Adding Text to a Digital Photograph

Digital photography has added an entire new dimension to scrapbooking. With digital images, it is easy to add captions, dates, and even text to a photograph before printing. Sounds fun but intimidating? In reality, it's an easy process.

Here are the steps to add text to a digital photograph using Adobe Photoshop. The steps are similar for Adobe Photoshop Elements and other photo editing software.

1. Open a photograph in Adobe Photoshop.
2. Select the Horizontal Type Tool (T) from the Options menu. See Window - Tools.
3. Insert cursor anywhere in your photograph where you want to add your text. In my photograph of a seal, I wanted to add the text near the bottom to the left side.
4. Adjust the text settings at the bar at the top or in the pop-up text menu. Select font, font size, font color and text alignment. For my image I selected Ski, 14 pt size, black font color and align left.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Type your text. I typed the name of the animal, "Elephant Seals Mirounga Angustirostris" at the flashing cursor.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. You now have text in your photograph. If the text alignment is not correct, move it. To move the text, use the Move Tool (V). Grab the text and move it into a new spot.
7. There are many ways to edit the text if you are not satisfied. To edit the text, select the Horizontal Type Tool (T) and sweep out the text to be edited. Use the various text features to change the look of the type. Using the Move Tool, I moved the text to the right side and using the Type Tool, I changed the font to American Typewriter. Remember when you are changing from the Move Tool and the Type Tool you need to select the appropriate tool.

These same techniques can be used with a regular photograph that has been scanned and saved on your computer.

If you haven't added text to a photograph yet, take the plunge and add text to a photograph. If you have, expand the challenge by adding an entire journaling entry or the text of a poem or song.

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