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This lesson demonstrates how to constrain type within a Custom Shape, and how to utilise Photoshop’s spell check.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
How to operate the spell check here!
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Open a New image, and set the following attributes.
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Then set the Foreground to black and the Background to white. 
To set the colours, left-click the following icon.
Alternatively, press your keyboard’s D key.
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Now, from the left-side toolbar, activate the Custom Shape Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Illustrated by my screen capture here.
Left-click the tiny black arrow next to the custom shape, (also highlighted above left), then left-click the black arrow within a circle - signalled by the red arrow. In the subsequent drop-down list, click Animals - or your own choice, then double-left-click the shape of your choice. Your shape is now ready to apply.
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Now, with your cursor, draw (drag) your shape onto the canvas. After it has been applied, activate the Move Tool. 
Then left-click, and drag your Custom Shape to a central position.
Your Layers palette now resembles the following. 
Note
You will notice a thin black vector path surrounding your Custom Shape. This can be toggled on, or off, by clicking the oblong cat shape, illustrated below.
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To apply a Layer Style (Pattern, Gradient etc), to your Custom Shape, click the following black triangle, next to the Add a layer style (f, fx) icon.
Then from the subsequent drop-down menu, click Pattern Overlay - or a style you prefer.
In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, click the tiny black arrow next to Pattern, illustrated below. Then double-left-click to set a pattern of your choice, then click OK.
Your choice of Pattern Overlay will be applied to the Custom Shape.
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Now, activate the Horizontal Type Tool. 
Horizontal Type Tool lesson.
And change the type’s colour and settings to your own choice.
Important
Type cannot be automatically constrained inside a rasterised shape. This means, after the application, do not rasterise your shape, ensure it remains in its original vector form.
Rasters and Vectors information here!
Hover your cursor inside the shape, (where you wish to begin your type), and you will see the following I-beam.
Now, left-click, and a vector bounding box will immediately surround your Custom Shape. Note: The bounding box constrains the text inside the shape.
Begin typing your words; and as you type, they will automatically wrap within the
shape. Continue adding your text, and if you make a mistake, press the Backspace key (of your keyboard) to remove some text, then reapply it, until you have filled your shape.
Note: Depending on your choice of shape; to fill it neatly, you may need to experiment with the wording, and its placement.
After the type application, you are ready for the next step.
Now, click the Commit any current edits tick, from the type tool’s Options bar.
And your type application is complete.
Note
As long as you do not rasterise your type, it will remain fully editable. To re edit
it, activate the Horizontal Type Tool, and left-click inside your shape. This reactivates the vector bounding box, allowing edits to be performed.
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Operating the Spell Check
Right-click inside your Custom Shape, and choose Check Spelling from the subsequent drop-down menu.
The vector bounding box will again surround your type; Photoshop then highlights your spelling mistakes - or, what Photoshop construes as spelling errors.
Correct any mistakes by typing in your word, or by choosing one from the Suggestions list, then click Change. When your mistakes have been corrected, click Done. Then click the Commit any current edits tick.
Change the Spell Check’s Language
To change the spell checker’s dictionary; for example, from the default US English to traditional (UK) English; from the top menu, choose Window then choose Character, and in the following Character dialogue box, change the dictionary to your country’s language.
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To apply a drop shadow to your custom shape, first, activate the Custom Shape’s layer, (or activate the type’s layer if you wish to apply a Drop Shadow to it). Then click the Add a layer style (f, fx) icon, exactly as you did in Chapter 5. This time, click Drop Shadow from the drop-down list, and apply a shadow of your choice, then click
OK. Here is a screen capture of my Drop Shadow settings.
9/ Adding filters to the custom shape
Activate the Shape layer.
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Then from the top menu, choose Filter, and select a filter of your choice.
Note: Reply OK to the Rasterise layer prompt! I applied an Eyecandy 5 Impact Chrome filter to my Custom Shape, which changed my Custom Shape and Layers palette, to the following.
 
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To change the type’s colour; activate the type layer, illustrated above. Then activate the Horizontal Type Tool, and left-click inside the shape. Now, with your cursor, highlight your text.
Whilst the vector bounding box is visible, you are able to edit the text. When you have finished editing the type, (from the type’s Options bar), click the Commit any current edits tick.
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When you are satisfied with your work, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
Then link Here to learn how to fill the transparent background with a Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient. Alternatively, link Here to learn how to optimise (and save) your work.
You can have lots of fun experimenting with different Custom Shapes and filters - play, and see what you can create!
Wendi E. M. Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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