2.8 text tool

2-ton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 3:28 pm **(#1)**

GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

Argh, I cannot figure out how to use the text tool in 2.8. I cannot remember if there is a tutorial on it. I can get text, but I have to finagle and muff my way around, and when I undo, I can see that there are a bunch of text layers to get rid of. How can I just get into a text box that works similar to the old text tool???

Gms9810 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 3:42 pm **(#2)**

I don't like it much. It always starts as a 0 text size, among other things.

Esper · **Joined:** Jul 17, 2012 **Posts:** 2769

how about this ?

Video from : www.youtube.com

2-ton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:19 pm **(#4)**

hmmm, default info on my post....I need to upgrade to show that I use osx and mcgimp! thanks Esper...going over to watch that now!

*great tutorial...now if only I can remember it all! I guess I had better bookmark it!!!

molly · **Joined:** Apr 07, 2010 **Posts:** 14182

and this... :teeth

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4619

I love the new text tool, little frustrating at first though

2-ton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:18 pm **(#6)**

I like what I see it can do, it's just getting ME to be able to do it, lol. I sort of cheated and fell back on using the editor window, 0_o. Also, I tried to merge two text layers with an image layer, then recolor the merged layer to white but it wouldn't do it. I fiddled around and finally got it all the new color, but not sure how I did it, lol.

molly · **Joined:** Apr 07, 2010 **Posts:** 14182

You use the color box in the text editor to change the color. If you want to change just one letter, hi-lite it, double click in the text editor and change the color. If you want to change the size of the one letter, hi-lite it and change the size. you can also make the letters farther apart or change the height of them. It is an amazing tool when you get on to it.

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16174

If you have the text tool selected you can double click the text itself (any word) and that word will be selected for editing.
With the text tool selected you can also right click a text area and get another menu for text to path, and to open another text file along with some other options.

If you place a tick in the tool options box "use editor" the old editor will pop up.

If you select the text tool, and drag out a box before you type the text will wrap to the box for you.
And while you have the text tool and text box open you can use any tool options value such as resize or color.

Also if you accidentally click a text layer while trying to make another one and the dialog pops up telling you the text layer is rasterized, just click on create new layer. That creates a new text layer with the same text.Then just edit that text however you need.

2-ton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:34 pm **(#9)**

Well, I had merged the two text layers to an underneath layer with a graphic on it...so it wouldn't be text anymore, right? But it also did not want to be recolorized!
It is going to take me a while to be comfortable with the tool, right now I am flying by the seat of my pants.

2-ton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:57 pm **(#10)**

I have a feeling that I am making it much more difficult than it really is. It's going to take a while to get it all remembered...I just need more projects and tutorials, lol.

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16174

That is correct 2-ton.If you rotate, scale or merge a text layer you instantly rasterize it and it is now no longer editable as text.

One thing that bothers me is that there is no way to grab it and move it out of the way. It sticks itself on top of the text box.
I would like to be able to move it where i want it and then do my editing.

It can be tricky at times but i am sure you will get the hang of it in no time.