Add Text

[Dan Schulte]

Granted I am new...cannot seem to be able to add text...

Used text tool (horizontal), place location on image..confirmed size, font etc...type word...

Nothing! I've confirmed text is black on light background etc. Feeling very lame on first use! Please help.

[YrbkMgr]

No worries Dan.

You don't say what version of PS you are using, but lets go with v7.

On the toolbar there's a Text Tool. You know about that. In the OPTIONS bar at the top, there's a Text Pallet (visible after you click on the text tool). Make sure that Leading is set to Auto, tracking and baseline shift are set to zero.

When you type, just click once on your background and start typing. A new layer should appear in the layers pallet.

Make sure you are not using the horizontal type MASK tool.

Peace,
Tony

[Dan Schulte]

Hi Tony, thanks in advance. Using ps7

Not getting the text Pallet upon clicking the text tool? Got zillions of other palette options???

Is it hiding somewhere?

DS

[Dan Schulte]

Ok...got the "character" palette, though it did not open on its own. Both settings per your original note. Not using Horiz. mask, regular horizontal.

I type, enter, nothing...????

[Phosphor]

Dan, have a look at the big icon at the far left of your Options Bar. Click once on that to drop a Tool Presets menu, then click on the little right-pointing triangle at the top right of this menu. Scroll down and you'll see two sub-menu choices: "Reset Tool" and "Reset All Tools". This will often fix a problem simply by returning to default some tool parameter you may have overlooked.

This is the first thing anyone should do when a wonky Photoshop problem won't respond to other attempts at a fix. If that doesn't work, try ditching all of your Photoshop preferences <http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/6712.htm>. Reinstalling Photoshop doesn't reset them, and you end up using an old prefs set with the fresh install. If the problem resides in corrupted preferences, a reinstall alone won't fix it.

Hope that helps, and gives you a fresh insight into troubleshooting procedures.

[Dan Schulte]

Ok...did reset tool, no luck
then reset all tools, no luck
ditched all presets by starting ctrl +alt+shift on photoshop start up...still nothing

Any other options? DS

[Phosphor]

Home construction and remodeling?

;o)

[Dan Schulte]

Does this mean dead in the water???

Re-install?

Junk cd, get a new one?

[Phosphor]

If it worked before, then there's simply something corrupted somewhere. If the disk is legal, you can rule it out as the source of the problem.

Have you tried different fonts?

[Dan Schulte]

It is a legal copy, new. Just got the video pro bundle...new computer, new install etc...

I've tried arial, courier, tempest sans etc..no luck.

just re-installed, no difference. While I cannot say I know photoshop, I am not a 100% geek, maybe only 99.8% I'm at a loss. The first thing I needed to do with my new software/program, doesn't work.

What are my other options to figure this out or solve what is not right?

D

[Dan Schulte]

New observations...now I am finding that as I type, using only text keys on the keyboard, I am activating other functions besides the letters. Is is possible some other toggle preset for different hot keys is tripped?

It seems very odd.

[Phosphor]

Summon a friend who IS 100% geek to come over to your house and figure it out.

At the very least, offer him or her pizza and beer, whether they figure it out or not. It shows you've got some class and appreciation for their time and knowledge.

That's what I do when I'm stuck. Doesn't happen often, but it happens. Between my brother and me, we can solve any problems our Macs might have. Again, it's rare, but it happens.

[Phosphor]

I forget when this changed:

Does version 5.5 allow you to type directly into the document window, or does it pop up it's own dialogue box for text entry, with an "OK" button when you're ready to commit it to the document?

[Dan Schulte]

I guess that will be my plan...and here on Maui...my choice would be fresh Mahi or Ono w/ my own mango butter, broiled coconut molokai sweet potato mash and grilled pineapple

Thank you for your feedback.

[Dan Schulte]

Don't know anything about 5.5, 7.0 is my first real version...used a limited edition a few years ago. Generally no tech the past year, been traveling and just getting things going again. Seems like nothing but hassles from ordering the computer, getting cables, now software...ready to go back to pacific islands and surf without the grief.

[Phosphor]

But geeks PREFER Pizza and Beer!

At least, most of the ones I know do!

:o)
—Phosphor
(who has a high geek quotient, but who also understands the value of a great meal, and who should rightfully weigh 400 lbs instead of 200)

[Phosphor]

I have absolutely NO idea how or why I slipped version 5.5 into this conversation.

Please excuse my momentary lapse of reason.

[Dan Schulte]

So what about the keys activating different functions?

letter f, jumps between 3 functions, one with black screen, not sure what the other two are

letter s goes from text tool to clone tool

letter a, text tool to path selection

I don't know what's up??????? most other keys are doing something odd.

[Dan Schulte]

Is there some function control w/ hot keys...this does not seem normal.

[YrbkMgr]

Reset your preferences. I know you reinstalled, but look in the faq, or use the link that phosphor provided earlier and reset your preferences.

Your report of hitting the "F" key changing your screen display, means you are not in text mode.

Reset your preferences. Did I say reset your preferences? If I didn't, that's what I meant to say.

Also, click on text tool, draw a box. You should be able to type.

Reset the preferences <grin>.

Peace,
Tony