Creating Transparency Behind Type

DeadnightWarrior · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject: Creating Transparency Behind Type

I was told that making the background transparent behind type makes the text easier to read. I can't figure out how to do this. Say you have a black background with red type...I wanna make it so that when you drag the type, there is nothing behind it, as opposed to the black background. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm guessing you have to use layer masks, but I'm not really sure how.

White Warlock · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 11:57 pm Post subject:

no clue what you're talking about. How about some screen cutouts that you can display here (present and intended), so we have an idea what effect you want?

DeadnightWarrior · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject:

I don't think any pics will help, since I don't know how to do it. Let me try to explain again. I'm not trying to get any kind of special effect or anything. Again say you have red type on top of a black background. Even though the type is a different layer than the background, supposedly the black being directly behind the type makes it harder to read. So I was told by a company that does cd artwork that you take away the background behind the type. It will still look the same, but the text will be easier to read. Is this more clear?

JohnMcK · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 4:43 pm Post subject:

Since the text and background are in different layers, you can delete the background layer. Alternatively, you can keep the background to make it easier for you to work on, then turn-off the background before you save the output version.

DeadnightWarrior · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the response, and I know what you mean, but if you delete the background, then the whole background becomes transparent. I just want whayever is directly behind the letters to be transparent.

JohnMcK · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject:

Ah, I didn't get that the first time.

Try using a layer mask to accomplish what you want.

DeadnightWarrior · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:09 pm Post subject:

Would you be able to type out the steps I would use? Once I figured out what a layer mask was the other day, I seriously spent like three hours trying to use it for this, but I'm not good with masks yet. I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

White Warlock · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:44 am Post subject:

dread, an easier solution to this would be to give your text a slight outer glow. I do that all the time and it makes a huge difference in text clarity.

thehermit · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:06 am Post subject:

Just make a selection of your type layer, then move to the background and delete your selected area.

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