Help needed with type tool

[mumsie]

Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum. Hope someone can help me.
I have Photoshop Elements 4 and recently the type tool stopped typing! When I go to type something in a document, all I get is a small black square, which won't move. Although the type appears on the type layer, there is nothing on the actual document. I hope that's clear and I hope someone can help. Thanx in advance. :)

[BrendaC]

I'm pretty new also but the only thing that pops into my mind is
the size of your font. Sorry can't help you more Brenda

[Wendy]

Hi there ..

... and welcome to the forum :)

Try this:

Create a new File File>New>Blank File make it 1000 pixels x 1000 pixels RGB 3009 resolution.
Set your foreground colour to black
Now select the type tool ... and set it to Times New Roman 100 pt
Try typing and do you still get the small black square ?

If so then look at the top of the screen and in the top left hand corner (above the toolbar) you will see a T
Click on that and choose the option to Reset Tool

Hopefully that will sort it out :)

Wendy

[mumsie]

Hi there ..

... and welcome to the forum :)

Try this:

Create a new File File>New>Blank File make it 1000 pixels x 1000 pixels RGB 3009 resolution.
Set your foreground colour to black
Now select the type tool ... and set it to Times New Roman 100 pt
Try typing and do you still get the small black square ?

If so then look at the top of the screen and in the top left hand corner (above the toolbar) you will see a T
Click on that and choose the option to Reset Tool

Hopefully that will sort it out :)

Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Thanx for your reply.
I did exactly what you suggested, and the type tool works fine with those settings, i.e. no black square and I am able to type okay. So what now?
Also, I just realised that when I click in to the document to start typing, immediately after the square appears, the 'move tool' also comes up by itself, thereby stopping the type tool from working.

By the way Brenda, the size of the font does'nt seem to make any difference.

This is doing my head in. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Its starting to sound as though the problem maybe with the document you are using ... just check these things for me.

Open up the document and do Image>Resize>Image Size ... write down all the details in there and then post them in a message here. Plus what size of type did you try to use ... and what font.

I know its a lot of questions .. but hopefully it will help sort it out :)

It could just be that your document is very large .. and that is causing the problem.

Wendy

[mumsie]

Thanx for being so patient, Wendy. Here's the details you asked for.

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/2138/doc1rt4.jpg
I tried using the font Arial Black size 36.

I appreciate what you're saying, but somehow I don't think ths size of the document is the problem. I've been using elements 4 for about a year now and I've never had any problems with the type tool till now.

[Rusty]

The size is your problem.

Take a closer look at what you posted. Your image size is 500px x 250px but your document size is 500 inches x 250 inches

You are typing on it, you just can't see it 'cause it's just a speck on a document that's 41 feet by 20 feet is size. :D

change your document size to something like 5 inches x 3 inches, or whatever, and you should be OK

Rusty

[quillabee9]

Check your resolution. 1 pixel per inch isn't much. Try 300. Good luck.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Yes that certainly is what has caused the problem ... just decide how many inches you want your document size to be and then create a new file that size at a resolution of say 300 ..

... once you have done that then it should work just fine :)

Wendy

[mumsie]

OK...I got you guys. DUH! Stupid me, I knew it was something simple, I just was'nt seeing it. Thanx for all your help. You guys are great. :)

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Oh its one of those things .... its easy for somone else to spot but when you have been looking at it yourself for hours on end then its much harder to spot :)

Wendy