What the key to text?

[TheVille31]

Ive been tryin to get back into photoshop just for something to do really. Help a few friends out with cd covers.

Anyway im decent at everything but text. It always comes out really cheesy. I just dont know what to do. Its such a weak point for me.

any tips?


appreciate it.

here is the last thing i did...been fuckin around with gradient maps and what not.

dont be too harsh i just started again last week. lol

 

[qwasian]

you know what I would put in my mind.......

type in white impact text across it......DJ SLEEPY BEATZ

then anything that improves the look use it, anything that doesn't don't use it......

sometimes I just leave the text all white, 90% of them effects your trying are not going to work.......don't use any of that bevel shit etc unless u know what your doing

 

[menlohog]

Are you talking about text effects or typography?If your'e talking type you should get some typography books they helped me a lot.

 

[Rezin]

First off.... Simple is better. never use anything crazy just because you think it's "cool".

Don't use text effects ( Ie. Bevel emboss) if your just starting out. But... If you must, make it subtle.

You gotta have an eye for what looks good and doesn't... U aint gunna make it in graphic design if you aren't a good designer.

It's more than just throwin text anywhere make sure the placement is good.

Steer clear from sites like Dafont.com.... they are littered with horrible, horrible type.

And last but not least....just look at all the different fonts you can...http://welovetypography.com/

 

[thebrain]

not an expert at this, but here are 2 rules i go by:

rule #1: make sure it is EASY to read. your font needs to be legible. make sure that it is not the same/similar color to the background, so much that you have to squint your eyes to read it

rule #2: simpler is better. everyone tries to use "effects" and make the text look "cool"... outer glow on photoshop usually sucks. stroke and outer shadow is ok, but they should be avoided as i call it cheating. i use stroke a lot, but only when i have to

 

[ChittyBang]

Like everyone said those plug ins suck best way to do text is layers unless you know how to work the bevel because if you add shadows to the bevel & there not positioned right they come on funny

 

[LyfeCentenz]

Steer clear from sites like Dafont.com.... they are littered with horrible, horrible type.
http://welovetypography.com/

Dafont ain't bad if you just steer clear of the horrible type, theres some good shit on there.

I SAY

make sure you have good contrast from your background and your lettering

avoid having your text or logos covering up parts of the artist or product your promoting

only use small to hairline stroke if you need to

and make a thumbnail image of your cover when your done and if you cant read your main logo... 8 times outta 10 fix dat shit

 

[TheVille31]

thanks everyone

 

[AKAZIE]

IMO, the key to text is to just sit there and literally look thru 4000 fonts untill the right one fits..shit takes hours sometimes. to save time, i would just make a huge PSD file off all the okay to great fonts to refer to for future use. it will save you hella time. so you can open it up and just drag the one you like.