Fonts
These are the fonts I am going to mention throughout the tutorial. Some can be downloaded at dafont.com and some I forgot how I got them.


Text Placement
Well, I don't have much to say about text placement, but think about the size of your graphic and how much empty space it has. Yes, it is better to place text in an empty-ish space (though that doesn't mean you can't overlap it with parts of your main subject), but don't completely isolate it. Let's take this blend of Wonbin and point out the good and bad areas to place your text in.

1 - This is an okay spot to place your text in if you want to place more emphasis to the left side of your graphic. Note: Even though the subject is on the left, it is not always good to bring too much focus to one side.
2 - I do not recommend putting the text here because it becomes a distraction since it's right in between the two pictures of Wonbin. Plus, overlapping the text on his hands just doesn't look that great.
3 - I would say this is the best place to put your text. It stands out without taking away from your subject and balances out the graphic. There's plenty of space for the text and the background color is different from that of the subject's (black).
4 - Generally, I do not like putting text on the top. When you look at a graphic you usually view it from top to bottom. Text is not the first thing you want to see.

Choosing a Font
One of the most common mistakes is choosing the wrong font, which can destroy an otherwise good graphic. Some words of advice:

• Do NOT use a ton of different fonts at one time. It looks like a mess.
• Variety is good. When downloading fonts, choose from a range of themes, such as LCD, calligraphy, or eroded.
• It IS okay to use everyday fonts like Times New Roman, Verdana, or Arial. They are not only for research papers or the like!
• Use a font that fits the theme of your graphic.

For collages, like this one of Big Bang, you might prefer to use cute fonts (of course, that depends on what type of collage you're making). Here are some examples:



Grundgy graphics would, obviously, call for grundgy fonts. :) Of course, you can use more "regular-looking" fonts like ChocolateBox, but I prefer grundgy texts, such as the following:



For techy/abstracty graphics like this one, stay away from grundgy fonts or cutesy fonts. Stick to simple or LCD fonts. You might also want to add some tiny text, which can look pretty spiffy (I have a habit of adding tiny text to many graphics :p). More on that later.



Fancy script or decorative fonts work best for soft blends like this one of Shoo. If the background is relatively plain, like the green one here, I advise you to lower the opacity of your text or change the blending mode to Soft Light so that it blends into the graphic and keeps the overall soft look.


Text Effects
After choosing the font and setting your blending mode or opacity, you can further edit the text. Go to Window > Character and this window will pop up:

1 - Set the line spacing.
2 - Set the letter spacing.
3 - Set the text height.
4 - Set the text width.
5 - Shift the text up or down.

Tiny Text
What you might want to do is add some tiny text below your main text. For example:

It's usually pretty light in my graphics so you can't really see it. But anyway, what it is are lines of jibberish. Type in whatever text you want with a small font size, like 1 or 2 pixels. Then set the letter spacing to several hundred or 1000 pixels (see above).

Text Transform
You can also change the shape of your text. When you select your text tool, you will notice this symbol on your toolbar.

Click on it to warp your text. It's pretty self-explanatory, so I won't go into details about it here.
If you want to rotate your text, it's the same as rotating an image. Just go to Edit > Free Transform and spin the text.

That's all I have for now. Experiment away!