and choose a colour (click the neighbouring colour picker to launch the colour palette).

Note Anti-Aliasing adds an effect to make jagged edges appear smooth.

Figure 29 Text Tool context menu

Note Working at different image resolutions will result in variations in apparent text size.

For example text will appear much smaller in a 300dpi image than in a 72dpi (typical screen display resolution) image.

8.3

Add some text:

 Click inside the canvas, toward the top left and type your name.

8.4

Reformat and edit the text:

 Making sure the type layer is highlighted, select the Text Tool and click just to the right of the final letter of your text.

Note It is important you do not click anywhere else in the document; this will result in the creation of a new text layer

 Hold down the left mouse button and drag to highlight some or all of the text (see

Figure 30)

Figure 30 - Selecting text

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