Learn how to create a text box and modify it for just the right look and placement.

Here's a photo that would be perfect for some type on the right. You'll find this photo called sailing.jpg in your Part 7, lesson two practice folder.

Select the Type tool and open Tool Options to choose a font, the size, the color, and I'll use Left Alignment. If you simply click on your document with the Type tool and begin to type, "A ship is always safe at shore," your type will not wrap automatically when you reach the end of your document. Of course, you can click inside the type and press the Return key. But it's much more convenient to have a text box that allows your type to wrap.

I'll click on the Cancel icon, and this time, I will click and drag with the Type tool to create a text box. You can make it any size you want... bigger, small, long or short. When you let go the mouse you'll see the text box and the flashing I beam of the Type tool at the beginning of the text box. Now you can type whatever you want and when you reach the edge of the text box, your type will wrap to the next line. I'll type, "A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it's built for." Click on the checkmark to commit the type.

If you want to adjust the type, click on it with the Type tool to activate it. Then click and drag from any other text box handles. If you drag from a corner handle, you'll maintain the original proportions of the text box. So if you want to change the proportions, click and drag from a side handle. You can still click inside and press Return. So I can click there and press Return. But I'll simply Backspace or Delete to undo that.

If the text box isn't big enough to show all the type, the lower right handle will contain a plus sign, which disappears as soon as you adjust the text box or change the size of the type until all the type is showing. Here I'll adjust the text box and commit the type.

At times, you may want to change the alignment. Open Tool Options and click on a different alignment. I'll choose Right Alignment because the type lines up nicely with the right side of the photo. And I'll move it over a bit.

Let's add one more thing; the attribution. This is something Albert Einstein supposedly said. I'll click once on my image to create a new text layer. I don't need a text box for just a couple of words. And I'll type Albert Einstein. Notice this text layer is also using right alignment taking its cue from the previous type layer. I'd like his name to be a little smaller. So I'll select his name by clicking and dragging over it. Open Tool Options and choose 16 points from the menu and then click on the check mark to commit the change. To move it get the Move tool and you can use your arrow keys to just bump it into place.

So choose the kind of text layer that suits your project the best: Straight line of text or a text box that will wrap your type and allow for easy adjustment.