Word Art Overlays in DIP

Ó kimlizzy 2005

Word Art Overlays are simple to make in DIP. You can mix fonts within words, make the first letter of a word larger than the other letters, mix upper and lower case, add shadows and change colours. This tutorial will cover both PLAIN and SHAPED text.

Open a new canvas and size to suit.

PLAIN TEXT: Text/Insert Text. Type the first letter of your word. Using the left mouse button, highlight your letter.

Click on the Font dropdown box to select a font.

Click on the size dropdown box to alter the size. If the default sizes aren’t suitable you can highlight the size and type in your own value.

Move your letter into position.

Go back to Text/Insert Text and type the remaining letters of the word and any following words you want in the same font. Move into position. Highlight the words and select a font.

Continue adding words as above and position into place.

ADD SHADOWS: There are a couple of ways you can add shadows to PLAIN TEXT.

1a. Go to Text/Font and check the Shadow box.

Click on the Shadow dropdown box to select the type of shadow you want. You can also change the colour of the shadow from here.

1b. With your text selected go to Effects/Shadow and select the direction you want.

Click on "Customise the shadow" to change the transparency and edge softness of the shadow.

This method gives you more control over the shadow than method 1a.

SHAPED TEXT: Go to Text/Insert Shaped Text and select the style you want.

Type the first letter of your word.

Change the font via the dropdown box on the toolbar or via Format/Font

You can resize your letter by left clicking on the corner and either dragging in or dragging out.

Add the remainder of your text changing the font and adjusting the size to suit.

ADD SHADOW: When using Shaped Text you will notice different toolbar buttons.

2a. Click on the shadow button. A window will open up where you can select from several types of shadows and colours.

2b. Use the same method as in 1b.

2c. Duplicate your word and apply some transparency.

Example of different shadow effects:

a. done using the method in 1a above.

b. done using the method in 2a above. I reduced the transparency and increased the edge softness.

When you are happy with your overlay, flatten all objects: Edit/Flatten All Objects.

Save as PNG.

Dingbats can also be used to make your overlay more decorative.