Call Outs or Bubble Talk with PS Elements 6?

[mike2rc]

:cool: I have PS Elements 6 with Vista. Is there a way to add text call outs to photos (i.e. cartoon comments) or bubble talk as I've heard it called.

My friend said to use the custom shape tool but I can't find it. I've checked several books, but they don't mention it nor call outs or bubble talk. Is this available in PS Elements 6 or just PhotoShop?

Thanks,
Mike

[JohnnyN]

Mike,

Look in window at the top of the edit page and find and click on content. It is also in the shapes area but you need to open all of them by clicking on the double arrow to show more.

Hope this helps.

[Diana]

Hi Mike,

These are the Talk Bubble custom shapes that come with Elements.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1XkqszqS0zPGEAP0jUrXFXx1R7qZt1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1XkqszqS0zPGEAP0jUrXFXx1R7qZt1)

You can also download additional sets of speech bubbles or text balloons:

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/ss/textballoons.htm (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/ss/textballoons.htm)

Diana

[mike2rc]

Thanks for the info!!!
Mike

[mike2rc]

The content on my version is on the right (not the top) on the edit page. From there I don't see anything regarding bubble talk. There's a heart that says layer for shapes but I can't find any bubble talk.

I've seen the bubble talk add-ons on About.com. I'll keep trying.

Mike

[Diana]

Have you checked the Custom Shape tool dropdown menu. Usually the shapes are in both places. I'm using PSE6 and that's a screenshot from mine.

DIana

[Diana]

Here's where my shapes are going through the artwork palette at the right of the workspace:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1EvCdx2ymrKAsbCFRRlPUA1ScehgRX0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1EvCdx2ymrKAsbCFRRlPUA1ScehgRX0)

Hope you find yours.

Diana

[mike2rc]

Thanks Diana! I found the bubble talk layers via your screen shot and used create. I still can't figure out how to get text in the bubble. I still haven't found the Custom Tool for the drop down menu. I'll still keep trying.

Thanks,
Mike

[Bayla]

Mike,

Here's where you find the Custom Shape tool. It's nestled with all the other shape tools towards the bottom of the tool palette:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15Rb0FZ2LHXxRjsAONk3OsftQX1nd0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15Rb0FZ2LHXxRjsAONk3OsftQX1nd0)

Once selected go to the options at the top, click on the double arrow and scroll down to Talk Bubbles.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1h602tkWzFttD2kJqDndczJXl0tEHj0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1h602tkWzFttD2kJqDndczJXl0tEHj0)

Then draw out the one you want, and lastly with the text tool selected type whatever you want inside it.

Bayla

[mike2rc]

Thanks Bayla...I found the bubble talk that way. Still having trouble getting the bubble white although I somewhat know how and I can't keep text within the bubble with the text tool. When I hit the space bar to get the text back over into the bubble, a line just goes vertical left. I was trying to find a tutorial on You Tube but no hits on that topic.

I'll keep working on getting text inside the bubble.

Thanks,
Mike

[Bayla]

To keep the text within the speech bubble, first draw out a text box with the edges almost to the edges of the bubble, and then start typing your text.

Bayla

[mike2rc]

I can get type inside the talk bubble, but my text goes backwards to the left instead of to the right. I must setting wrong. Also, I can't highlight that text layer and move back into the bubble...I have to use another layer.

Thanks,
Mike

[Diana]

In the Type tool Option Bar there is a drop-down where you can choose text alignment. If the type is going backwards, it's probably set to Right Align or Center.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1uXQuPyXgF1CTKHVtvnvqWVBjXYKS0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1uXQuPyXgF1CTKHVtvnvqWVBjXYKS0)

Once you get your text typed, pull the mouse away from the text and you'll see an arrow with crosshairs. Hold the left mouse button down and you can drag to reposition the text to position it where you want it inside the speech bubble.

When you drag out a custom shape it will be created in the color of your foreground chip. So if you want it white, change your foreground color to white.

Both custom shapes and the Type tool will create their own layer. You may also want to a thin colored edge around your speech bubble, which is called a "Stroke," and you should create a new blank layer for that. So then you would have 3 layers:

1) the speech bubble made with the custom shape
2) the text layer on top of that
3) the stroke layer

To make a stroke around the speech bubble, do this:

Create a blank layer above the speech bubble and leave that layer active.

Ctrl-click on the speech bubble layer, which will give you a selection in that shape.

From the menu: Edit > Stroke (Outline) Selection.

Choose a color, enter a pixel width, select Inside for location, click OK
Press Ctrl-D to deselect

You should link all your speech bubble layers. Ctrl-click on the right side of each layer (not on the thumbnail) to select them. Then click the Link icon at the top of the layers palette.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1G1V6G7glrQCJYWmqXUtxkWKvEaP8v0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1G1V6G7glrQCJYWmqXUtxkWKvEaP8v0)

Now, if you decide to reposition or resize your speech bubble, all the parts of it will move as one. To move or resize the speech bubble set of layers, select the Move tool, make sure "show bounding box" is checked in the options bar at the top of the workspace. Then you can drag the speech bubble around in the workspace, or resize it by dragging inward or outward on one of the corner handles.

However, if you wish to change the text in the bubble, you must unlink the layers.

An easy way to select the text in a Type layer (to edit the text), is to double click on the T thumbnail in the layers palette.

Diana