Vector Text

Although vector text is not in and of itself an effect, I thought I'd illustrate one of the properties of creating text as a vector.

To demonstrate the difference between vector text and regular bitmap text (Selection and Floating), I'll have you enter some text as a vector and enlarge it. I'll then have you do the same using bitmap (Floating text).

When you compare the two at the end of the exercise, you'll have a good idea of how they differ .

1. To see the differences, open two new 500x500pixel images at 72dpi with the background set to white and Image Type set to 16.7 million colors.

2. Set the background color to black, set the foreground style to none, and set the background style to paint. Select the Text tool and left-click in one of the images to bring up the Text Entry dialog box.

3. In the Text Entry dialog box, change the size to 96, place a check mark next to Floating, and then enter the word Bitmap .

   The text should almost fill the horizontal space of the image.

4. Move the text into the center of the image and select the Deformation tool. Click and drag down on the control handle at the center of the bottom of the bounding box until you've reached nearly the bottom of the image window.

   Repeat the process by dragging upward on the top center control handle. The text should almost fill the image at this point.

5. Choose Selections, Select None, and you should have something that resembles Figure 39.22.

   Figure 39.22. Deforming ( especially enlarging) bitmapped text changes the quality.

   

Notice the poor quality of the enlarged text? This is what happens when you enlarge a bitmap.

Repeat the whole process on the second image but this time set Create As to Vector in the Text Entry dialog box.

You'll notice that this time the text comes in with a bounding box already around it. Drag the bottom handle down and the top handle up again to enlarge the vector text.

To finish (and this is an option you'll need to do often before applying any kind of effect to vector text), you'll need to convert the text to bitmap.

I know, it seems kind of funny to do so, but this will enable you to compare the two images and see the true difference between them.

To convert the text, choose Layers, Convert to Raster.

See how smooth the (formerly) vector text is (see Figure 39.23). Compare that to the text you entered and deformed as bitmap. Quite a difference.

Figure 39.23. Deforming vector text makes no noticeable change to the quality of the text.

There will be times when you'll want to create the text as bitmap, other times when you'll want to create it as vector, and still others when you'll create it as vector and convert it to raster (raster is another word that describes bitmapped images).

Using combinations of the types of text and the different filters available, Paint Shop Pro can produce a nearly unlimited number of text effects. All you need to do is play around, try new things, apply filters, and have some fun.

There are probably enough text effects to be the subject of a whole book. We've still got plenty of other topics to cover, however.

To learn a few more text effects, visit my Web site at http://www.grafx-design.com. You'll find some other text effects, along with some more advanced Paint Shop Pro techniques.