SUBJECT: Create a text path for adding text to a journaling mat.

PROGRAM: PSCS3 (can be adapted for other versions of Photoshop)

PREREQUISITES: Basic understanding of the layers palette and the selection and text tools

This tutorial walks you through creating text inside a journaling mat.  It works on mats of any shape (hearts, brackets, etc.) as long as they don’t have irregular or intricate borders (such as scallops or scrollwork).  While this tutorial will work for rectangles and squares, this tutorial walks you through a faster method. Begin by opening your journaling mat.  If the Layers Palette is not open, open it by going to Window>Layers.

Hold down the control key and click on the journaling mat icon in the layers palette (see arrow below).  You should have marching ants around the edges of the journaling mat.

Go to Select>Modify>Contract.

Enter the number of pixels you want to contract the selection, this will be larger for a large mat or a mat with a large border.  Click OK.

Open the Paths Palette by going to Window>Paths.

At the bottom of the  Paths Palette, click on the dotted circle with two arrows to create a path from your selection.

Click on the text tool in the Tools Palette then click on your canvas inside of the path.

Begin typing your text.  You can adjust the font, size, color and alignment as desired.

Your text should fill the inside of your journaling mat as you type.

You can take this technique one step further and create a text path that fits a journal spot while leaving room for element clusters or ‘tucking’ the mat in behind a photo.  Find out how in Creating a Text Path for Journaling Mats in Photoshop Part 2.