Creating Type for the Web

Type in ImageReady works just like type in Photoshop. Using the Type tool (ImageReady’s equivalent to Photoshop’s Horizontal Type tool), you can enter type directly on the image, and format it using the Options bar, Character palette, and Paragraph palette. In addition, type appears on its own editable type layer. The type can be edited and reformatted until it is rasterized (if you wish, the type doesn’t have to be rasterized). When type is optimized in ImageReady, it is automatically rasterized, becoming a part of the image.

Remember

ImageReady doesn’t let you create type as a selection, place type on a path, convert type to a shape, or convert type to a work path.

Creating type in ImageReady

Using the ImageReady Type Tool, you can create horizontal or vertical text that is completely formatted as you would like it.

1. Select the Type Tool from the Toolbox.

2. Click the Original tab in the image window.

3. Set type formatting attributes.

   Using the Options bar, Character palette, and Paragraph palette, you can set font, style, size, anti-aliasing, alignment, and color. In addition, you can click the Change Text Orientation button on the Options bar to select whether you to create horizontal or vertical text. (For more about setting type formatting attributes, turn to Chapter 17.)

4. Click in the image window where you want the type to start.

   A blinking insertion marker appears in the image window.

5. Type your text.

6. When you’re finished entering text, click again in the image window.

7. The type appears on its own type layer in the Layers palette.

   Tip

   You may have noticed that the Options bar in ImageReady also offers the Warped Text option. Yes, you can create crazy, warped text in ImageReady and add it to your Web pages. To find out more about warping text, turn to Chapter 17.

Web type tips

There are a few things you should keep in mind when using ImageReady and Photoshop for creating type for the Web:

• When you jump back and forth between ImageReady and Photoshop, all type layer formatting attributes are preserved.

• Larger type works better on the Web. Because Web page resolution is a low 96 ppi, small type can appear quite dotty and be illegible. Larger type allows for a few more pixels to color each letter.

• Use Web-safe colors when creating type. If you use a color that isn’t Web-safe, Photoshop or ImageReady automatically applies dithering to the edges to approximate colors when the type is optimized. Dithering makes the edges of the type look fuzzy instead of crisp and hard-edged.

• When adding type to a Web page use a color that contrasts well with the Web page. Type that is too light on a light colored Web page is almost impossible to read. The same goes for dark type on a dark- colored Web page.