ptg 320 Chapter 13 When you are working with type, some commands, filters, and painting tools are not available. If you want to use Photoshop's whole arsenal of image adjustment tools, you must first rasterize the type layer. When you rasterize a type layer, you're converting the type into pixels, and once the rasterize operation is complete, the text within the type layer is no longer an editable font. Therefore, make sure you like the font family, and your text is spelled correctly before rasterizing. Once the text is rasterized, you can apply commands and filters normally reserved for images. Using the Rasterize Type Command Use Rasterize Type Open a document containing one or more type layers. Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers. Click the Layer menu, point to Rasterize, and then select from the following commands: ◆ Type. Click the command to rasterize the type in the active layer. ◆ Layer. Click the command to rasterize the contents of the active layer (does not have to be type). You can also choose All Layers to rasterize all layers in your document. The Type layer is converted into a standard layer, and all of Photoshop's painting tools, filters, and commands will work on the information in the layer. 3 2 1 2 Rasterize Type applied Typ e layer converted into a standard layer Did You Know? You can rasterize other types of data. Rasterize other types of data, such as: Shape, Fill Content, Vector Mask, Smart Object, Video, and 3D. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 13 Getting Creative with Type 321 When you work with type, there are certain restrictions to what you can do. You can't apply filter effects to type, and many of Photoshop's commands do not work with type layers. One solution is to rasterize the type layer. However, rasterized type is converted to pixels. What if you want the text converted into a vector path? Once type is saved as a path, you can manipulate it like any other vector path. A text path is no longer considered text; however, the original type layer is intact and editable. Creating a path and at the same time preserving the original type layer gives you the best of both creative worlds. Creating Work Paths and Shapes from Type Layers Create Work Paths Open a document containing a type layer. Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers. Click the Layer menu, point to Type, and then click Create Work Path. IMPORTANT Paths cannot be created from fonts that do not contain outline data, such as bitmap fonts. Select the Paths panel. Select any of Photoshop's Pen tools to modify the path. 5 4 3 2 1 2 Work Path is created Work Path is modified 4 See Also See Chapter 11,“Using the Paths Panel,” on page 265 for more information on the Paths panel. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 322 Chapter 13 When you convert a type layer into a shape layer, the type layer is con- verted into a layer with a vector mask. In essence, Photoshop fills the layer with the color of the text, and then creates a vector mask to define the type. Once created, the vector mask can be edited just like any other vector shape. You gain the ability to manipulate the image as a vector shape; however, you lose the ability to edit the type. Creating Shape Layers Create Shape Layers Open a document containing a type layer. Select the Layers panel, and then select one of the type layers. Click the Layer menu, point to Type, and then click Convert To Shape. IMPORTANT When you convert a type layer into a shape layer, Photoshop removes the type layer and replaces it with the shape layer. You gain the ability to manipulate the image as a vector shape; however, you lose the ability to edit the type. Click the Vector Mask thumbnail in the Layers panel, and then edit the mask using any of Photoshop's Pen tools. 4 3 2 1 Shape Layer is created 2 Shape Layer is modified Did You Know? You can change the fill color of the text in your document. Click the Image Thumbnail, and then fill the area with a color, pattern, or gradient. 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 13 Getting Creative with Type 323 Photoshop has two type tools—the Horizontal or Vertical Type tools and the Horizontal or Vertical Mask tools. The former creates regular type, using the fonts available on your computer system. When you add type to the screen, the color of the font defaults to the current fore- ground color. When you use the type masking tools, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the selected font with the mask appearing as a red overlay. Once the mask is created, you can modify it just like any normal text layer, by changing the font, size, or even using the Warp feature. Unlike the normal type tools, Photoshop does not create a type layer for the mask; the mask simply appears in the active layer. Being able to create a mask from a font opens up all kinds of cre- ative possibilities. For example, you could use a mask in conjunction with a photograph to create a unique fill or you could use a mask to create a chiseled look for your text. Creating a Type Mask Create a Type Mask Open a document. Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox. Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type. As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font. Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font family, style, and size. IMPORTANT Masks, like regular text, must be selected before any of the above changes are applied. Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, or any other of Photoshop's selection tools. The mask converts from a red overlay into a traditional selection. Move into the interior of one of the letters, and then drag to move the selection. 6 5 4 3 2 1 2 6 5 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 324 Chapter 13 One of the advantages to a mask is that you can create type using any fill you desire. For example, you're doing an advertising piece for a real estate company in California, and you want something unique for the text, so you get an image of a sunset, create a type mask with the word SUNSET and then use the image and mask to create a unique fill. Isolating Image Pixels Using a Type Mask Isolate Image Pixels Open a document containing the image you want to mask. Select the Layers panel, and then select the layer containing the image. Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool on the toolbox. Click in the document window to place an insertion point, and then type. As you type, Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the current font. IMPORTANT If you want a lot of the image to show through the mask, use a large, thick mono- weight font, like Impact. Use the editing tools on the mask to change its font, style, and size. 5 4 3 2 1 3 1 4 Did You Know? You can move the mask after you've converted it into a selection . Click any selection tool, and then drag from inside the selection. The selection area will move without modifying the actual image. In addition, you can use your arrow keys to gently nudge the selec- tion left, right, up, or down. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 13 Getting Creative with Type 325 Select the Marquee tool on the toolbox, and then position the mask directly over the portion of the image you want inside the text. Click the Select menu, and then click Inverse. Press the Backspace (Win) or Delete (Mac) key to delete the inverse selection. The Inverse command reverses the selection and the deletion removes all the pixels outside the mask. 8 7 6 8 Inverted Type Mask Did You Know? You can use Photoshop's adjustment tools to control the selection. Instead of deleting the surrounding image, click the Image menu, point to Adjustments, and then click Levels. Move the middle gray slider left or right to increase or decrease the brightness of the surrounding pixels. That way the text will stand out against the original image background. From the Library of Wow! eBook . Photoshop creates a mask in the size and shape of the selected font with the mask appearing as a red overlay. Once the mask is created, you can modify it just like any normal text layer, by. rasterize all layers in your document. The Type layer is converted into a standard layer, and all of Photoshop& apos;s painting tools, filters, and commands will work on the information in the layer. 3 2 1 2 Rasterize. certain restrictions to what you can do. You can't apply filter effects to type, and many of Photoshop& apos;s commands do not work with type layers. One solution is to rasterize the type