Using the tool options bar and other palettes You've already had some experience with the tool options bar. In the previous project, you saw that there are options on the tool options bar for the Zoom tool that change the view of the current image window. Now we will learn more about setting tool properties on the tool options bar, as well as using palettes and palette menus.Previewing and opening another file The next project involves a promotional postcard for a community project. First, let's preview the end file so we can see what we're aiming to do.
1. | Click the Go to Bridge button on the tool options bar. | 2. | In the Bridge Folders palette, click the Project2 folder. | 3. | Select the 01End2.psd file in the thumbnail preview area so that it appears in the Preview palette. | 4. | Examine the image and notice the text that is set against the cloudlike area across the lower part of the image. | 5. | Select the thumbnail for the 01Start2.psd file and double-click to open it in Photoshop. |
Setting tool properties on the tool options bar With the 01Start2.psd file open in Photoshop, you're ready to select the characteristics for the text and then to type your message.
1. | In the toolbox, select the Horizontal Type tool ().The buttons and menu on the tool options bar now relate to the Type tool. | 2. | On the tool options bar, select a font you like from the first pop-up menu. (We used Adobe Garamond, but you can use another font if you prefer.) | 3. | Specify 12 pt as the font size. You can specify 12 points using the font-size pop-up menu, by typing directly in the font-size text box and pressing Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS), or by scrubbing the font-size menu label.
| You can place the cursor over the labels of most numeric settings on the tool options bar, in palettes, and in dialog boxes in Photoshop, and the "scrubby slider" appears. Dragging this pointing-finger slider icon to the right increases the value; dragging to the left decreases the value. Alt-dragging (Windows) or Option-dragging (Mac OS) changes the values in smaller increments; Shift-dragging changes them in larger increments. | [View full size image] | 4. | Click once anywhere on the left side of the image and type Monday is Beach Cleanup Day.The text appears with the font and font-size formatting that you selected. | 5. | In the toolbox, select the Move tool () at the top of the column on the right.NoteDon't select the Move tool using the V keyboard shortcut, because you're in text-entry mode. Typing V will add the letter to your text in the image window. | 6. | Position the Move tool pointer over the text you typed and drag the text into the misty white rectangle near the bottom of the image, centering the text inside it. |
Using palettes and palette menus The text color in your image is the same as the Foreground Color swatch in the toolbox, which is black by default. The text in the end-file example was a dark blue that coordinates nicely with the rest of the image. You'll color the text by selecting it and then choosing another color.
1. | In the toolbox, select the Horizontal Type tool (). | 2. | Drag the Horizontal Type tool across the text to select all the words. | 3. | In the Color palette group, click the Swatches tab to bring that palette forward. | 4. | Select any swatch. The color you select appears in three places: as the Foreground Color in the toolbox, in the text color swatch on the tool options bar, and in the text you typed in the image window. (Select any other tool in the toolbox to deselect the text so that you can see the color applied to it.)NoteWhen you move the pointer over the swatches, it temporarily changes into an eyedropper. Set the tip of the eyedropper on the swatch you want, and click to select it.That's how easy it is to select a color, although there are other methods in Photoshop. However, you'll use a specific color for this project, and it's easier to find it if you change the Swatches palette display. | 5. | Make sure that the Horizontal Type tool is not still selected. Click the arrow () on the Swatches palette to open the palette menu, and choose the Small List command. | 6. | Select the Type tool and reselect the text, as you did in Steps 1 and 2. | 7. | In the Swatches palette, scroll down to near the bottom of the list to find the Darker Cyan swatch, and then select it.Now the text appears in the Darker Cyan color. | 8. | Select the Hand tool () to deselect the text. Then click the Default Foreground and Background Colors icon () on the toolbox to make Black the foreground color.Resetting the default colors does not change the color of the text, because the text is no longer selected. | 9. | You've finished the task, so close the file. You can either save it, close it without saving, or save it under a different name or location, as you did for your Project1 file.It's as simple as thatyou've completed another project. Nice job! |
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