Create a type layer using the Horizontal Type tool or Vertical Type tool.
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Create composite glyphs
Last updated on
Oct 4, 2026
Learn how to combine emoji glyphs in the Glyphs panel to create country flags and apply skin tone variations to characters in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.
Composite glyphs expand your creative options by allowing you to combine standard emoji into unique variations that aren't available as single characters.
Composite glyphs are special combinations of two or more glyphs that merge to create a single character. OpenType SVG emoji fonts such as EmojiOne or Noto Color Emoji SVG support this feature. When you combine specific glyphs in sequence through the Glyphs panel, they automatically merge into composite forms like country flags or skin-tone-modified characters. This only works with fonts that support composite glyphs: standard fonts and some emoji fonts don't.
Not all emojis can be combined. Country flags require specific two-letter ISO country codes, and skin tone modifications work only with single-person characters or body parts, not with multi-person emoji.
Identify OpenType SVG fonts
Before creating composite glyphs, confirm you have an OpenType SVG font available.
Open the font menu in the options bar, Character panel, or Properties panel.
Look for fonts marked with the OpenType SVG icon in the font list.
Select an OpenType SVG font such as EmojiOne or Noto Color Emoji SVG.
Note
OpenType SVG fonts display multiple colors and gradients within a single character, unlike standard fonts that render as solid shapes.
Create country flag glyphs
Country flags are created by combining two-letter glyphs that correspond to ISO country codes.
Select Window > Glyphs to open the Glyphs panel.
Ensure your font is set to an OpenType SVG emoji font, such as EmojiOne or Noto Color Emoji SVG.
Position your cursor in the type layer where you want the flag to appear.
In the Glyphs panel, locate and double-click the first letter of the two-letter ISO country code (for example, U for United States).
Double-click the second letter of the country code (for example, S to complete US).
The two-letter glyphs automatically combine to form the country flag when you add the second character. If the flag doesn't appear, verify that your font supports composite glyphs and that you're using the correct two-letter ISO code.
Common country codes include US (United States), GB (United Kingdom), CA (Canada), FR (France), DE (Germany), JP (Japan), AU (Australia), and IN (India).
Apply skin tone variations to emoji
Modify the appearance of a person and body part emoji by combining them with skin tone modifier glyphs.
Select the type layer and position your cursor where you want the emoji to appear.
In the Glyphs panel, locate a single-person character or body part emoji (typically displayed in yellow, blue, or gray by default).
Double-click the emoji to add it to your type layer.
In the Glyphs panel, locate one of the five skin tone modifier glyphs (GID 356 through GID 360).
Double-click the skin tone modifier immediately after the original emoji.
The original emoji character recolors to match the selected skin tone modifier. This technique works with single-person emoji and individual body parts, such as hands, but doesn't support multi-person emoji or group characters.
Skin tone modifiers must be applied immediately after the base emoji character to create the composite. Adding any character or space between them prevents the combination. Recently used emojis appear in the top row of the Glyphs panel for convenient reuse.
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