Help with text

[Allyson]

Hi,

I am using PSE 3, and when I try to use text, would like to be able to see a sample of what the text looks like before selecting and typing it -- any way there is an option to set for this?

Thx in advance,

Allyson

[Pauline]

Unfortunately Allyson there is not a 'sample' of the text with pse3.

What you can do though is pick any text and type with it and hit enter. Now with the layer still active and the text tool active, you can go back up to the text selection and highlight it and then use the up and down arrows and your text will change and you can see what it will look like.

[rmartin]

PSE3 uses the fonts already installed on your 'puter. You can search fonts on your computer to look at them individually, but I don't know if there's a way to see them all at once. I have an Arts and Letters program, and it has all the fonts listed in collums just as they would look. I asked before if someone knew of a site which has all the standard fonts on a viewable page, but I didn't get any replies. I've tried searching for such a site, but wasn't able to get past the tens of thousands of special font pages.

[GaryK]

There are a few freebie products to view your fonts, as well as some pay ones. The pay ones tend to have some printing options.

In PE3, as Pauline has said, you need to have your text highlighted as well as the font name in the options bar. Then using the arrow keys (or scroll wheel) scroll through the font names. The text will change on screen.

In PE4 they have changed it. I think it has a preview/sample beside the font name in the options bar. Trying to remember..I'm not using 4 yet. :)

[Jan Ruthig]

Allyson,

Here is a link to a recent discussion about fonts and a free downloadable font reader. Hope this helps! :)

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8080&highlight=Font

[sharlmitch]

Hi Allyson.

I just downloaded a free font viewer, which someone on this forum sent to the didital scrapbook section. I downloaded it to my desktop, it reads all the fonts in your computer and works great! There is also a zoom button on it so you can see them as large as you like. :)

http://www.styopkin.com/details_free_and_easy_fonts_viewer.html

Sharon

[Jan Ruthig]

Sharon,

I think we were posting at the same time :D .

Allyson,
The link I gave you discusses the website that Sharon gave you and another similar one.

[sharlmitch]

Yes, Jan we were!

Great minds think alike!:)

Sharon

[Jan Ruthig]

:D :D :D Yes, that must be it! ;)

[mom to 4]

Where do you put it after you download it???

[Jan Ruthig]

It will default to C:\Program Files and if I remember correctly, it will ask where you want the shortcut to be placed. Mine is on my task bar.

[Pauline]

Hey Gary, you DON'T have to have your text highlighted!! I used to think so too until I watched a video on text (and tried it). As long as the layer is active and the text TOOL is active, all you have to do is highlight the text in the text selection box NOT the actual text.

[GaryK]

Pauline

Thanks.. I'll give it a whirl.

[GaryK]

Pauline

OOOOOOO.. I like that :D :D

[Pauline]

Gary I learned a few trick watching the tutorial on lynda.com. Sadly a lot of books seem to overlook the text tool and assume you know how to work it. I also found out that if you hold your mouse BELOW the text with the text layer selected and text tool selected, you can move it around. I was always grabbing the move tool to do that.

[rmartin]

Thank you so much for the font viewer link! It works great!

[Allyson]

Guys,

Thanks for all the awesome info. I LOVE this forum. You are all so helpful.

I am off to try my hand with some new text stuff -- I usually keep away from text as it intimidates me -- always seems so quirky.

Again, thanks for your help - it is much appreciated.