Re: Unable to Add Text to Image

ronusa · **Joined:** Dec 28, 2016 **Posts:** 8

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

Newbie at Gimp 2.8 using Windows 10. I am able to add text to the canvas; but when I drag the text box onto the photo the text does not appear. What am I doing wrong? I first tried to add the text box onto the image itself; but the text does not appear when I start to type. I have searched all over google for help in regards to this subject; so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Ron

Blighty II · **Joined:** Sep 23, 2016 **Posts:** 317

Make sure that both your Layers Dialogue and Toolbox are visible.

When you add text it is added as a new layer and will show in the Layers Dialogue. So just add your text anywhere convenient. Make sure the text layer is above the photo layer in the Layers Dialogue. If not, use the Up arrow at the bottom of the Layers Dialogue to move it up.

Make sure your text layer is active in the Layers Dialogue. If not, click on it. Now use the Move tool from the Toolbox to move the text layer into position.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:46 am **(#3)**

Also. (I have had this trouble before) If you are writing text on a large picture, your text may need to be large also. Try making it larger and see if it makes any difference or if it is too large already you may need to make it smaller - Probably better to do the text layer directly onto the picture canvas [unless you want to add effects to the text then you will have to do it first and save as a picture then add as a layer], the picture will only stay as a 'background' until they are merged together

ronusa · **Joined:** Dec 28, 2016 **Posts:** 8

Many thanks for the info as you solved the problem for me as I did not have the text box at the very top in the layers list box.

yasky · **Joined:** Feb 07, 2017 **Posts:** 1

Hi,
Just wanted to mention that Sallyanne's suggestion to increase text size is what did it for me. I hunted ALL over the internet for more than an hour because I thought the text just wasn't showing up. It was just a matter of making it large enough. I was working with a large photo but didn't even think of that because image looked "normal-size" on screen, obviously. Was trying 18px font and had to bump it up to 106 before I saw it!! Thank you to Sallyanne esp. for the graphics in your post which caught my attention.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2017 11:09 pm **(#6)**

yasky wrote:

Hi,
Just wanted to mention that Sallyanne's suggestion to increase text size is what did it for me. I hunted ALL over the internet for more than an hour because I thought the text just wasn't showing up. It was just a matter of making it large enough. I was working with a large photo but didn't even think of that because image looked "normal-size" on screen, obviously. Was trying 18px font and had to bump it up to 106 before I saw it!! Thank you to Sallyanne esp. for the graphics in your post which caught my attention.

yw yasky. Can be frustrating when you don't know why it isn't showing up/Can't see it. I have left my text size too large from something I have done before and takes a little while to realize that is why nothing is going in to the text box where I need it smaller.