Overview of Unified Text Engine

What is the Unified Text Engine?

The Unified Text Engine is a modern text processing system that replaces the legacy text engines previously required for different language scripts. Introduced in Photoshop 23.0 (October 2021), it enables advanced typographic features for international languages and scripts, including Arabic, Hebrew, Indic scripts, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

This unified approach eliminates the need to switch text engines when working with different languages, streamlining your workflow and making multilingual design more accessible.

Key enhancements and benefits

Improved text shaping

The Unified Text Engine uses the open-source HarfBuzz text shaping engine to provide superior text rendering for Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and all non-Latin scripts. This ensures proper character formation, ligatures, and contextual alternates across multiple writing systems.

Better bidirectional text support

With integrated FriBidi technology, the Unified Text Engine handles right-to-left and bidirectional text more effectively. This is particularly valuable when working with Arabic and Hebrew scripts, especially when they're mixed with left-to-right languages in the same text block.

Working with the text layer Properties panel

The text layer Properties panel serves as the central hub for accessing all typographic features in the Unified Text Engine. This panel organizes options into logical sections, making it easier to find and apply the specific typographic controls you need for your text.

When working with different scripts, the relevant typographic options will automatically appear in this panel, eliminating the need to search through multiple menus or switch between different text engines.