Stoke(ing) Text

[freddred]

Call me a dumb dumb....but I cant figure out how to put the stroke effect around a text layer. When I highligh the text or CTRL Click the layer, the "Stoke Outline Selection" option is grey out ....What am I doing wrong?

Cheers,

Fred.:(

[kevq]

Fred,
try selecting the text by Control Click, you will get the marching ants.
Then open a new layer above the text layer and then apply your stroke.
Kev.

[TonyW]

Not so dumb - you can't directly stroke a selected text layer but there are other ways. If you want to leave the text editable you can add a layer style like drop shadow. Open the style settings and check the stroke box (and change the color if you want - as long as you have a more recent PSE version). You can uncheck the drop shadow if you don't want it.

You can also simplify the text layer (right click and simplify) and then select and stroke it. Or select the text, add a new layer and stroke the selection on that layer.

Probably a few more ways too :)

Tony

[freddred]

Sorry Kevq, still not working....this used to be so easy in PS7. Just to clarify ....I am using Adobe Element for Vista and have a PSD file saved with about 4 text layers. I have the Text tool selected and when I press CTRL (keyboard) and click (mouse) the text just gets underlined to indicate that its selected.

When I open a new text layer I still dont see any options available for Stroke...Am I doing this wrong?

[freddred]

Aha.....Simplify!!!!!! That's the way to do it....Cheers, Fred. Or even better I just tried the Style option and found it that way.....

[cats4jan]

It is not necessary to simplify a text layer to make a selection of it.

control click on the THUMBNAIL - the T ICON - in the layers palette.

Then - while the text is selected (marching ants) - open a new layer above it and go to edit> stroke

control d to deselect

Make sure to rename this new layer - the thumbnail in the layer palette will be difficult to see.

This has the added advantage of later being able to delete this stroke layer.

And if you turn off your original text layer - you will have only the outline of your word - which can be a useful effect, too.