Quick Tip Tuesday: What’s that Tool?

When you dig into Photoshop and PSE, sometimes you come across tools that you really aren’t sure what to do with. The Type Mask tools are some of these, but actually, they’re very useful!

There are two Type Mask tools – the Horizontal Type Mask tool and the Vertical Type Mask tool. Just like the regular type tools you can use them to create type that goes sideways or up and down. But the cool part is that type is automatically used to create a selection! Why would you need that? I use it to cut titles out of papers, like this:

Step 1:
Choose the Horizontal Type Mask tool. It’s under the regular Type tool, just click on the Type tool and hold the mouse button down until you see the other tools revealed, then click on the one you want.

Step 2:
In the Options bar at the top, set your font and size (you may have to type a number in the type size box if you want it larger than 72 pixels).  Now type your text.  You’ll notice that the whole page goes red, don’t worry!  This is the mask:

Step 3: Click on the Move tool to get out of the type mode, and you’ll see that the red goes away and you now have a selection in the shape of your type!

Step 4: Press Ctrl C to copy and change to your layout, then press Ctrl V to paste, and you have your text made out of the paper!

So give it a try next time you want to cut some text out of paper, it’s fun and you’ll amaze your friends and impress your acquaintances. Tell them you learned it here!

Happy Scrapping!

Jenn

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