Vertical Text

[maggiestampa]

I'm trying to type true vertical text in PSE 4, where each letter is upright under the one before. All I can manage is to have horizontal type on its side (using the vertical type tool and the button that changes the orientation). Am I banging my head against this brick wall for nothing??

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Get hold of the text tool and then look at the top of the screen before you start typing ... you will see a T the a downward facing arrow next to it. Click on that and then type ... that should give you vertical text :)

Wendy

[maggiestampa]

I'll give it a try right now. Thank you so much.

[maggiestampa]

Thanks Wendy, but that's what I was doing and it is just sideways text, not with upright letters one underneath the other. I'm beginning to think it can't be done in PSE 4.

[kevq]

Hi,
I've just done a quick test in both PE3 & 4 a my vertical text runs with one letter under the other and not on its side
Click on the text key, hold it down and you should see vertical text, try that.
Hope this helps.
Kev

[Wendy]

Hi Maggie ...

I have just had a thought ... do you mean the text rotated ?

If so try this ...

Type your text as normal
Image>Rotate>Layer 90 degrees left (or right if you wish)

Is that what you mean ??

Wendy

[maggiestampa]

Sorry Kevq, I've even done a tutorial on type and it tells me the same as you but the text is still on its side. I've also looked at preferences, checked the handbook for PPSE 4 and they all tell me that vertical type wil have the letters upright but one under the other. Mine are still on their side. There are two of us trying this here but even two heads can't come up with the solution. I'm starting to wonder if it's just a button somewhere that needs clicking, but I can't find one anywhere!

[maggiestampa]

No, that's the effect I am getting using the vertical type tool. Tha letters are all on their side. What I want is for the letters to remain upright, just going down the page. At this stage everything I do is just like horizontal type rotated.

[CarolLHB]

Hi-is this it? I did just use the vertical text tool. Try resetting the tool, (the very first "T" in the tool bar.

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/6337/gm6id.th.jpg (http://img53.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gm6id.jpg)

Hope this helps:)

[Wendy]

Hi Maggie ...

Select the type tool
Click on the T with the arrow going down
make sure that a dark background appears around the T with the arrow
and then type in your text

... here is how it turns out

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4286/untitled14oh.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled14oh.jpg)


Wendy

[maggiestampa]

Carol, the reset tools option stays grey so I can't select it. But you are on the right track regarding what I want to do. I can't see any reason why I can't select the reset tool option.
Wendy, I can only get a white box surrounding the vertical type button. I've held the button down longer, left clicked, right clicked, stood on my head to click it, sworn at it, banged my fist on the desk, threatened to put my fist through the screen, kicked the dog - nothing works!

[Wendy]

Hi Maggie ...

I am using PSE3 on a Mac so it may look slightly different ...

Lets start again ...
Select the type tool
Now right at the top of the screen there are some small T's
One on its own which shows which tool is currently selected
and a group of four which allows you to change tool
Click on the T with the arrow
Does the T on its own now show the one with the arrow

...

if so then type something, if the text isn't the same as the one I did then maybe its time to reset the prefs file:

To do that close down Elements then click on the Edito start up icon and quickly hold down the Control, Alt and Shift keys (Mac users Apple, Alt and Shift). Continue to hold down all three keys until you get a screen asking if you want to delete Settings ... just say Yes.

Let me know how you go on :)

Wendy

[maggiestampa]

Thanks Wendy. The tool buttons are as you described but the actual type is still wrong. I followed your instructions for deleting settings but I got the message "Could not complete your request because of a programme error". This doesn't sound too good does it?

[Wendy]

Maggie ...

Oh that doesn't sound good :(

Which version of Elements are you using and are you using Windows ... if so which Operating System etc ?

I probably can't hekp as I am a Mac user but hopefully one of the windows users may be able to help ...

If the worst comes to the worst you may have to do an uninstall and then start over again ..

Wendy

[maggiestampa]

I just tried it once more and it worked!!!! Thank you so much, Wendy!

It's only taken me six hours(!!!!!), but I've sure learnt a lot about type in that time LOL! Now I'm off to hug the dog and apologise to her. Then I can go to bed with a restful mind.
Many thanks again.
Marg

[maggiestampa]

It worked once and then reverted to the sideways text. It looks as though I'll have to uninstall. I'm using PSE 4 on Windows XP Home. Now I have to learn about backing up my new brushes and patterns etc. Sigh!
I'll wait until the morning to see if anyone else can suggest a way other than uninstalling. It's time for bed here and my brain is addles after all of this.
Thank you Wendy, Kev and Carol for giving me your precious time.
Marg

[Wendy]

Oh Marg ...

I was so pleased when I read your first message then I read the second and now I just haven't a clue what is going on.

Try again in the morning ... create a new image and use that. Just in case its a problem with the one you are using (Just do File>New Blank file ... and make sure its set to RGB)

Will keep my fingers crossed that it works in the morning :)

Wendy

[maggiestampa]

I've tried agian this morning but the text keeps reverting to the old way so I'm going to have to uninstall and retry. I'm also having problems with the programme running very slowly and even stopping for minutes at a time, when everyone here tells me it shouldn't with the equipment I have. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I've just got to sort out the problem I'm having backingup the catalogue and then I'll give it a go. Thank you so much for being so generous with your time and knowledge.
Cheers
Marg, in Western Australia

[Wendy]

Hi Marg ...

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it goes well ... do let us know how you go on :)


Wendy

[CarolLHB]

Good luck, Maggie-I know this has been frustrating, but as Wendy said-a Windows user should be along shortly:)