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Post by haliburton on Aug 17, 2015 15:46:56 GMT
I have a piece of text on its own layer. I want to apply a gradient across the text but I get the message that it must be "simplified" which results in a rasterization. When I apply the gradient it covers the entire page. Where am I going wrong, please?
By the way, I was stunned to find Elements Village closed after all these years. I've had a great deal of assistance from the lovely people there.
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Post by Major Major on Aug 17, 2015 15:59:22 GMT
Greetings, Haliburton.
Try this. Duplicate the layer, simplify the duplicate, and apply the gradient to that layer. That way, you can easily change the original text layer (and repeat the gradient process) if you need to.
And welcome to Photoshop Elements & More. You'll find that a lot of the same helpful EV people have joined us, as well as some new faces, and are happy to answer any questions.
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 17, 2015 17:27:33 GMT
Hi haliburton, welcome to PSE&M!
You need to load your text as a selection. Ctrl-click (Cmmd-click on a Mac) on the layer thumbnail, not on the layer name. You will see marching ants around the text. When you apply the gradient, it will be confined to the text. |
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Post by Major Major on Aug 17, 2015 17:54:03 GMT
Sepiana -
That's what I thought at first, but at least in PSE13, the program seems to demand the layer be simplified.
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 17, 2015 18:35:16 GMT
Craig,
I believe the need to simplify a text layer before applying a gradient has always been in Elements (going back to version 4 at least). The Ctrl-click technique to load the text as a selection is just to prevent the gradient from being applied to the whole layer.
There are two methods which allow you to apply a gradient to a text layer without simplifying it first.
Use the gradients available in the Graphics panel (Content panel in earlier versions) -- Window>Graphics>By Type>Text.
OR
1. Type your text.
2. Create a blank layer and apply the gradient to it.
3. With the gradient layer selected, do Ctrl-G (Cmmd-G on a Mac). These two layers are now clipped together and the gradient effect is visible only in the text.
NOTE: Both techniques will allow you to go back and edit your text. Also, if you use the second technique, you can change the gradient as it is on its own layer.
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Post by haliburton on Aug 17, 2015 18:37:11 GMT
I followed Sepiana's recommendation and got it! Thanks so much.
And it's nice to hear from two familiar "old" names.
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Post by Major Major on Aug 17, 2015 18:42:44 GMT
Sepiana -
I'm not familiar with the first method you cited, but of course the second you mentioned will work. Again we see how one of the neat things about PSE is how many different ways there are to accomplish the same thing. What won't work, however, is the method you described in your first post here.
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Post by cats4jan on Aug 18, 2015 1:54:27 GMT
I just had to go and try. I was very surprised that I had to simplify the text layer to use the gradient tool. I figured the simple act of making a selection of the text would be sufficient to get around the need to simplify.
I am not happy that I have to simplify - seems silly to make us do that. If it was significant amounts of text, I guess I would care about simplifying and thus, I'd duplicate the layer or group, but since I usually only do this on a word or two, it doesn't much matter. I'll just simplify when prompted and be done with it.
But - it sure did surprise me that I had to simplify.
Just what had I been doing all these years? LOL
I'm guessing I have been grouping/clipping. Ever since I learned how to group/clip text with the layer above to change my text to something fancy, I've probably been grouping.
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