Adding words to your photos before you put them on your scrapbook pages is a quick way to add some pizzazz to your layouts. Text can highlight or add balance to a photo, making it a focal point. Journaling on your photos also gives you that much more room for photos and embellishments on your scrapbook pages. You can see the photo with a quote on it that I used on a scrapbook page in the 24 Quotes for Scrapbook Pages Gallery.
Simple Steps to Add Text to Your Photos -Save a copy of your photo. It is always best to edit a saved copy of a photo, under a different file name from the original so that you have your original photos saved for future printing.
Open an editing program. You can use almost any photo editing program to add text to your photo. The steps are almost identical regardless of the program you use. You open a photo, select “Add Text,” and click on the photo to start typing.
Select a Photo. Choose a picture that has an area that would be a good background for text. Words look good on a simple background and look like clutter on a busy background.
Specific Program Steps for Adding Text to a Photo -
Adobe Photoshop Elements - In Photoshop Elements, click on “File” and then “Open” and then a browser window will open so that you can select your photo.
To add text, click on the capital “T” on the left-hand side tool bar. Then, click on the Photo where you want to add text and start typing. The upper tool bar will then become the text edit bar, so that you can select a font, size, and text color.
Microsoft Paint – Microsoft Paint comes with Windows. If you have never used it or didn't know that you have it, click on the Windows start button, then choose “All Programs” or “Programs” and select “Accessories.” Under Accessories you can find a program called “Paint.”
To open a photo in Paint, click on the “File” tab (in Vista this is cleverly disguised as a little picture of a file, right above the word “Paste”), and select “Open” to choose a photo from the browsing menu.
To add text, click on the capital A in the top tool bar and then click anywhere on your photo to start typing. As soon as you click on your photo, the top tool bar will turn into a text editing bar. There you can change the font, size, and color of your text.
For All Programs
Save your edited photo. No matter what program you use, be sure to save your work, and remember to save it under a different name than your original.
Print your photo. You are now ready to print the photo with the text on it on your own home photo printer or you can upload it to your favorite photo printing web site. You can also save the photo to a memory stick or burn it to a CD to take it to a local photo developer for printing.
