ADDING TRANSPARENT TEXT TO AN IMAGE
Want to make some actual TRANSPARENT text?
Here's how it looks applied to an icon:
You'll be able to add this Raster layer of transparent text to any other image (icons or whatever). And you can also use it as a watermark on images, if you like.
Here's how I do it...
- Open PSP8.
- To create transparent text for an icon, open a new image 100 x 100 pixels on a transparent background.
- Click on your Text tool. It's best if you select a very bold and clean-edged font -- but you can play around with it and try it for yourself!
- For this tutorial, select Arial and set it for bold. (The color doesn't matter, because we'll be deleting it! LOL. Just set it for with Background/Fill with the color you want.) And let's try it at size 20, bold. (You can play with it whenever you want, though.)
You need to do your text as FLOATING for this. Vector won't work!
- Okay, write your text. So now's the time to position your text. Actually, doing it isn't that important. I'd suggest you just put it as close to the center of your square as possible. (You'll be able to move it around later on when you add it as a new Layer to another image, after all!)
Remember: Keep your text active!
- You need to open your Layer palette. (Go to View-->Palettes-->Layers or press your F6 key on your keyboard.
- On your layer palette you're going to see 'floating selection.' (It will be the current layer, meaning it will be highlighted.) Right-click on it and select DELETE.
Unless you've disabled it, you'll get a pop-up window that asks if you want to delete the current layer. Click Yes.
Your text will now be transparent, with ants (active) around it.
- There are actually two ways to finish this.
- You can go to Effects-->3D Effects-->Drop Shadow.
Use these settings:
Vertical: -2
Horizontal: -2
Opacity: 90
Blur: 3.00
Color: Black
(Obviously you wouldn't use black if the image you want to apply it to is mostly black or dark colors.)
- Do it a second time! Go to Effects-->3D Effects-->Drop Shadow.
Use these settings:
Vertical: 3
Horizontal: 3
Opacity: 90
Blur: 3.00
Color: Black
- Now you can right-click, Select None to defloat, or go to Selections-->Select none.
That's one way!
- The second way is to go to Effects-->Plug-in Filters-->Eye Candy 3.1-->Glow.
Use these settings:
Width: 2
Opacity: 100%
Opacity dropoff: Fat
Color: Black
Draw everywhere: NOT selected
(Click the checkmark to apply.)
- (Remember, the color will depend on the image you'll apply this to!)
- Again, you need to right-click and Select none to defloat, or go to Selections-->Select none.
APPLYING TO AN IMAGE
Just Copy and Paste as new layer. You can move it around until you have it where you want it.
Then go to Layers-->Merge all (flatten).
That's all there is to it! Easy, right?
You can easily combine two colors by using Drop Shadow more than one time with varying settings (play with it). The same is true for glow. Remember! You don't defloat until you're done adding drop shadow and glow.
To save this text as transparent (so you can use it again), remember to save it in the Paint Shop Pro format: .psp
Fun, right?
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