How to Add Text and Fonts in Photoshop

Summary: An overall guide on how to add text and fonts in Photoshop, together with a Photoshop alternative Fotor. Follow these steps to write text and change text effects in Photoshop.

how to add text and fonts in photoshop

Party flyers and invitations, book and CD covers, and even social media posts like Instagram stories all have one key thing in common: they all use typography! Typography is the art of arranging letters and text in a way that makes the copy legible, clear, and visually appealing. With most typography starting with learning how to add text in Photoshop.

Let’s take a look at not only how to add text in photoshop, but also how to change text color in photoshop and how to add your own fonts to your computer. Then we will cover an even easier, and more affordable way to add text to your images using Fotor!

design inspration

1. How to Write Text in Photoshop

  • Add text in Photoshop

First, let’s start learning how to add text in photoshop.

Open up your image, and then select the Text tool found on the left-hand toolbar.

Click anywhere on your image and start typing your text!

I will be using the quote “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” by Mark Twain.

add text to the moon picture in photoshop
  • Change the Texts Settings

Now, let’s change the font’s settings, including the Font, font size, font alignment, font color. Change a text’s font-face by selecting your text, and going to the upper-left-hand toolbar. Click the dropdown menu, and select from any of the pre-installed font faces! Below, I am using the free font-face Georgia.

adjust the text position

You can change the font size by selecting your text, and then looking towards the middle of the top toolbar.

Change the numbers next to Size to increase or decrease the size of your text.

change font size in photoshop

Alternately, you can use the Move tool by select the Move tool, clicking on one of the six anchors that appear, and then pulling out or pushing in.

Pulling out will enlarge the text while pulling in will shrink the text.

how to change font size in photoshop2

Change a text’s font alignment by clicking the text, and then choosing one of the three-lined icons found ion the upper toolbar.

You can choose either left, centered, or right-aligned. Below I have chosen left-aligned!

how to change font alignment

Change the color of text by once again selecting your whole line of tet.

Now, click on the colored square foud at the bottom of the side toolbar.

From here you can choose any color you’d like!

how to change text color in photoshop
moon quote

2. How to Install Your Own Fonts

Did you know you can install your very own fonts onto your computer? It’s not only free but very easy!

Step 1

First, go to a site like www.dafont.com or theleagueofmoveabletype.com, and download any fonts you’d like by clicking on the Download button. I will be downloading the font Leauge Gothic from The Leauge of Moveable Type.

Step 2

Save the .zip file anywhere on your computer, like your desktop.

Step 3

Once saved, locate back to the .zip file and double-click on the .zip to open it, then drag and drop the files out of the .zip and onto your desktop.

Step 4 Option 1

Select the font files, usually .ttf or .otf, and then Right-click > Install.

Step 4 Option 2

Alternatively, you can place the font files into the Fonts folder, usually found C:\Windows\Fonts.

The Fonts folder can be also be reached by going to the Start Menu > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Fonts.

Once the font files have been dropped into the Fonts folder, you can delete all of the desktop files!

3. How to Add Text Effects

There are several simple and easy text effects you can add to any text to help customize them and add to your design. Let’s walk through a few easier ones. Try to experiment, and even mix and match to get different results!

  • Add Shadow to Text in Photoshop

Add a drop shadow to text by first typing out your text.

Next, double-click on the text’s layer in the Layer Panel and check Drop Shadow. Here you can change the opacity, distance, and size.

Once you have adjusted all of your settings, hit ok!

how to add shadow to text in photoshop
  • Add Stroke to Text in Photoshop

Add a stroke to any text by first typing out your text.

Next, double-click on the text’s layer in the Layer Panel and check Stroke. Here you can change the color, thickness, and opacity.

Once happy, click ok!

Below, I also lowered the text layer’s Fill to 0% in order to give it the appearance of being see-through.

how to add stroke to text in photoshop
  • Put Image in Text

You can clip an image into text by Holding down Alt (or Option if on a Mac) and positioning your mouse cursor over the line dividing the text and image layers in the Layers panel.

Click your mouse button. The image will now be inside of your text!

how to put image in text
  • Put Text Behind an Image in Photoshop

First type out your text, placing it above your image.

Next duplicate the image, bringing the duplicate above your text.

Now, using the Object Selection Tool to select the object you want your text to be behind.

Add a layer mask, and now your text will appear as if it’s behind the object!

how to put text behind an image in photoshop

4. How to Add Text to An Image Without Photoshop

Introducing Fotor!

Looking for a quicker and easier way to add text that doesn’t require a large, and expensive, program like Photoshop? Then Fotor is exactly what you are looking for! Even if you are currently a Photoshop user, sometimes you don’t want to go through the trouble of opening it up just to add some text to an image, or you might not be at a computer where Photoshop is installed. That is why I highly recommend Fotor, if not solely because you can access it anywhere at any time.

Add Text to Image
Fotor

Add text to image online in seconds with Fotor’s free text adder.

Choose from thousands of fonts and text overlays to create stunning images.

Add Text to Image

Let’s take a look at how you can add some text to your own images!

  • How to Add text in Fotor

Step 1

First, upload your image into Fotor, and select the Text tab found on the left-hand sidebar.

upload a desert picture to fotor text tool

Step 2

Next, choose either Heading, Sub Heading or Body Text depending on what you are typing.

Go ahead and type in some of your text!

add text to the desert image with fotor
  • How to Add Text Effect in Fotor

Step 1

First, let’s change the text’s color by clicking the black square in the upper left-hand corner.

I’ll be going with white.

change text color to white in fotor

Step 2

Next, let’s add a drop shadow by selecting the icon of a ball with a shadow, found on the right-hand side of the upper toolbar.

You can replicate my settings below for a subtle pink drop shadow.

add blue drop shadow to the text in fotor

Step 3

Finally, you can adjust the opacity, or transparency, of the text by using the slider found to the upper-right hand side of the top toolbar.

You can also duplicate a layer by using the Clone button and adjust the size and angle by using the anchor points that are sounding any selected text!

adjust the text transparency

Fotor has all the same tools that Photoshop has without the bulk or the price tag, making it my personal favorite way to quickly add text or edit my images on the go!

4. FAQ

What is the best alternative for Photoshop?

Fotor is a great Photoshop alternative as it’s completely based online and required no bulky software and is much easier to learn how to use!

What fonts are free for commercial use?

There are hundreds of fonts that are free for both commercial and personal use. Some of the most popular fonts include Georiga, Bebas Nue, Time New Roman, and Arial.

What are the best free font sites?

While there are a few different sites, dafont.com has long been one of the most popular sites for free fonts, with a gallery of hundreds if not thousands of fonts all ready to be downloaded completely for free!

Looking for ultra-high quality fonts for free? A personal favorite of mine is theleagueofmoveabletype.com which are all free for both commercial and personal use!

What app can add text for free?

You can add text to any photo using Fotor. Along with customizing the font face, color, and other text effects for free.

How do you add fonts to photoshop?

First, download any font you’d like, next save the .zip or font file anywhere on your computer.

Once saved, locate the .zip file and double-click on the .zip to open it, and drag and drop the font files out of the .zip and onto your desktop.

Select the font files, usually .ttf or .otf, and Right-click > Install.

Outro

And there you have it! Adding text to an image is not only a great way to share important information, but it can also add to the overall design of the image. For instance, adding meaningful or funny quotes to an image is a great way to express yourself to perhaps your followers on social media, or send your friends and family!

And whether you are using Photoshop, or doing it even quicker in an online app like Fotor, adding text to an image is a skill everyone should have in their bag of tricks!