Web Shop Design: Using Text with Images in Photoshop

As compelling as a product shot or Web shop photo may be, sometimes an image needs a little something extra — and often that is some text to enhance it. In the realm of e-commerce, text and images work well together.

For instance, they're often used in tandem when creating a logo for your business. In many other cases, you might add text to an image to reinforce the visual message or to explain better the product or service the image is introducing to your audience. Photoshop has tools for working with type on an image and in this article we will look at how to use type for effective messaging and branding.

Transform Selection and drag the selection over a good part of the image. Click the Add Layer Mask button at the foot of the layers palette to convert the selection into a mask — now only the part of the image that was under the text will show.

Using the type mask tool you can create a photo filled text effect.
(Click for larger image.)A second text effect works in a similar way, but this time the bottom of the image morphs into the text. For this effect, open an image and convert the background layer into a regular layer by double-clicking it and press OK.

Punch text from the foot of an image using the type mask tool and a Photoshop mask.
(Click for larger image.)Using the Horizontal Type Mask Tool type some text across the bottom edge of the image. Choose Select > Transform Selection and use the Move Tool to move the selection into position at the very bottom of the image and size it to suit. Click the Rectangular Marquee Tool and from the Tool bar click the Add to Selection button. Drag a rectangular marquee from the top of the image down to touch the top of the text characters. This makes a rectangle selection with a text selection attached below it.

Click the Add Layer Mask button at the foot of the Layer palette and the image will be clipped to the shape of the selection. You can add a new layer behind the image and fill it with a color to show off the cutout text.

Design should be fun, so don't be afraid to experiment with your images and messaging to see what works for your particular online business. Helen Bradley is a respected international journalist writing regularly for small business and computer publications in the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK and Australia. You can learn more about her at her Web site, HelenBradley.com.


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