Adding Type to a Photo

I love to put some type into my pictures before I send them to print. I usually do this:

1. Open your photo. Choose a photo with an open background.
2. Select the Type tool from the toolbox. Choose the color and size appropiate for the photograph. Move the text to the desired position.
3. Give your text a Layer Style like Drop Shadow.
4. If you want to make this type transparent, click on the Marquee tool, and drag a Rectangle around your text.
5. Click on the “eye” icon of your type layer to make it invisible. Now, press Ctrl+C.
6. Press Ctrl+V and you will have your type pasted in a separate layer.
7. Make the original Type layer visible again by clicking on the little square where the eye was.
8. Now move your mouse and click on the line that separates the original and the copied text layers. Make a click. You’ve created a clipping group.
9. You can play now and change the settings from the Layers Palette and give the layer a Soft Light instead of the Normal.
10. Keep experimenting with the settings until you are happy with the results.

Tags: how to add type to a photo, photoshop, photoshop tutorials