Photoshop question

How do you apply a pattern to a text layer?

[Clark]

When you apply text to an image, it only lets you choose one color. How do you get a pattern on the text? Like for example a zebra pattern?

[dillonstars]

If you have your pattern fill in the layer directly above the text layer, and have it selected... ctrl+g will group the pattern with the text layer, thus filling the text with the pattern. ctrl,shift+g will ungroup it again.

[Clark]

What's a pattern fill?

[maccas]

One way to do it is use the horizontal type mask tool, then write your text, then create a new layer.

[moltar]

in PSP 5.5 and above(?) right click on the text layer, and choose "Blending Options...", then look at "Pattern overlay"

[dillonstars]

I meant a 'pattern fill' as any layer that you want to use to fill your text with.

You can use an image, a gradient or anything that you wish to use to fill the text with.

Using the ctrl+g method to group layers, you can fill shapes or text or anything else with any pattern that you want.

[Clark]

Thanks Dillon! I was really swimming but your technique worked. Unfortunately, Tte image looks awful :(

Oh well. Maybe I should stick to hiring graphics people for this kind of thing.

Geeks are geeks and graphics designers are graphics designers and never the twain shall meet.

[Clark]

Another question. I have a picture of a horse with a white background. I'd like to select all other colors EXCEPT white. Well, actually if there are white pixels inside the horse, that should be selected. I saw someone use a magic wand tool to accomplish this, but could never replicate it.

[Maylin]

Use the magic wand to select the white background first. Go to the menu that says "Select" and choose "Inverse" (shortcut: Shft+Ctrl+I). Now everything but the white will be selected.

[Maylin]

Another way to fill text with a pattern is to do make it in a solid color, rasterize it, and use the paint bucket tool. When you select the paint bucket, at the top left corner of the screen it says "fill" and the default is "forground". Just change that to "pattern". (This isn't as fast as the method dillonstar mentioned but I thought I'd go ahead and mention another way of doing it).

[Clark]

What does rasterize do?

[limbo]

This [google.com] might help :)