How to Put TEXT on Pictures

First, you have to install Adobe Photoshop CS3/6 or higher version in your laptop or PC, I recommend free software apps  from Softonic, google (synonymous to ‘search’), it.

Open the application. 

Important Option:

If you wanted to set the image size before you start, go to toolbars, click ‘IMAGE’ then on the dropdown menu choose ‘IMAGE SIZE’ then proceed to ‘DOCUMENT SIZE.  The common values for images (available on Photo-developing Studios) are:

Landscape mode:

2 x 3 inches (3R photo size)

5 x 7 inches

8 x 10 inches

Just interchange the width and height sizes per inch to work for a ‘Portrait’ orientation photo. This is important as NOT to distort image upon developing if your desired size is not met for the photo

1. Go to the toolbars on TOP and click ‘FILE’ then choose ‘OPEN’. Browse on the image/picture you wanted to modify. 

 

Important Reminder:

Sometimes a dialog box appears that the image you have chosen does not have an RGB Profile – choose ‘ASSIGN PROFILE’ (Adobe RGB 1998). Check the box to allow conversion to ‘Working RGB’. Then click ‘OK’. The dialog box I am referring to does not always appear,  it depends on the image file you want to open.

2. Go to the right corner toolbar where the ‘LAYERS’ are.   You will see a thumbnail of the photo you have chosen highlighted and tagged as ‘background’.  We can not do modifications on that LAYER because it is LOCKED (see the lock image).

3. Right click on that image thumbnail and then press ‘DUPLICATE LAYER’.  You will be asked to give it a name if you want or just keep it as is ‘background copy’ as the default new LAYER’s  name.

You can now go back to the first layer with lock and look down on the right toolbars and find the trash bin icon to delete it.  We will no longer use that layer.

In Photoshop, every object, text or shape or pictures we add to the canvass MUST BE on a different layer for us to be able to tailor it to any specifications or characteristic, according to our very own preferences.

Putting texts on a layer is just like encoding your text in a word document BUT with wider options than the color changer.  It can be textured, shadowed, glowed or written thru different gradients and even stroked.

I have no formal schooling in Photoshop but frequent use of it resulted to my discovery of many wonders and great stuff we can do to create the image we wanted and send the message between the lines…your eagerness to learn and excitement is the limitation to it.

5. Create a new layer again if you never wanted to make your modifications be set for the background layer of the image. If for example we wanted to put TEXT on the photo, go to the left toolbar and find the ‘letter T’ icon that corresponds to the text input tool.  There is a little black arrow showing the text ORIENTATION you might prefer (horizontal or vertical as the basics). The font style, see top menu bar. Choose your preference.

Before you proceed typing your texts, check the font size.  The size of the cursor shows the SIZE of your text, if you can hardly see it – see the top menu bar to look for the Text Icon with open window, highlight the text size and re-size it base on your estimation of the current cursor size to suit your preference. Then click enter. You can also set the font by clicking the color icon above the menu bar.

Time to encode your text. There are ways to highlight or emphasize the text on your image creation.  Just click the ‘Layer’ button on top menu bar a dropdown menu shows ‘LAYER STYLE’ – click on one of the components and a dialog box will appear :

Drop Shadow:

- Highlight your TEXT first. Then click LAYER on the TOP menu bar. On the drop down menu, find ‘LAYER STYLE’ click on ‘DROP SHADOW’.

- The TEXTS’ OPACITY is automatically set to 75 – shows how thick and dark the letters will show (opacity is the opposite of transparency).  The higher the opacity erases the chances of seeing the background or current layer where you will put the text. The lower it is, the lighter the letters will appear.

Bevel and Emboss

- If you want the letters to appear like SCULPTURED like a 3D , check ‘Bevel and Emboss’. Under the tool says ‘:

 contour = highlight the emboss effect

texture = patterns to show on the letter (there is rock, checkered etc.) Tick the box before it and then click the word ‘texture’ – there will appear the box that displays the pattern, you can find other designs by clicking on the drop-down arrow key inside the pattern box.

Stroke

Another great option would be ‘stroke’ resize it to ‘1’ the default is ‘3’ too thick and noticeable.  Stroke is like making an outline of the letter, it helps in making the text more visible and clear.

The default color is red, you can change it by clicking on the ‘stroke’ menu twice, then press the color box, a dialog box where you can find the color you need will pop-up.

You can drag the text to the desired position by moving the mouse below the text as soon as the arrow appears as the cursor, you can reposition it up, down or left or even at the right side of the image.

This is just a beginners’ tutorial guideline on putting text on an image document. My children seven and ten years old learned this, I hope it inspires you to know that. There are more advance ways to style TEXTS on my upcoming articles.