Adding Text as a Layer

You can use the Text tool in Edit mode to add text to an image. In ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate, you add text as a layer, so you can edit the text without affecting the image. You can customize the font, size, color, style, and alignment, and insert metadata. You can also adjust the opacity of the text to create a watermark effect, which is useful for placing copyright information on your photos.

You can save your image with text layers as a .acdc file. By saving in this format, your layers will remain editable should you re-open the image in Edit mode in the future.

You can add layer effects to text layers by clicking the fx button in the Text toolbar, and following the instructions from step 3 in the Applying Layer Effects topic.

Adding Text

To Add Text as a Layer:

1. In Edit mode, select the Text tool from the Toolbar at the top of the panel.
2. Choose the type of Text layer you want to add from the drop-down menu.
• Dynamic: using Dynamic, when you change the size of the text box, the text within it will increase or decrease with the box size.
• Frame: using Frame, you can increase or decrease the text box size while maintaining the size of the text within.
• Path: using Path, you can change the precise path the text takes.
3. Add the text layer to the image using one of the following options:
• Click and drag the cursor to create and resize the textbox or path in one action.
• Click in your desired area of the image. A text box or path is added to the image and a text layer appears in the Layers pane.
4. Click and drag the text box or path to reposition it anywhere on your image, or drag the box's handles to resize it. In the Text toolbar, you can choose Dynamic, Frame, or Path from the drop-down menu. For more on these, see below. In the Context bar, you can also choose or enter a specific point size in the Size drop-down menu.
   
   

If you make formatting changes after selecting the Dynamic, Frame, or Path setting, you could lose these changes if you switch to another type of text setting. For example, if you make a path for the text, and you then choose Dynamic, you will lose the path you had created.

5. Type the text you want to add either in the text box or along the path. When you add additional text boxes or paths, they will appear as separate layers in the Layers pane. When you click on, or edit text in any box or path, the layer will show as selected in the Layers pane.
6. In the Context bar, use the drop-down menus to specify the font you want to use, the point size of the text, the formatting options, such as italics or justification, and the color of the text.
7. At the top of the Layers pane, drag the Opacity slider to specify the transparency of the text.
8. At the top of the Layers pane, select an option from the Blend Mode drop-down list to specify how you want the text to blend into the underlying image.

You cannot enter an Edit mode filter while a text layer is selected. This will prompt a warning asking you if you would like to rasterize your text layer. After you rasterize the text layer it will no longer be editable.

While you cannot merge text layers with other text layers, you can merge text with regular image layers. This action will rasterize your text. After you rasterize the text layer it will no longer be editable.

You can add adjustment layers above text layers and clip them directly to text layers. See Using Adjustment Layers.

You can add a mask to a text layer. However, should you move the text layer, the mask will not move with it.

You can modify a text layer, including customizing style settings, by selecting the text layer.

Text Tool Actions

You can perform actions such as move, rotate, or resize on text layers, using the following key combinations:

Dynamic:

• Move cursor: moves text box
• Resize cursor: resizes box while preserving the aspect ratio
• Shift key + Resize cursor: resizes box without preserving aspect ratio (freeform)
• Rotate cursor: rotates the box
• Shift key + Rotate cursor: rotates incrementally at 45 degrees

Frame:

• Move cursor: moves text box
• Resize cursor: resizes box without preserving the aspect ratio (freeform)
• Shift key + Resize cursor: resizes box while preserving aspect ratio
• Rotate cursor: rotates the box
• Shift key + Rotate cursor: rotates incrementally at 45 degrees

Path:

• Move cursor: moves the entire path
• Move anchor point cursor: moves the anchor point
• Add anchor point cursor: adds a new anchor point
• Right click + Add anchor point cursor: deletes the anchor point
• Ctrl key + Move cursor: resizes the path, including the text
• Alt key + Move cursor: rotates path

Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Shortcuts for the Text tool

There are multiple keyboard shortcuts and mouse and key combinations that can improve your processes when working with text. Typical keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + A, etc, will work in text boxes. You can also use Home, End, Ctrl + Home, and Ctrl + End to move your cursor to the beginning or end of the text.

You can use Ctrl + Z to undo recent changes when editing within a text box. However, using the Undo/Redo buttons will undo and redo entire text actions, such as adding a text box.

This table covers all additional options.

You can also apply any Alt codes in text boxes. You can use the following keyboard shortcuts to add copyright information to your images:

Using Rulers and Guidelines with Text

You can use Rulers and Guidelines to increase your positioning accuracy when using the text tool. Some keyboard shortcuts can help you snap items to the guidelines, or rotate with more precision.

Using Dynamic or Frame:

• Use the move cursor to snap the anchor point to your guideline.
• Hold Shift and move the cursor to center the box on the guideline.

Using Path:

• Use the move cursor to snap the anchor point to your guideline.

Rasterizing Text

Rasterizing the text means to finalize it. There are certain situations when you may want to manually rasterize text, such as attaching masks to text. You can also select multiple text layers and rasterize once, rather than rasterizing layer by layer. Once text is rasterized, it is no longer editable.

To Rasterize Text:

With your text layers selected, do one of the following:

• Choose Layer | Rasterize Text Layer.
• Press Ctrl + Shift + T.
• Right-click your text layer in the Layers pane and choose Rasterize Layer from the context menu.

Adding Metadata as Text

To Add Metadata as Text to an Image:

1. In Edit mode, select the Text tool from the Toolbar at the top of the panel.
2. In the Context bar, click the Ins button.
3. In the Choose Properties dialog box, click the plus + signs to expand the tree and check/uncheck the checkboxes to select your metadata preferences.
4. Press OK. Your selected metadata will be added as a text layer.

When playing a recorded action that includes metadata added as a text layer, the result will include metadata from the original image from which it was recorded, rather than from the image upon which the action is being played.

See also:

• About Blend Modes