Daily Design Mag

Tutorial: Superimposing Text Onto an Image

Posted on 02. Jan, 2010 by Collin in Resources, Tips and Tricks

This tutorial will show you how to properly superimpose text onto an image so that the fill of the text is effectively the image seen in the background.

This is a great technique to use for everything from watermarking your images to adding informative text without losing part of the image or detracting from it’s view. The image we are working with in this tutorial is a photograph of the Point Loma Lighthouse, in San Diego, California. It is Public Domain and provided as a courtesy of PDPhoto.org. Feel free to download a copy using the same link. It may make it easier to follow the steps of the tutorial.

For this tutorial, let us imagine that we are creating a brochure to showcase tourist attractions in the San Diego area, and want to label this photo with it’s location. We want to achieve a sleek and professional look. We don’t want to detract focus from the photo. Also, we need to conserve space within our layout. To meet these objectives, we decide to superimpose the text, “Point Loma“, upon the image.

We begin with an image, by selecting File -> Open -> [image name], or using any of the appropriate methods for opening a document to the workspace with the purpose of editing.

Next, we need to create the text we want to superimpose on top of our image. We do this using the Horizontal Type Tool, with which I assume you are familiar. Now Write your text…(Note: a new, Type layer is automatically created as a result, and is now the top layer). Then highlight or select the text and open the character window, by selecting Window -> Character , to adjust the properties of the text.

Choose the preferred Font and Size, as those are the main attributes to be concerned with for now. You may also want to Bold or Italicize characters as well, depending on your preference.

Now, you should have one layer containing your photo. On top of that should be the text layer you just created. The text layer should have the focus ( i.e., be highlighted in the Layers Panel ). If not, select it now.

From the main toolbar menu, select Layer -> Layer Style -> Drop Shadow .

This will open the options screen for Layer Style Properties.

Leave the default values for each selection

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 75%
• Angle: 30 degrees
• Use Global Light: checked
• Distance: 5px
• Spread: 0
• Size: 5px

and click ‘OK‘. After completing the tutorial, do it again, this time changing some of these values. For instance, try increasing the angle to 120 degrees, or decreasing the opacity to 50% and see what happens.

… Almost Finished! …

Now duplicate your original layer, containing the photo, by right clicking it and selecting, Duplicate Layer, from the speed menu that pops up. Now left click and drag the duplicate layer above the Type layer that contains your text.

Now press and hold the “ALT“ key with one hand, while simultaneously using your other hand to move the mouse cursor between the top, duplicate, photo layer and the Type layer. You will see the cursor change into a circle, half filled black and half unfilled, as you pass over the border between the two layers. Left Click with this ‘circle cursor’ on the border between the two layers…I assure you this will make more sense after doing it!

When the effect is applied, the top layer will have an arrow pointing downwards to the type layer, as in the screenshot below.

Now, if you hide your base layer ( the original, bottom layer ), you’ll see that your text has effectively been filled with the background, and taken on the texture of, your starting photo.

See the magical effect? Unhide the bottom layer, select the Type layer, and try moving the text around with the Move tool.

No matter where you position your text, you can see the background contents of the image layer underneath!

And that’s all there is to it! A sleek and professional finish without detracting from the photo. Easy to read and requires no additional layout space!

Try using the Automate function to script the steps above for batch watermarking or branding of an entire gallery of images!