Advanced Photoshop CS Tutorial: Customizing Text Using Vectors In Photoshop

If you worked with Macromedia freehand before you may know what is this topic about .In free hand there is an option of grouping and ungrouping text point , with text point I mean the point that shaping the text , for example if you writing "I" in free hand this "I" character is a group of point shaping this "I" which is for instance four points , Point in every corner of this character forming the chap of the "I" .

To break this character in free hand is a simple and easy step , and this is because free hand using vectors technique in drawing and writing , so you be able to broke any character , shape or drawing . In Photoshop we don't use vectors , and we can't break or customize text characters or drawing as the free hand do , now every thing is changed .

In the last versions of Photoshop …. Cs,Cs2 there is many new hidden feature , in this topic one of this hidden feature will be revealed … Customizing Text using vectors !

Step#1:
Open a new design document , Define the height and width as your text may need .
- The first step is to write your text , try to choose a fine font type .
- Now select your new text layer Go to : Layer > Type > Convert to Shape .

This step is the first trick , this will convert the text layer to a vector shape , this step is the same as breaking text or ungrouping in macromedia free hand .With the selected text converted to shapes every character is a group of points that forming this shape .

- We will use are the Path Selection Tools and the Pen Tools to modify or move this points . You're also going to get used to this Modifier keys Shift for moving , Ctrl ( or command key if you are using a Mac ) for selecting and more.

Take a look at the attached images for this step .

Step#2:
In this step you will you mast use you ability to create , modify and change . I will just give you the main point of how you can move and add or delete points then you start to use your creativity .

You can take a look at my steps of text changing attached , it will give you an idea about what you need to do .

- Direct Selection Tool (white arrow) is for selecting points , once you have selected your point you can move it either by using your mouse or by keyboard .
- You can select more than one point or dot using the Selection Tool (white arrow) , by by using Ctrl ( or command key if you are using a Mac ) Key in your keyboard while clicking the left click in you mouse .
- If you click the Alt key while the selection tool is selected , your Direct Selection Tool turns into the Path Selection Tool temporarily. With that tool, you can select the entire character by clicking on it , Then you can move it all together.
- If you hold Shift + Alt you can select more than 2 entire character by clicking on them while holding down this keys.
- You may thinking about removing a point from a character , to remove a point or dot Select the Pen Tool. Just mouse over this points, the Pen Tool shows a little "-" sign, and when you click on that point, it will remove it from the path selections .
- Now if you want to add a point , with the Pen Tool selected mouse over the path and click to add points to the path. You'll see a "+" sign on the Pen Tool cursors when you're over the path.

I think that's all you need to now , So get to work and use your mind to create a customized text using vectors .

Take a look at my final design .

I hope you like this topic, it's a little hard and tricky but if you read it carefully and tried to create something using it , you will get an awesome output .

Until Next time , Have fun .