How to Add Text to Images in Affinity Photo

Edited 17 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Affinity Photo is a professional photo editing software that is at par with other photo editing tools like Adobe Photoshop. It is known for being affordable as well as offering a wide range of features that allow users to perform complex edits, illustrations, and create stunning graphics. One of the basic but must-have features of Affinity Photo is the ability to add text to images. This feature is useful for a variety of purposes, such as creating posters, advertisements, social media graphics, or adding captions and watermarks to your images. This comprehensive guide discusses in-depth the various methods and nuances of adding text to images using Affinity Photo.

Getting started with Affinity Photo

Before we get into the specifics of adding text, let's make sure we have a basic understanding of how to navigate Affinity Photo. Start by launching the program. If you have a specific image you want to work on, open it by clicking "File" > "Open" or you can start with a new document by selecting "File" > "New". The 'New Document' option allows you to set parameters such as width, height, resolution and more according to your project's needs.

Understanding the interface

Get familiar with the main components of Affinity Photo's workspace:

• Toolbar: Located at the top of the window, it provides quick access to various tools and commands.
• Toolbox: This is usually on the left. It contains text tools as well as other tools for editing and creating graphics.
• Layers panel: On the right, this panel shows all the layers in your project, allowing you to manage them effectively.

Adding text to an image

Step 1: Selecting the Text Tool

In the Toolbox you'll find the Text tool, which looks like a 'T' icon. There are two types of text tools in Affinity Photo:

• Artistic Text Tool (T): This is used for standalone text elements where you want the text to be in a specific dimension and can be resized like an image.
• Frame Text Tool: Used for text blocks, ideal for creating paragraphs or when working on documents with a lot of text.

To activate any of these, click the icon or press (T) on your keyboard. For this guide, we'll focus on the Artistic Text tool.

Step 2: Creating the Text

After selecting the Artistic Text tool, click anywhere on your image where you want to place the text. A blinking cursor will appear, indicating that you can start typing. Type the text you want. At this point, the text might not be formatted the way you like, but don't worry - we'll get to text formatting soon.

Step 3: Formatting Your Text

Affinity Photo offers a robust set of options for text formatting. Once you type your text, you can use the context toolbar at the top to modify the look of your text. Here are the parameters you can adjust:

• Font: Choose from a variety of fonts installed on your computer. Use the dropdown menu to select the font that best suits your design.
• Font size: Adjust your text size as needed.
• Color: Click the color box to choose the color of the text. You can use the color wheel, RGB slider, or even HEX code for precise color selection.
• Text Justification: Align your text to the left, center, or right.
• Other options: You can also modify aspects such as text tracking, leading, and kerning to gain precise control over the appearance of the text.

Step 4: Converting your text

To move your text, use the Move Tool (V). You can click and drag your text to reposition it anywhere on the image. Additionally, you can resize the text by dragging the corner handles of the text box. Holding down the Shift key while resizing maintains the aspect ratio, which can prevent distortion.

Step 5: Adding text effects

Affinity Photo allows users to enhance their text with various effects that can make your design stand out. To access these options, select your text layer from the Layers panel and then go to "Layer" > "Layer Effects". Here, you can apply effects such as shadows, glow, 3D effects, and more. Adjust the parameters of each effect according to your design vision.

Step 6: Managing Text Layers

Each time you add text, a new layer is created. Managing text layers is important in coordinating designs. In the Layers panel, you can lock, hide, or change the hierarchy of text layers by dragging them above or below other layers. This helps to manage overlapping elements and organize the workspace efficiently.

Additional tips for working with text

Using the Text Panel

The Text panel gives more control over text formatting. You can access it from "View" > "Studio" > "Text". It offers OpenType features, complex options such as baseline adjustment, indents and more. It is especially useful for professional typesetting and dealing with long passages of text.

Drawing text on a path

Affinity Photo allows the creation of text that follows a path. This is perfect for creative projects or for visual interest. To create text on a path:

• Create a path using the Pen Tool or any shape tool.
• Select the Artistic Text tool and hover over the path until you see the tilde (~) symbol, which indicates the ability to align text on the path.
• Click on the path and type your text.

The text will follow the curve or shape of the path, and will dynamically adjust as the path is resized or reshaped.

Saving and exporting your work

Always remember to save your work frequently. Affinity Photo allows you to save projects as Affinity format files, retaining all features for later editing. Exporting as PNG, JPEG or other formats can be done via "File" > "Export". Adjust the resolution, quality and other parameters to ensure your text and images are in top quality for distribution.

Practical applications and examples

Adding text to an image can serve many purposes, from creating memes to professional branding. Here are some examples of adding text in Affinity Photo:

• Meme creation: Use text overlays to add humorous captions. Fonts like Impact are standard for memes and can be adjusted in size and color for emphasis.
• Branding and Marketing: Add logos, slogans and hashtags to images for marketing materials. Use layer effects to give logos an embossed effect.
• Personalization: Create personalized gifts or posters for friends and family by adding thoughtful text to images.

Conclusion

Affinity Photo is a versatile tool that simplifies the process of adding text to images, from simple captions to complex designs, helping users achieve their creative vision effortlessly. This guide aims to empower users to make the most of the text features in Affinity Photo, boosting productivity and creativity across a variety of projects. Whether you're a novice or an experienced designer, the steps and tips here will help you create eye-catching text overlays that enhance your imagery.

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