You can perform various operations on type to change its appearance. For example, you can warp type, convert type to shapes, or add a drop shadow to type. One of the easiest ways to create type effects is to play the default Text Effects actions that come with Photoshop on a type layer. You can access these effects by choosing Text Effects from the Actions panel menu.
You can enter type that flows along the edge of a work path created by a pen or a shape tool. When you enter type along a path, the type flows in the direction that anchor points were added to the path. Entering horizontal type on a path results in letters that are perpendicular to the baseline. Entering vertical type on a path results in text orientation parallel to the baseline.
You can also enter type inside a closed path. In this case, however, the type is always oriented horizontally, with line breaks occurring wherever the type reaches path boundaries.
As you move a path or change its shape, related type conforms to the new path location or shape.
Select the Horizontal Type tool or
the Vertical Type tool
.
Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool or
the Vertical Type Mask tool
.
For more control over vertical alignment of type on a path, use the Baseline Shift option in the Character panel. For example, type a negative value in the Baseline Shift text box to lower the type.
To move text, click and drag the type along the path. Be careful not to drag across the path.
To flip text to the other side of the path, click and drag the type across the path.
To move type across a path without changing the direction of the type, use the Baseline Shift option in the Character panel. For example, if you created type that runs from left to right across the top of a circle, you can enter a negative number in the Baseline Shift text box to drop the type so that it flows inside the top of the circle.
You can warp type to create a special type effect. For example, you can warp type in the shape of an arc or a wave. The warp style you select is an attribute of the type layer—you can change a layer’s warp style at any time to change the overall shape of the warp. Warping options give you precise control over the orientation and perspective of the warp effect.
You cannot warp type layers that include Faux Bold formatting or that use fonts without outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
Select a type tool, and click the Warp button in the options bar.
Choose Type > Warp Text.
You can use the Warp command to warp text in a type layer. Choose Edit > Transform Path > Warp.
Bend to specify how much warp is applied to the layer
Horizontal Distortion or Vertical Distortion to apply perspective to the warp
You can work with type characters as vector shapes by converting them to a work path. A work path is a temporary path that appears in the Paths panel and defines the outline of a shape. After you create a work path from a type layer, you can save and manipulate it as you do any other path. You cannot edit characters in the path as text; however, the original type layer remains intact and editable.
Select a type layer, and choose Type > Create Work Path.
You cannot create work paths from fonts that don’t include outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
When you convert type to shapes, the type layer is replaced by a layer with a vector mask. You can edit the vector mask and apply styles to the layer; however, you cannot edit characters in the layer as text.
Select a type layer, and choose Type > Convert To Shape.
You cannot create shapes from fonts that don't include outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
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.
A red mask appears over the active layer as you enter the
type. After you click the Commit button , the
type selection border appears in the image on the active layer.
Add a drop shadow to give depth to text in an image.
To use the same drop shadow settings on another layer, Alt+drag the Drop Shadow layer in the Layers panel to the other layer. When you release the mouse button, Photoshop applies the drop shadow attributes to the layer.
You can fill type with an image by applying a clipping mask to an image layer placed above a type layer in the Layers panel.
Background layers are locked and prevent you from moving them in the Layers panel. It’s necessary to convert background layers to regular layers to unlock them.
To move the text instead of the image, select the type layer in the Layers panel and then use the Move tool to move the text.
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