Are you working on a design project in Photoshop and need to change the font size of some text? It’s a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to change the font size of selected text in Photoshop. We’ll also provide some tips on choosing the right font size for your project.
To change the font size of selected text in Photoshop, first select the text layer in the Layers panel. Then, click on the “Character” panel, which is located in the upper right corner of the workspace. In the Character panel, you’ll see a field labeled “Font Size.” Enter the desired font size in this field. You can also use the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the font size.
Once you’ve changed the font size, click on the “Apply” button to apply the changes to your text. You can also press the “Enter” key to apply the changes and close the Character panel. That’s all there is to it! Changing the font size of selected text in Photoshop is a quick and easy process that can be done in just a few steps.
Choosing the Text Tool
The Text Tool is the key to adding and modifying text in Photoshop. To access it, simply click on the "Text" icon in the Tools panel, or press the "T" key on your keyboard.
Once you have the Text Tool selected, you’ll notice that several options appear in the Options bar. These options allow you to customize the appearance of your text, including the font, size, color, and alignment.
Selecting Text
Before you can change the font size, you need to select the text that you want to change. There are two ways to do this:
- Click on the text layer in the Layers panel. This will select all of the text on that layer.
- Use the Selection Tool (V) to drag a selection around the text that you want to change.
Changing the Font Size
Once you have selected the text that you want to change, you can change the font size using the "Font Size" option in the Options bar. Simply enter the desired font size in the text field, or use the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the size.
If you want to change the units of measurement for the font size, you can click on the "Font Size" text field and select from the drop-down menu. The available units of measurement are:
| Unit | Description |
|---|---|
| Pixels (px) | The number of pixels high that the text is. |
| Points (pt) | A unit of measurement that is equal to 1/72 of an inch. |
| Inches (in) | A unit of measurement that is equal to 1 inch. |
| Millimeters (mm) | A unit of measurement that is equal to 1 millimeter. |
| Centimeters (cm) | A unit of measurement that is equal to 1 centimeter. |
Selecting Text Layers
To modify the font size within a specific text layer, you must first select that layer. Here’s a detailed guide to selecting text layers:
- Locate the Layers Panel: In the Photoshop workspace, navigate to the Layers panel, which is typically displayed on the right-hand side.
- Identify Text Layers: Within the Layers panel, look for layers that have the letter “T” icon, indicating that they contain text.
- Click on the Text Layer: Simply click on the text layer you wish to select. The layer will become highlighted in blue, indicating that it is the active layer.
- Verify Selection: Check the top menu bar in Photoshop. If the text layer is selected, its name and settings, including the current font size, will be displayed.
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Locate the Layers Panel |
| 2 | Identify Text Layers (look for the “T” icon) |
| 3 | Click on the Desired Text Layer |
| 4 | Verify Selection in Top Menu Bar |
Applying Font Size Changes
To apply font size changes in Photoshop:
1. Select the Text Layer
Select the text layer containing the text whose font size you want to change in the Layers panel.
2. Open the Character Panel
Go to the “Window” menu and select “Character” to open the Character panel or press “Alt + Ctrl + T” (on Mac it’s “Option + Cmd + T”).
3. Adjust Font Size
- There are 3 ways to adjust font size in the Character panel:
- Drag the “Character Size” slider: Slide the slider left or right to decrease or increase the font size.
- Enter a specific size in the “Size” field: Type in a specific font size in pixels, points, or other units of measurement.
- Use the keyboard shortcuts:
Shortcut Action Ctrl/Cmd + [ Decrease font size Ctrl/Cmd + ] Increase font size
Using the Character Panel
The Character panel provides a comprehensive set of options for modifying the appearance of selected text, including font size.
- Open the Character panel: Go to Window > Character.
- Select the text: Use the Type tool to select the text you want to modify.
- Locate the Font Size field: In the Character panel, find the “Font Size” field.
- Change the font size: Enter the desired font size in the field. You can use the up and down arrows next to the field to adjust the size incrementally, or type in a specific value.
- Increase font size: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + > (Windows/macOS)
- Decrease font size: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + < (Windows/macOS)
- Character Panel: In the Character panel, type the desired font size into the “Size” field.
- Menu Bar: In the menu bar, select “Type” and then “Size” to access a list of predefined font sizes or enter a custom size.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl” + “T” (Windows) or “Cmd” + “T” (Mac) to bring up the Transform tool. Then, select “Size” from the options and drag the handles to adjust the font size.
- Adjust Individual Layer Size: Select the individual text layer in the Layers panel and use the Character panel or the Transform tool to adjust its font size independently.
- Use Layer Styles: Apply a Layer Style to a selected text layer and use the “Font Size” option under “Character” to make adjustments.
- Select the text layer you want to resize.
- Go to the Edit menu and choose “Transform” > “Scale”.
- Click and drag the corner handles of the bounding box to scale the text.
- Use the numeric fields in the Options bar to enter a specific width and height for the text.
- Press the Tab key to switch between the Width and Height fields.
- Hold down the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) while dragging a corner handle to scale the text from its center.
- Select the text layer or the specific text you want to measure.
- Open the Character Panel by clicking on the “T” icon in the toolbar or going to Window > Character.
- Look for the “Size” field, which displays the font size in points.
- Compare the font size value in the Character Panel to your desired size or the measurements obtained from the other methods.
- Leading: The vertical spacing between lines of text.
- Tracking: The horizontal spacing between characters.
- Font Style: Specifies the font style (e.g., Regular, Bold, Italic).
- Select the “Type” menu and choose “Table.”
- In the “Table” dialog box, enter the number of rows and columns.
- Click “OK” to create the table.
- Select the cells you want to format.
- Click on the “Character” panel and make changes to the font size, color, and other text attributes.
- To adjust the cell width or height, hover your mouse over the table border until you see a double-sided arrow, then drag to resize.
- Select the text layer in the Layers panel.
- Click the Character panel (Window > Character).
- In the Font Size field, enter the desired font size.
- Press Enter or Return to apply the changes.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Using the up/down arrows | Click the up arrow to increase the font size or the down arrow to decrease it. |
| Entering a specific value | Type the desired font size in the field, followed by the unit of measurement (e.g., “pt” for points, “px” for pixels). |
You can also use the following keyboard shortcuts to change the font size:
Employing Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts provide a swift and efficient way to modify the font size in Photoshop. These shortcuts allow you to quickly adjust the size of your text without having to navigate through multiple menus or click on tools.
Using the Increment/Decrement Commands
To increment or decrement the font size by one step, use the following shortcuts:
| Command | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Increase by 1 pt | Ctrl+] | Cmd+] |
| Decrease by 1 pt | Ctrl+[ | Cmd+[ |
| Increase by 10 pt | Shift+Ctrl+] | Shift+Cmd+] |
| Decrease by 10 pt | Shift+Ctrl+[ | Shift+Cmd+[ |
Using the Size Increment/Decrement Commands
These shortcuts allow you to specify an exact amount by which the font size should be changed:
| Command | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Increase by 2 pt | Ctrl+Alt+> | Cmd+Option+> |
| Decrease by 2 pt | Ctrl+Alt+< | Cmd+Option+< |
Using the Font Size Dropdown Menu
You can also use the Font Size dropdown menu in the Character panel to change the font size. Simply click on the dropdown menu and select the desired size. This method provides you with a visual representation of the different size options available.
Using the Transform Controls
If you have selected a text layer, you can use the transform controls to change the size of the text. Click on one of the corner handles and drag it to increase or decrease the size of the text. This method allows you to resize the text proportionally, maintaining its original aspect ratio.
Transforming Text Size with Scale Tool
The Scale tool offers a straightforward approach to modify the font size of your text layers in Photoshop. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use it:
Step 1: Select the Text Layer
Begin by selecting the text layer you wish to resize in the Layers panel. Ensure that the tool cursor is within the boundaries of the text.
Step 2: Activate the Transform Tool
Navigate to the Edit menu and select “Transform” followed by “Scale.” Alternatively, you can press the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+T” (Windows) or “Command+T” (Mac) to directly activate the Transform tool.
Step 3: Adjust the Reference Point
By default, the reference point for scaling is the center of the text box. To change this, click on the “Reference Point” option in the Options bar and choose an alternative point, such as the top left or right corner.
Step 4: Drag the Anchor Points
Locate the anchor points around the text box. These points determine the boundaries of the transformation. Drag the appropriate anchor points to resize the text.
Step 5: Maintain Proportions
If you want to preserve the aspect ratio of the text, hold down the “Shift” key while dragging the anchor points. This ensures that the text remains in proportion.
Step 6: Enter Specific Values
For precise transformations, you can enter specific values into the width and height fields in the Options bar. The values represent the dimensions of the text in pixels. To use a different unit of measurement, select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu next to the fields.
| Unit of Measurement | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Pixels | px |
| Centimeters | cm |
| Inches | in |
| Points | pt |
Note that entering values directly overrides the proportions of the text unless the “Constrain Proportions” checkbox in the Options bar is enabled.
Step 7: Commit the Transformation
Once you are satisfied with the size of the text, click the checkmark icon in the Options bar or press “Enter” on your keyboard to commit the transformation.
Adjusting Font Size for Multiple Layers
For situations where multiple text layers require font size adjustments, Photoshop offers efficient methods to modify the text size of selected layers simultaneously:
Selecting Multiple Text Layers
To select multiple text layers, hold down the “Shift” key while clicking on each desired layer in the Layers panel or use the “Select All Layers” option in the “Layer” menu.
Font Size Adjustment Options
With multiple text layers selected, you can adjust their font size through various options:
Fine-Tuning Font Size
Once you have adjusted the base font size, you may want to fine-tune it for specific layers. To do this:
Table: Font Size Adjustment Methods
For a quick reference, here is a table summarizing the font size adjustment methods discussed:
| Method | How to Adjust |
|---|---|
| Character Panel | Enter font size in “Size” field |
| Menu Bar | Select “Type” > “Size” > Enter custom size |
| Keyboard Shortcut | “Ctrl” + “T” (Windows) or “Cmd” + “T” (Mac) > Select “Size” > Drag handles |
| Individual Layer Adjustment | Select layer > Character panel or Transform tool |
| Layer Styles | Apply Layer Style > “Character” > “Font Size” |
Scaling Text Proportions
In Photoshop, you can adjust the size of selected text proportionally by using the Scale Transform tool. This tool allows you to resize text while maintaining its aspect ratio, ensuring that it remains legible and aesthetically pleasing.
Using the Scale Transform Tool
Constraining Proportions
By default, the Scale Transform tool will maintain the aspect ratio of the text. However, you can disable this constraint by holding down the Shift key while dragging the corner handles.
Fine-Tuning Size
To adjust the size of the text more precisely, you can use the following methods:
Example
Suppose you have a text layer with the following dimensions: Width: 200px, Height: 50px. If you scale the text to 200% using the Scale Transform tool, the new dimensions will be: Width: 400px, Height: 100px.
| Initial Dimensions | Scaled Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Width: 200px | Width: 400px |
| Height: 50px | Height: 100px |
Verifying Font Size Measurements
Measuring the font size in Photoshop is crucial to ensure accuracy and consistency in your design work. Follow these steps to verify the font size:
9. Inspect the Character Panel
The Character Panel, located in the Workspace, provides an alternative method for verifying font size. Here’s how to use it:
Additional Notes:
The Character Panel offers additional information:
| Measurement Method | How to Obtain |
|---|---|
| Info Panel | Select text layer > View > Info |
| Inspector Toolbar | Select text layer > Inspector Toolbar (appears at the top) |
| Character Panel | Select text layer > Window > Character |
Optimizing Text for Web and Print
10. Using a Table for Formatting
When working with large amounts of text, using a table can help organize and align your text efficiently. To create a table in Photoshop:
To format the text within the table, use the following steps:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| align | Controls the horizontal alignment of text within a cell. |
| valign | Controls the vertical alignment of text within a cell. |
| width | Specifies the width of a column in pixels. |
| height | Specifies the height of a row in pixels. |
How to Change Selected Font Size in Photoshop
When working with text in Photoshop, it is often necessary to adjust the font size. To change the font size of selected text, follow these steps:
People Also Ask:
How do I change the font size of all text in Photoshop?
To change the font size of all text in Photoshop, select the Text tool (T) and then click the “Character” tab in the Options bar. In the “Font Size” field, enter the desired font size and press Enter or Return to apply the changes.
Can I change the font size of only part of a text layer?
Yes, you can change the font size of only part of a text layer by selecting the desired text and following the steps outlined above.
