Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
text effects (
Adding Special Effects
) include an outline effect that you can apply with just a
double-click. If you don't like what you get with that, you can also use the Stroke layer styles
or the Type Mask tools to outline text. Both of these methods (which are explained in this
section) are easy, but they're a bit more time-consuming than using the Graphics panel. On
the plus side, they give you more control over the result. Use the layer-styles method if you
want the text's outline to be filled in; the type-mask method gives you an empty outline.
To add an outline to text with the Stroke layer style:
1.
Open an image or create a new one, and then activate a type tool
.
Click the tool's icon in the Tools panel or press T until you get either the Horizontal
or Vertical Type tool (not the Type
Mask
tool).
2.
Adjust the Tool Options settings
.
Select a font, size, style, and so on.
3.
Enter some text and commit it
.
After you type the text, click the green checkmark below it.
4.
Apply a Stroke layer style
.
Open the Effects panel (choose Window→Effects), click the word “Styles” at the top
of the panel, choose Strokes from the panel's drop-down menu, and then double-click
the style you want. Even if you don't like any of the Stroke styles, go ahead and pick
one; you can edit the results in the next step.
5.
Edit the outline, if you wish
.
In the Layers panel, double-click the Text layer's layer style icon (the little
fx
to the
right of the layer's name) to bring up the Style Settings dialog box, where you can
change the outline's width and color (see
Adding Layer Styles
).
Your other option is to use the Type Mask tool to create a text outline like the one shown in
Figure 14-14
. Here's how:
