Better-Looking Text

Dear Debbie,

I wanted to add a good-looking title to my photo, but the text just ends up looking flat. Is there a way to make it look better?

Signed,
Word Imperfect

***

Dear Imperfect,

Probably the easiest and fastest way to add impact to your words is to give it a drop shadow. When you're finished typing, highlight your layer in the Layers Palette. Then click the little f to add a Layer Style:

 

Use the sliders to customize the color, distance, and brightness of your shadow:

While you're in the Layer Style box, try playing around with other options. Use Bevel and Emboss o add dimension, or consider a Pattern Overlay to add texture.

Here's the "before," sans Layer Styles:

And here's the "after:"

Have fun, and good luck messing around,
Debbie

Comments

[Jeremy]

i cant process my Raw images in photo shop like it lets you choose raw images but mt canon Xti saves them as CR2 what gives

[Stephane]

As a graphic designer, I would say that you example does the opposite effect of what was desired, rending the title "less" legible. White type and a black drop shadow would have worked better. Also, a drop shadow will always be better darker than the letters, the opposite is not natural and do look awkward.

[Tana Butler]

I agree with Stephane about the light drop shadow not looking at all good. A better choice, in my opinion, would be using the Bevel/Emboss took, and using the fourth option on the Gloss Contour. (I also used a weightier font, Impact, for the words.)

Example here:

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8797/bevelembossgm7.jpg

(I had to use the magic wand to select all your red letters, so I could fill them with black to make them disappear. Quick way to work, not having the layered file.)

Final product here:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/9971/electricfictionxk0.jpg

[Krisitn]

Another graphic designer agrees. I was hoping that the text with the white outline was a before example and not an after. But I think the point was to introducing layer styles as a tool for getting the effect that works best for your particular project... even if this one doesn't.

[Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka]

Very easy steps....: )
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka
http://gauravdhwajkhadka.my-expressions.com/

[Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka]

very easy steps.....: )
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka
http://gauravdhwajkhadka.my-expressions.com/