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Photoshop Type Tools and Vector Drawing – Lesson Two

Posted on 24. Sep, 2009 by bmackler in Photoshop

So we have learned all about raster and bitmap images and what they can and can’t do but the question remains, can we create images in Photoshop that can be made larger and smaller without losing their quality? The answer used to be no, but in recent versions of Photoshop that has changed. While somewhat limited and no where near as powerful as vector programs like Illustrator, the Drawing and Type tools can still create create vector quality graphics within Photoshop.

The Type Tools

To set type in an image, first select the Horizontal or Vertical Type Tool, and click in your work canvas. You will now see a cursor start blinking where you can begin typing. In the options bar, you have some associated settings for the type tool.

Type Tool

There are 4 options when selecting your type tool. You have a horizontal type tool, vertical type tool, horizontal type mask tool and a vertical type mask tool. The standard type tools are vector objects and editable as we discussed above, allowing you to alter the size and color without losing quality. The type mask tools create masks in the shape of the letters. These masks become selections when you change tools, click the check mark in the Options Bar, or press Ctrl and Enter. This temporary mask that is created is not retained after the selection is made. You’ll see the translucent red overlay while adding the type, but the mask itself is lost when converted to a selection. Choices of font face and size need to be made before you start typing. you can not update these things once the mask has been created.

Type Mask

Type Tool Options

Type Options

1. Type Direction – Choose between horizontal or vertical orientation

2. Font Family - Sets the current type to a specific font family

3. Font Style - Sets the font to regular, bold, italic or other variation for that specific font

4. Font Size – Change the size of the selected type.

5. Anti-Aliasing – Anti-Aliasing allows you to create smoother edged type by partially filling edges of the text

6. Text Justification – Right, center or left justification of text

7. Color Picker – Choose color of selected text

8. Text Warp – Apply warp effects to text. Curves, fish eye, wave…

9. Toggle - Open up right hand side character pallete. This pallete has simliar functionality plus a few other controls

To type a paragraph of text and constrain your area to a predeterminted size click on the type tool in the menu bar and then right click and drag the mouse to the desired size in your canvas. This will create an editable area for typing that your text will be constrained to .

Constrained Text

Look out for our upcoming post discussing the difference between system text and graphics. Coming soon!

Using Shape Tools in Photoshop

There are six predefined shapes that are vector based in Adobe Photoshop.

Vector Shape Panel

Rectangle Tool – Creates a rectangle shape or square if you hold the shift key

Rounded Rectangle Tool - Creates a rectangle with rounded corners. Roundness can be controlled in options bar across the top

Ellipse Tool – Creates an ellipse or circle if you hold the shift key

Polygon Tool - Creates a polygon. Number of sides is controlled in the options bar at the top.

Line Tool - Creates a line.

Custom Shapes – Use preset shapes or you can create your own.

Vector Shapes

To create a shape on your canvas, choose the shape tool you want to use, adjust the settings for that tool in the options bar, and then drag our your shape on the canvas.

Shape Tool Options – Options to select on top bar

Shape Tool Options

1. Tool Mode
– You can select tool creation mode in this area, Select to Shape Layer Button create Shape layer, Select Path Button to create Path or Select Fill Pixels Button to create Fill Pixels.

2. Tools Area – You can switch between each shape and pen tools here, in addition to the side toolbar.

3. Compound Path Option
- You can add paths or perform other operation such as delete or intersect, to an active shape layer by click the its button. The five compound path buttons control the interaction of compound paths. The last four are available only when editing or adding to an existing shape layer.