To edit text in a GIMP layer, activate the Text tool, select the text you want to modify either directly on the canvas or via the Text Editor dialog, and then make your changes.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Activate the Text Tool:
- Find the "Text Tool" (icon looks like a letter 'A') in the GIMP toolbox. Click on it to activate it.
2. Select the Text Layer:
- In the "Layers" panel, ensure the text layer you wish to edit is selected.
3. Edit the Text:
There are two primary methods for editing the text:
-
On-Canvas Editing:
- Click within the text on the canvas. This will activate the on-canvas editing mode.
- Select the portion to edit: Click and drag your mouse to highlight specific characters, words, or phrases you want to change. Alternatively, use Shift + arrow keys for precise selection.
- Type or Paste: Begin typing to replace the selected text or use Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on macOS) to paste text from your clipboard.
- Text Tool Options: The Text Tool options, usually found below the toolbox or in a separate dockable dialog, provide controls for:
- Font selection
- Font size
- Text color
- Justification (left, center, right, fill)
- Line spacing
- Kerning (space between characters)
- Baseline shift (vertical position of text)
-
Text Editor Dialog:
- Access the Text Editor dialog by going to Windows -> Dockable Dialogs -> Text Editor. Alternatively, it might already be docked somewhere in your GIMP interface.
- Edit the text: The Text Editor dialog provides a dedicated text box for editing the text content. Type your changes directly into this box.
- Changes made in the Text Editor will immediately update on the canvas.
Important Considerations:
-
Rasterization: If you've already rasterized the text layer (converted it from editable text to pixels), you can no longer directly edit the text content. You'll need to use other tools like the Clone Tool or Healing Brush to make changes, but these will alter the pixels directly, not the text itself. It is advised to keep the text layer as text until you are sure you will not need to edit it.
-
Undo: If you make a mistake, use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on macOS) to undo your last action.
-
New Text: If you want to add new text instead of editing existing text, simply click on a new area on the canvas with the Text Tool selected. This will create a new text layer.
