......... and starting up our site design.

Assignments in class:
1. Create a text message which is horizontal and another vertical with each letter a different color.
2. Use the filter options to create a unique title- use at least 3 different filter on the same text
3. Create a warp text example
4. Create a text selection border
5. Create a gradient text example
6. Create an outline text example
7. Create a shadow effect for text ( not the best but?)
8. Semitransparent

Images to download for using text.. optional can use your own

Use either your own photo or use this fish: fish
Fish text plain jane.. make it more interesting starting from the fish pic above.


In Photoshop Elements, you use the horizontal and vertical type tools to create and edit text. Text appears directly on-screen so you can always see how it looks in your composition.
You can also use type mask tools to create a selection in the shape of text. You can then create different effects and cut-outs with the text.
When you select a type tool, you can choose from several settings in the options bar. You can set the font, style, size, and color of the type in the options bar.
Clicking in an image with a type tool puts the type tool in edit mode so you can enter and edit text. You must commit changes to the type before you can perform other operations, like selecting menu commands. To determine if the type tool is in edit mode, look in the options bar--if you see the OK button and Cancel button , the type tool is in edit mode.

Entering text
You can enter text horizontally or vertically, depending on which type tool you select. Each line of text you enter is independent--the length of a line grows or shrinks as you edit it, but it doesn't wrap to the next line (you have to press the Enter or Return key to create a new line of text).
To enter type:
1. Select the horizontal type tool or the vertical type tool .
2. Click in the image to set an insertion point for the type. The small line through the I-beam marks the position of the type baseline. For horizontal type, the baseline marks the line on which the type rests; for vertical type, the baseline marks the center axis of the type characters.
3. Select additional type options in the options bar. (See Formatting text.)
4. Enter the characters you want. To begin a new line, press the Enter key(Windows) or Return key (Mac OS) to begin a new line.
5. Commit the type layer by doing one of the following:
* Click in the image, select a tool in the toolbox, or click in a palette.
* Click the OK button in the options bar.
* Press the Enter key on the numeric keypad.
The type you entered appears in a new type layer.
Note: To discard the type layer, click the Cancel button

Once you create a type layer, you can edit the type and apply layer commands to it. You can change the orientation of the type, apply anti-aliasing, and warp the type into a variety of shapes. You can move, restack, copy, and change the layer options of a type layer as you do for a normal layer. You can also make the following changes to a type layer and still edit its text:
* Apply transformation commands, except for Perspective and Distort.
Note: To apply the Perspective or Distort commands, or to transform part of the type layer, you must simplify the type layer, making the type uneditable.
* Use layer styles.

Changing type layer orientation
The orientation of a type layer determines the direction of type lines in relation to the document window. When a type layer is vertical, the type lines flow up and down; when a type layer is horizontal, the type lines flow from left to right.
To change the orientation of a type layer:
1. Select the type layer in the Layers palette.
2. Do one of the following:
* Select a type tool, and click the Flip Orientation button in the options bar.
* Choose Layer > Type > Horizontal, or choose Layer > Type > Vertical.

Specifying anti-aliasing
Anti-aliasing lets you produce smooth-edged type by partially filling the edge pixels, so the edges of the type blend into the background.

Applying anti-aliasing A. Anti-aliasing off B. Close up C. Anti-aliasing on D. Close up

Because anti-aliasing greatly increases the number of colors in an image, you may want to turn anti-aliasing off when designing for the Web. In Web images, anti-aliasing can make file sizes larger and cause stray colors to appear along the edges of type. To avoid these issues, you may prefer to leave text with jagged edges.
To turn anti-aliasing on:Select the type layer in the Layers palette and do one of the following:
* Choose Layer > Type > Anti-Alias On, or choose Layer > Type > Anti-Alias Off.
* Select the Anti-aliased button in the options bar.
To turn anti-aliasing off:Select the type layer in the Layers palette and do one of the following:
* Choose Layer > Type > Anti-Alias Off.
* Deselect the Anti-aliased button in the options bar.

Use of Filters for unusual text:
Select the type layer to which you wan to apply a filter
Click filter - click a specific filter type
A dialog box appears asking if you want to simplify the layer - click ok
Specify your filter choice - see what happens... you may need to try several effects to get the one you want.

Warping type layers

Warping allows you to distort type to conform to a variety of shapes; for example, you can warp type in the shape of an arc or a wave. Warping applies to all characters on a type layer--you cannot warp individual characters. The warp style you select determines the basic shape of the warped layer, while warping options let you control the orientation and perspective of the warp effect.

Type layers with warp applied
Note: You can't warp to text that uses faux bold formatting.
To warp type:
1. Select a type layer.
2. Do one of the following:
* Select a type tool, and click the Warp button in the options bar.
* Choose Layer > Type > Warp Text.
3. Choose a warp style from the Style pop-up menu.
4. Select an orientation for the warp effect--Horizontal or Vertical.
5. If desired, specify values for additional warping options:
* Bend to specify the amount of warp.
* Horizontal Distortion and Vertical Distortion to apply perspective to the warp.
6. Click OK.
To unwarp type:
1. Select a type layer that has warping applied to it.
2. Select a type tool, and click the Warp button in the options bar; or choose Layer > Type > Warp Text.
3. Choose None from the Style pop-up menu, and click OK.

Simplifying type layers

Simplifying a type layer converts it to a regular, bitmap layer. Simplifying a type layer is necessary when you want to paint on type or apply filters to it. Once you simplify a type layer, you can no longer edit its text.
To simplify a type layer:
1. Select a type layer in the Layers palette.
2. Choose Layer > Simplify Layer.

Choosing a font
A font is a set of characters-- letters, numbers, or symbols--that share a common weight, width, and style. When you select a font, you can select the font family and its type style independently. A type style is a variant version of an individual font in the font family (for example, Regular, Bold, or Italic). The range of available type styles varies with each font.
If a font doesn't include the style you want, you can apply faux (fake) versions of bold and italic. A faux font is a computer-generated version of a font that approximates an alternative typeface design, used only if there is no corresponding font for a given style.
To choose a font family and style:
1. If you're working with an existing layer, select one or more characters whose font you want to change. To change the font of all characters in a layer, select the type layer in the Layers palette, and then select a type tool.
2. In the options bar, choose a font family from the Font Family pop-up menu.
You can choose a font family and style by typing the desired name in the text box. As you type, the name of the first font or style beginning with that letter appears. Continue typing until the correct font or style name appears. (Be sure to deselect the font name before entering new type in the image.)
3. Do one of the following:
* Choose a font style from the Font Style pop-up menu in the options bar.
* If the font family you chose does not include a bold or italic style, click the Faux Bold button , Faux Italic button , or both; then click OK.

To change the type color:
1. If you're working with an existing layer, select one or more characters whose color you want to change. To change the color of all characters in a layer, select the type layer in the Layers palette, and then select a type tool.
2. In the options bar, click the color selection box, and select a color using the Color Picker.

To specify alignment:
1. If you're working with an existing layer, select the type layer in the Layers palette and then select a type tool.
2. In the options bar, click an alignment option.
The options for horizontal type are:
Aligns the left edge of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.
Aligns the center of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.
Aligns the right edge of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.
The options for vertical type are:
Aligns the top edge of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.
Aligns the center of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.
Aligns the bottom edge of each type line in the layer to the initial cursor position.

The physical size of the font depends on the resolution of the image. 72-point text is approximately 1-inch high in an image that is 72 dpi. Higher resolutions reduce the effective size of a given text point size because the pixels are packed more tightly in higher resolution images.
To choose a type size:
1. If you're working with an existing layer, select one or more characters whose size you want to change. To change the size of all characters in a layer, select the type layer in the Layers palette, and then select a type tool.
2. In the options bar, enter or select a new value for Size. To use an alternate unit of measurement, enter the unit (in, cm, pt, px, or pica) after the value in the Size text box.

Creating a text selection border

When you use the horizontal type mask tool or vertical type mask tool , you create a selection in the shape of the type. Type selections appear on the active layer, and can be moved, copied, filled, or stroked just like any other selection. You can also warp the text created with the type mask tools.

Horizontal type mask with type warp applied to create filled selection

To create a type selection border:
1. Select the layer on which you want the selection to appear. For best results, don't create the type selection border on a type layer.
2. Select the horizontal type mask tool or the vertical type mask tool .
3. Select additional type options, and enter your text.
The type selection border appears in the image on the active layer.
Copy this .. select copy... then open up a new document.. it should be the same size as your text.
Save for web... and use gif choice, otherwise you will have a white background like above.

You can have fun with text selection borders by cutting text out of an image to show the background, or pasting the selected text into a new image. Experiment with different options to personalize your images and compositions.

Applying gradient fill to text
You can fill text using the gradient tool.
To apply gradient fill to text:
1. Do one of the following:
* Select the Horizontal Type or Vertical Type MASK tool to enter horizontal text.
2. Enter the type you want, and then in the options bar, click the Commit Text button to commit changes to the text.
3. Choose Layer > Simplify Layer to convert the vector text to a bitmap image.
4. Control-click on the text layer in the Layers palette to select the text.
5. Select the Gradient tool.
6. In the options bar, click the desired gradient type (linear, radial, angular, reflected, or diamond).
7. Choose a gradient fill from the Gradient Picker pop-up palette.
8. Position the pointer on the text where you want to set the starting point of the gradient, and drag to define the ending point.

Create Outline Text
Create a text message and then click the layer
Open the Effects choice under Window
Under Effects tab - all -choose from the drop down menu, text effects
Click thin outline, medium outline or bold outlline
Click apply

Create a shadow text effect
Create a text message and then click the layer
Open the Effects choice under Window
Under Effects tab - all -choose from the drop down menu, text effects
Click cast shadow
Click apply
In this case I had to save as .jpg as the gif format was bad.

Semitransparent Type: easy...
After creating a regular text layer just cut down on the opacity to the level you want.

Cloning with layers