Stroked type

#1 08-27-2008, 05:58 PM

Hello,

I'm using Photoshop 7.0 (Windows XP) and I notice that when I stroke type, the actual stroke itself is rounded on the corners of the type even when the type has a right-angled corner.

I looked at some old Photoshop forum questions about avoiding rounded type borders (http://photoshop911.typepad.com/help...rounded_s.html) but, after double-clicking on one of my own trial letters, and going to "select", the modify-expand operations are grayed out.

If anyone could offer any clues as to what I'm doing wrong, they would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Fred.

#2 08-27-2008, 06:14 PM

Did you double-click in the Layers Palette and get an active selection (marching ants)? Double-clicking on the letter itself in the document won't do any good.

#3 08-27-2008, 09:55 PM

By the way, this kind of type treatment can be done easily in a program like Illustrator or Freehand.

#4 08-28-2008, 12:37 AM

Hello,

Thank you Ed for answering my question -- I was ready to tear my hair out in frustration! Your suggestion works.

You mention that I could also use Illustrator or Freehand. I have Freehand 7.0 and Illustrator 7.0, both bought many years ago when I had some spare cash, but never installed. Would those early versions be able to accomplish stroked type?

Thanks again,
Fred.

#5 08-28-2008, 06:41 AM

I believe so. I haven't used Freehand 7 in a long time but I'm fairly sure you can apply a stroke to type with a variety of styles.

Actually you can do this in Photoshop too. Choose an Inside stroke. I am not sure there is a way to do it with an Outside stroke, but you could make the type a Faux bold (from the Character palette) and stroke that for the effect you want.

#6 08-28-2008, 08:50 AM

The problem with stroked type is that it strokes to the inside and the outside of the shapes. Usually what you want is to only stroke to the outside, maintaining the original shape of the letters inside.

The way to do this is to have two layers of the type. The bottom layer will have double the amount of stroke you need, and the top layer, positioned directly on top, will have none. It will cover up the inside stroke from before.

(If you put an effect on, like drop shadow, which admittedly would be overkill, you would do so to the bottom layer.)

#7 08-28-2008, 09:39 AM

Don's idea is great! I had this problem too and never thought about having 2 layers of type to resolve it. Works for me. Thanks!!

#8 08-28-2008, 10:08 AM

That works. If the stroke is not going to be too wide the Faux Bold with Inside Stroke method works as well. In both Freehand and Illustrator strokes apply to teh inside only I believe (at least in te versions I have)

#9 08-28-2008, 03:31 PM

Don's idea is great!

Type is only the start of it. You can create roads and railway tracks for maps with multiple layers of lines with different stroke and dash or solid patterns. Not really a PS trick, since that type of work should be done in AI, but if you have to build a small map on a PS job, for instance, it can be handy.

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