Because there is a day for everything, today is International Label Day. There is a little celebration in honor of this day going on over at Rarasaur. When Rara contacted me a few weeks ago asking me if I’d like to participate, I made this labeled version of myself:
Basically I’m an introvert.
This is the same photo I use for my gravatar, I just added some text to it in Photoshop. The original photo was taken by my Mom, and I scanned it into my computer a few years ago.
As for the text, I will tell you now that the text tool is probably my least favorite tool in Photoshop. I think it is because I expect it to really sing and instead it has a frog in its throat. I use this tool also in InDesign and Illustrator. Because this tool was made to be used by designers I find the difficulties I have with it annoying. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work, you can get what you want out of it, I just think it is pretty easy to mess up and have to re-do your work.
In this case, what I have done is not too complicated. I did decide to make each of those lines of text a separate layer. I did that so that I could move the text around easier, which was important because the texture of the sweater was problematic. I also changed the color of the text a few times until I came up with a color that contrasted enough with the image. My original choice of purple blended in with the background too much. I then put a small stroke on each of the layers so that the text would stand out a bit more.
Do you have a feature of your favorite editing software that drives you nuts? feel free to vent below. Do you ever add text to your photos?
Happy International Label Day!
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
I understand about the text being a layer and having each line separate so that you could arrange it – otherwise it’s one block. But could you tell me what “…put a small stroke on each of the layers…” means, please?
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Surely 🙂 In this case it is the slight grey outline around each of the letters. I used it to help the text stand out a bit, but hopefully in such a way that you just read the text and not think anything of the effect that I have added 🙂 Hope that makes sense.
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Yes, it does make sense. I’ve had another look and it does make it stand out, without being too obvious. Thanks for explaining.
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Cool! Thanks for taking another look and that was a great question.
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I need to bring out my old dymo label maker and put it on a pedestal in honour of this day. 🙂
I’m generally not a texter on photos.
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Ha ha, indeed 🙂 I agree, generally I do not put text on photos, I use the text tool more frequently in InDesign or Illustrator, so that would be a different type of project.
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Dymo label maker. Good one!
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Thanks, glad you like it 🙂
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Pingback: International Label Day 2013 | rarasaur
I’m always experimenting with Gimp. I rarely add text to a picture, but like to add a design or filter to text.
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Wow, Gimp, I’m impressed. I have used that but found that you really have to know what you are doing in order to get it to work. Do you use tutorials on YouTube to help you figure out new things in Gimp or are you good about just looking around and trying new things out?
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I am always looking for tutorials. The Gimp handbook is good but I get more out of tutorials. Hope you don’t give up on it as it can be lots of fun. I only use it for my own pleasure. I like making wallpaper and also use it to frame pictures. I am just a dabbler. 🙂
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Sounds great. I have that book as well, but I also find tutorials work better for me.
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Interesting to hear about your international label day creation in a working sense. Don’t you just love how we all approach things differently; can always learn from each other. Thanks, and your photos are beautiful!
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Thank you, for your visit and your comment. Yes, as I was looking though the other entries for this day, it was fun to see the different ways that bloggers approached it. That is one thing that I really enjoy about blogging, is that there is a lot of creative people here and a lot to think about 🙂
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I have only started taking photos within the past year, so I could add pictures to my blog without fear of infringing on copyrights. Having said that, I haven’t yet moved beyond using free editing tools – Paint, Paint.net, and Photobucket for the most part. I have put text on photos using to two Paint programs. I like the idea of setting the text on a new layer, which is possible with Paint.net. I hadn’t thought of that.
A completely different topic – the Follow Button. I accidentally happened on a plug-in for the button, so now I have one, if you’d like to unsubscribe the email.
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The other big free one is Gimp. It is open source, so no cost. I have used it in the past, but now that I am taking Photoshop classes I have switched to Photoshop. Anyway, if you do look into it, there are a lot of tutorials on YouTube on how to use its various functions.
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I just discovered it is another email follow. I have added the URL’s on blogs into my Reader, and blocked email notifications from the Reader.
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I’ll have to come over and visit and see what you have changed. You may want to click on the link I have to Rarasaur in this post, and check out her blog because she has a lot of posts about the nuts and bolts of blogging on WordPress.
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Well, I think you just helped me figure out how to put a copyright on photos…I really don’t know how to use Photoshop at all, but now at least I know that I have to create a layer to put my name on it…
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That would be one way to do it…
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Such a sweet pic and label. 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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Too cute – and very clever!
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Thanks so much!
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It drives me nuts when I want some kind of effect with my software, but then I’ve forgotten where I find it or what are the steps I need to follow to get the wanted effect… One time I created a picture that I think was awesome, but I have no idea how I did it because I’ve forgotten the technique I used to get there.
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Urg, yeah I’ve done that too. That is annoying.
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