Adobe Photoshop Basics:

Type

introduction | type tool | more type tool | type palettes | text warping | exercises from About.com

Working With Type - Intro

Scalable type layers are vector-based, meaning they can be scaled and edited without a loss in quality. Some functions—such as filter effects—cannot be performed on type layers without converting the vector data to pixels. This process is known as rendering or rasterizing the text. Once text is rendered it is no longer scalable and editing must be done on the pixel level.

Photoshop was never meant to replace a dedicated page layout or vector-based illustration program, so there are some text features still not available in Photoshop—such as type that flows along a path.

anti-aliasing options are importan. Although text within Photoshop behaves as vector type, when the type is output, it is generally still output as raster data. (The exception is text layers when output to a PostScript device.) Anti-aliasing blends the edges of your type so that it appears smoother. Photoshop offers various degrees of anti-aliasing for type: none, smooth, crisp, and strong.

• None - No anti-aliasing. Use this option for very small text, under 10-12 points.
• Smooth - The average setting to make text appear smoother.
• Crisp - Results in slightly sharper edges than the the smooth option.
• Strong - Makes text appear heavier than the smooth option.

There are also some common typography formatting options you'll want to understand when you begin working with the type tool in Photoshop. They are leading, kerning, and tracking. These options allow you to fine-tune the line and letter spacing of type. Basically,

• leading adjusts the space between one line and the next;
• kerning adjusts how the letters abut each other (think AV as opposed to A V); and
• tracking adjusts letter spacing.

You can learn more about them with these links and resources on About's Desktop Publishing site:

Letter and Line Spacing - Understanding and effectively using linespacing and letterspacing. Kerning headlines. Setting leading. Using tracking.

 

 

all information and images on this page are taken from Sue Chastain's Graphics Software site at About. com.

Here's the link to the original: GraphicsSoft