Let's start as usual:
Open a
new file. Size approximately 450 x 250
Fill
the original layer (Layer 1) with white colour
Now we have to
find the Text mask tool. Where is it? Take a look at the tool bar. On
some of the flat buttons there is a small, black mark in the bottom
right corner. This mark tells us that there are more tools attached
to these buttons. To find these hidden tools click on a button and
hold the (left) mouse button down. Now you will se a horizontal bar
with flat buttons popping up. To select one of theses buttons (tools)
keep the mouse button pressed and move the cursor to the tool you
want. Then release the button and the tool is selected.
Click
on the Text tool button and hold down the mouse button
A bar with
four flat buttons pops up. The first button is grayed out. It is the
Text tool which is already selected. The next tool is the Text mask
tool (the one we want) and then comes the Vertical text tool and the
Vertical text mask tool.
With
the mouse button pressed move the cursor to the Text mask tool
Release
the mouse button
The Text mask
tool is now selected and can be used.
Create
a new layer
The reason for
this is that unlike the Text tool the Text mask tool does not auto
generate a new layer. And we don't want the text to go directly onto
the background.
Click
where you want the text to start
The Text edit
box is brought up. Before we do anything take a look at the dialog
box. It varies in a couple of ways from the ordinary text edit box.
There is no colour box, and no preview checkbox! Since there is no
preview you won't be able to see the text you type other than in the
text box. This is a bit problematic because you need to make
absolutely sure your text isn't wider, or higher, than the file you
have on your screen.
Choose
the font Impact and set the size to 55.
Type in
the text HOMEPAGE
Highlight the text and set character spacing to 150
Click OK
When the text
edit box has closed you can see the text as a text mask on the work
space. If you need to move it (I had to) just click in a letter, hold
down the mouse button and drag the text in position. No need to use
the Move tool here.
The Text mask
gives you a lot more choices than the ordinary text tool BUT
there is one thing you CANNOT
do! You cannot edit the text. Once you have typed in the text and
clicked OK you are stuck with it. No way to edit spelling mistake and
such other than delete the text and do it all over again. Keep
this in mind!
Since the
layer with the text isn't a text layer (that is why you can't edit
the text) you have full access to all the filters right from the
start. You can also colour the letters individually. Before we
proceed with creating the title let's take a look at some of the
things you can do.
Pick a
colour (I picked green) and select the Fill tool
Note:
If you used Caps lock when typing the text your cursor will now take
the shape of a thin cross. To get the bucket shaped cursor just
release the Caps lock key on your keyboard.
Click
inside one of the letters
The whole mask
is filled with colour.
Pick
another colour and click in the O
Now only the O
is filled with the new colour. In other words, you can fill each
letter with different colours
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