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Add and edit text with the Type tool

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Copy and paste text, edit and resize it, or add artistic text effects using the Type tool in Photoshop. 

Try out the latest features and enhancements.

Add or place text

  1. Open a photo or Photoshop document (PSD).

  2. From the toolbar, select the Type tool  or simply press ‘T’ to quickly select it. The Horizontal Type Tool with which you can add text horizontally is selected by default. If you want to add text vertically, select the Type tool again and select Vertical Type Tool from the context menu. 

  3. Do you want to add a few words like a heading or title? Click anywhere on the canvas to type it. In Photoshop, this is called point text.

    The other type of text in Photoshop is called paragraph text. As the name suggests, this is used when you want to type a paragraph. Select and drag the cursor on the canvas to create a bounding box in which you can type your paragraph. This helps you efficiently edit and align the paragraph later.

    Add titles or headings with point text
    Add titles or headings with point text

    Add paragraphs with paragraph text
    Add paragraphs with paragraph text

    Note:

    A type layer gets automatically created when you create point or paragraph text and can be identified in the Layers panel with the T icon.

    A screenshot of the Type tool in Adobe Photoshop on desktop is highlighted. The workspace displays an image of a room with large windows overlooking a tree with pink blossoms. The Layers panel on the right side shows a text layer titled ‘Lorem Ipsum’ currently selected and highlighted in orange. This indicates that the Type tool is being used to add or edit text in the image..
    The Type tool is used to add or edit text in Photoshop on desktop. A type layer is selected in the Layers panel.

  4. Type your text. To save your changes, select  in the options bar or press Esc and you're good to go!

Note:
  • To change the font size and color, see how to resize text and how to change color of text.
  • Don't like the Lorem ipsum text while typing? You can turn off the sample text. Simply choose Edit > Preferences > Type, deselect Fill new type layers with placeholder text, and select OK.

Select text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. To select the entire text or paragraph on a type layer, select the Move tool  in the toolbar and double-click the text you want to select.

    Note:

    If you are unable to do this step, you may not have the latest version of Photoshop. In this case, select the Type tool in the toolbar, select the text you want to select, and choose Select > All in the menu bar.

  3. To select one or more characters on a type layer, simply select the Type tool in the toolbar and then select and drag the cursor over the characters you want to select. 

Once you have selected your text, you can edit your text, change color of text, resize text, copy and paste text, and more.

Edit text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Type tool in the toolbar.

  3. Select the text you want to edit. 

  4. The options bar in the top has options to edit your font type, font size, font color, text alignment, and text style. For details, see this video tutorial.

    A screenshot of the interface of Adobe Photoshop on desktop, with the Type tool selected and highlighted in the options bar at the top.
    Type tool selected and highlighted in the options bar.

    You can also use the Character panel and the Paragraph panel to further edit your text.

  5. Finally, select  in the options bar to save your edits.

Create bulleted and numbered lists

  1. Select Horizontal Type Tool or Vertical Type Tool in the Tools panel to create a text layer.

  2. Select the text layer or place the cursor into the text frame to create a list.

  3. Go to Properties panel > Bullets and Numbering and select Bulleted list button or Numbered list button to apply the list style.

    You can also go to Paragraph panel (Window > Paragraph) and select the Bulleted List button or Numbered List button to apply the list style.

  4. To continue the list in the next paragraph, move the insertion point to the end of the list and press Enter or Return.

    Create bulleted and numbered list when working with the Type tool in Photoshop

  5. Photoshop uses auto-detection of lists when you create any sequence of lists using the keyboard like 1. or 1) or A. or A) followed by <space>. 

    You can choose to disable auto-detection of lists. To do so, deselect the Preferences > Type > Automatic detection of Bulleted and Numbered lists while typing preference.

Customize bullets

You can create custom bullets by using the keyboard as follows:

  • * <space>
  • # <space>
  • > <space>
  • + <space>

Format the lists

Use keyboard shortcuts such as tab or shift + tab to move to the next or previous indentation levels, respectively.

Copy and paste text

You can copy and paste text in your Photoshop document (PSD) from other documents. For example, from a Word file, a PDF file, a web page, or another PSD.

Copy and paste text from a non-Photoshop file

  1. In your non-Photoshop file such as a Word file, PDF, or web page, select and drag the cursor over the text to select it.

  2. Press Command+C (on macOS) or Control+C (on Windows) to copy the selected text.

  3. Open the Photoshop document (PSD) in which you want to paste the copied text and then select the Type tool in the toolbar.

  4. Select the type layer from the Layers panel in which you want to paste the text. If you don't have type layers or want to add another type layer, see steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  5. Choose Edit > Paste or press Command+V (on macOS) or Control+V (on Windows) to paste your text. To undo, choose Edit > Undo Paste Text.

Copy and paste from another Photoshop document (PSD)

  1. Open the PSD you want to copy the text from. 

  2. Select the text you want to copy and choose Edit > Copy or simply press Command+C (on macOS) or Control+C (on Windows).

  3. Open the PSD you want to paste the text in and select a type layer. If you don't have type layers or want to add another type layer, see steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  4. Choose Edit > Paste to paste your text in the center of your canvas. You can also choose Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place to place the text as it was in the PSD from which you had copied.

Resize text

Resize the entire text on a type layer

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Move tool  in the toolbar.

  3. In the options bar, do this:

    (macOS users) Check that Auto-select: Layer and Show Transform Controls are selected.

    (Windows users) Check that Layer and  icon are selected.

  4. Select to select the text you want to resize.

  5. In the transform box that appears, drag one of the anchor points to resize your text proportionally. You can also do the following when you drag an anchor point:

    • Hold down the Shift key to resize your text non-proportionally.
    • Hold down the Alt key to keep the center of your text in the same place when you resize text.
    • Hold down the Command (on macOS) or Control (on Windows) to explore skewed angles when you resize your text.
  6. Finally, select  in the options bar to save your edits.

That's it! Your entire text is now resized.

Resize one or more characters on a type layer

To change the size of specific letters, numbers, or words in your text, you can do this:

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Type tool in the toolbar.

  3. Select text that you want to resize. 

  4. In the  field of the options bar, select the text size option you want. You can see the changes in real time.

    Note:

    If you have a paragraph text and are unable to view the entire paragraph after resizing it, drag the corners of the bounding box.

  5. Select  in the options bar and you're done! To cancel your changes, select  in the options bar.

Resize text in two ways - use the Move tool or specify a text size value
Resize text in two ways - use the Move tool or specify a text size value in the options bar

Move text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the type layer that has the text you want to move.

  3. Select the Move tool  in the toolbar.

  4. In the options bar, ensure that Auto Select Layer (on macOS) or Layer (on Windows) is selected and then select the text you want to move. You can then view the transform box with the dark arrow.

  5. Select and move the transform box and then release it to place the text where you want.

    A screenshot of the interface of Adobe Photoshop on desktop, with the Move tool selected and highlighted in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. The Show transform controls option is checked in the options bar at the top, indicating its activation.
    Select Auto-Select Layer and Show transform controls in macOS

Change color of text

Change the color of the entire text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Type tool in the toolbar and select the text for which you want to change color. The entire text in the type layer is selected.

  3. Select the Color Picker (Text Color) icon in the options bar. 

  4. Move the color slider as you want and pick your color. You can see your text color change in real time as you pick different colors.

  5. Once you’re happy with your text color, select OK.

Change the color of one or more characters in your text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Type tool in the toolbar.

  3. Select and drag the cursor over the characters you want to select.

  4. Select the Color Picker (Text Color) icon in the options bar. 

  5. Move the color slider as you want and pick your color. You can see your text color change in real time as you pick different colors.

  6. Once you're happy with the text color, select OK.

Voila! You're done.

Align and justify text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the type layer from the Layers panel that has the paragraph you want to justify. If you want to justify a specific paragraph on a type layer, then select it.

    Note:

    If you have a word or a few words (that is point text), you need to convert it to paragraph text first to justify it. To change point text to paragraph text, select the type layer and choose Type > Convert To Paragraph Text from the menu bar.

  3. Choose Window > Paragraph to view the Paragraph panel.

  4. In the Paragraph panel, you can view the various Justify options. Select an option to view the changes in real time.

    A screenshot of the Paragraph panel in Adobe Photoshop on desktop  open and highlighted for text formatting. The Paragraph panel displays options for text alignment, indentation, and spacing to format text.
    The Paragraph panel displays options for text alignment, indentation, and spacing to format text.

  5. After you’ve finalized your Justify option, select  in the options bar and you’re set! 

Rotate text

  1. Open the Photoshop document with the text you want to edit.

    Note:

    The text must be on a type layer. Don’t see type layers in your document? See steps 2 and 3 in how to add text.

  2. Select the Move tool  in the toolbar.

  3. In the options bar, do this:

    (macOS users) Check that Auto-select: Layer and Show Transform Controls are selected.

    (Windows users) Check that Layer and  icon are selected.

  4. Select the text you want to rotate. You can then view the transform box around your text.

  5. Hover near the corners of the transform box. The cursor changes to a two‑sided arrow.

  6. Select and drag the curved arrow to rotate the text the way you want. You can also specify values in the options bar to get a more precise rotation.

  7. Select  in the options bar and you’re done! 

Rotate and warp text

Watch this video to learn how to rotate and warp text in Photoshop.


 Adobe

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