having trouble getting small text in gif to look decent?

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.

I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

"Les Caudle" wrote in message

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.
I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

First, Why are creating something for the Web at 300 ppi? Second, if your saving it at 300 ppi, why are you saving it as a GIF? How many colors are you using for your GIF?
Try choosing "perceptual."

You can use your System fonts with Photoshop CS, so if the font is on your computer, you can use it.
Perhaps with the trial version, this may be different.

From the lovely folks at F1:
In addition to the fonts installed on your system, Photoshop uses font files in these local folders:

Windows
Program Files/Common Files/ Adobe/Fonts

Mac OS 9.x
System Folder/Application Support/ Adobe/Fonts

Mac OS X
Library/Application Support/ Adobe/Fonts

If you install a Type 1, TrueType, OpenType, or CID font into the local Fonts folder, the font appears in Adobe applications only.

Peadge :-)

Les Caudle wrote:

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.
I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

If you convert Photoshop file with fonts on separate layers to JPEG or Save for Web, Photoshop tries to anti-alias with nothing. It treats the font layer separately and has nothing behind it to anti-alias with. This is true whether the layer behind it is transparent or something that you actually see. As you have noticed, it will give very jagged edges to the text.

The way around this is to flatten the whole image (or otherwise rasterize the text layer) before you Save for Web. This will allow Photoshop to properly anti-alias the text with the background. The edges then stay nice and smooth.

BTW, Photoshop doesn't have any fonts. The fonts are separate and managed by your OS or an addition to your OS. Photoshop will see and work with any active font your OS tells it is there.

Clyde

Clyde - I did rasterize each text layer and merge the layers (flattening give me a completely white image - my text is white on transparent background).

The end-result in Image Ready is much thicker text that looks horrible.

I tried changing to 72 dpi before converting. Again horrible result.

I am at a loss.

BTW - everytime I try to 'save for web' - I get an error about the original web browser I used to use not being accessible. How can I tell PS which brower to use for ImageReady.

Thanks, Les Caudle

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 15:11:43 GMT, Clyde
wrote:

Les Caudle wrote:

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.
I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

If you convert Photoshop file with fonts on separate layers to JPEG or Save for Web, Photoshop tries to anti-alias with nothing. It treats the font layer separately and has nothing behind it to anti-alias with. This is true whether the layer behind it is transparent or something that you actually see. As you have noticed, it will give very jagged edges to the text.

The way around this is to flatten the whole image (or otherwise rasterize the text layer) before you Save for Web. This will allow Photoshop to properly anti-alias the text with the background. The edges then stay nice and smooth.

BTW, Photoshop doesn't have any fonts. The fonts are separate and managed by your OS or an addition to your OS. Photoshop will see and work with any active font your OS tells it is there.

Clyde

Clyde wrote:

Les Caudle wrote:

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.
I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

If you convert Photoshop file with fonts on separate layers to JPEG or Save for Web, Photoshop tries to anti-alias with nothing. It treats the font layer separately and has nothing behind it to anti-alias with. This is true whether the layer behind it is transparent or something that you actually see. As you have noticed, it will give very jagged edges to the text.

The way around this is to flatten the whole image (or otherwise rasterize the text layer) before you Save for Web. This will allow Photoshop to properly anti-alias the text with the background. The edges then stay nice and smooth.

BTW, Photoshop doesn't have any fonts. The fonts are separate and managed by your OS or an addition to your OS. Photoshop will see and work with any active font your OS tells it is there.

Clyde

PhotoShop does have fonts... they're in their own folder under the Adobe/Photoshop folder.

--

x theSpaceGirl (miranda)

# lead designer @ http://www.dhnewmedia.com #
# remove NO SPAM to email, or use form on website #

the font thing

Do you have a vector program like illustrator or corel? with illustrator you have all your fonts easily available and can just copy and paste your text into photoshop as a path and then right click and choose "make seletion" ...bingo! Just make sure that you have the selection on its own layer (not the background layer) before you try to fill it.

I know PS has come a long way with fonts...but i tend to like to work with my fonts in vector first...then get them in photoshop and style them there.

JMHO,

hh

You have to convert your font to a shape first though.
"Clyde" wrote in message

Les Caudle wrote:

I'm using Photoshop 6 and the myriad font.

I tried creating the transparent image at 300 dpi and then using 'save for web' - but the text looks horrible in the transparent gif.
I'm evaluating Photoshop CS with their free trial, but it doesn't have Myriad.

1. What do I need to do to get the text to look correct and not like it was sent thru a defective transporter?

2. How can I move the Myriad font over to the box with Photoshop CS so I can tell whether it can produce a better image?
--
Regards, Les Caudle

If you convert Photoshop file with fonts on separate layers to JPEG or Save for Web, Photoshop tries to anti-alias with nothing. It treats the font layer separately and has nothing behind it to anti-alias with. This is true whether the layer behind it is transparent or something that you actually see. As you have noticed, it will give very jagged edges to the text.

The way around this is to flatten the whole image (or otherwise rasterize the text layer) before you Save for Web. This will allow Photoshop to properly anti-alias the text with the background. The edges then stay nice and smooth.

BTW, Photoshop doesn't have any fonts. The fonts are separate and managed by your OS or an addition to your OS. Photoshop will see and work with any active font your OS tells it is there.

Clyde

"jrzyguy" wrote in message

the font thing

Do you have a vector program like illustrator or corel? with illustrator you have all your fonts easily available and can just copy and paste your text into photoshop as a path and then right click and choose "make seletion" ...bingo! Just make sure that you have the selection on its own layer (not the background layer) before you try to fill it.
I know PS has come a long way with fonts...but i tend to like to work with my fonts in vector first...then get them in photoshop and style them

there.

JMHO,

hh

Why not just copy the fonts to the Font folder within Photoshop? Fonts in Photoshop are vectors until they're rasterized.

Peadge :-)

well...i have over a thousands fonts...and dont like to overload my decaying system needlesly.....plus i find that the fonts are much more editible and flexible in a vector program. i can tweak the font the way that i like it in illustrator or corel.....and then bring it into PS and then apply some styles to it that i like there. It is just the way that i like doing things. not saying i am RIGHT...just that it works for me "Peadge" wrote in message

"jrzyguy" wrote in message

the font thing

Do you have a vector program like illustrator or corel? with

illustrator

you have all your fonts easily available and can just copy and paste

your

text into photoshop as a path and then right click and choose "make seletion" ...bingo! Just make sure that you have the selection on its

own

layer (not the background layer) before you try to fill it.
I know PS has come a long way with fonts...but i tend to like to work

with

my fonts in vector first...then get them in photoshop and style them

there.

JMHO,

hh

Why not just copy the fonts to the Font folder within Photoshop? Fonts in Photoshop are vectors until they're rasterized.

Peadge :-)