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You can add an artistic touch to text by adding variety in the size,
position and color of text, even within one word. With many compound
domain names presented as business logos, this technique is used a lot
on the Web. Enlarging the font on the initial character of the second
word creates separation, yet leaves no doubt as to the domain address.
Reducing font size can leave room for words that expand on the name,
forming an attractive variety that meets the eye as graphics, but carries
a message.
All graphic programs have the capability to vary text characteristics.
All accomplish the task in a different way. Again we will tart with
PhotoShop and PaintShop Pro here, with CorelDraw and Fireworks on the
next page.
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Varied text size and color created in PhotoShop
Use guides to help you position sections of text
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PhotoShop
PhotoShop does not provide automatic text variations, but there are
tricks to make this operation fast and smooth. You must first do a little
planning. Decide which characters in your word will be the same. We
must enter each group separately. In this sample, I had one entry for
each of the following: in; bus; i; ness; for life. Don't worry about
working with many layers for one word set. We will get to a solution
soon.
Enter your text for each group and choose your font, size and color.
Make all of your adjustments as text. DO NOT render the text layers.
Working with text in this way can be an exacting process, and we want
to maintain the ability to edit our text until we are completely satisfied
(and beyond).
Choosing each layer in turn, position the text segments. You will probably
find that you are making adjustments in color and size, perhaps even
font many times before you are satisfied. Choose View>Rulers from
the Main Menu and pull down guides to help you place the sections of
text quickly and accurately.
Without rendering the layers and merging, you can connect the segments
of text into one unit for positioning. In the Layers window, select
the first layer (any will do but logical steps pay off in the long run).
Move your cursor to the next layer containing a text section and click
in the square  immediately
to the left of the layer (see hand cursor in illustration at left).
Click and a link symbol will appear for that layer. Continue until you
have selected all sections of text. Your layers menu should resemble
the illustration to the right, with all linked layers displaying the
link symbol. You can now move all the layers as a unit. To edit, simply
click on the link symbol to break the link, edit and re-link.
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Initial entry in two separate lines with font and size
changes made to one word in each entry
Color changes to individual words
Vector text converted to individual characters to move
letters in each word independently.
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PaintShop Pro
With PaintShop Pro, we have to do some planning ahead, but you can
create a lot of variation with the initial text. You can adjust color,
font and size from the Edit Text window.
Type your text. In the first sample we have our initial text entered
as two separate vector text entries. The words "options" from
the first and and "more" from the second entry have been changed
to a different font and size. Note how just the word "more"
is highlighted in the Edit Text window. You can also apply color to
one or several characters in this way.
Finally, for this example, I want to move the word "options"
closer to the word "more in the first line, and move the word "more"
in the second line closer to the top line. To do this, I will have to
convert the text entries to characters. With the Vector Selection Tool,
select the text. Right click and choose Convert Text to Curves>As
Character Shapes. With the Vector Selection Tool, marquee select the
characters you wish to move. Position.
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