You can add highlight text in Photoshop by creating a separate layer for the highlight and using a brush, often combined with a specific blend mode or layer order.
Simple Method to Highlight Text in Photoshop
Highlighting text in Photoshop is a straightforward process that mimics the look of a physical highlighter. Here's how you can do it following the steps outlined in the reference:
- Prepare Your Text Layer: Start by having your text ready. This can be an active Text layer created with the Type Tool or even a screenshot or flattened image containing text.
- Select the Right Tool: Go to the Toolbar and select the Brush Tool (B). In the Options Bar at the top, make sure you pick a simple Hard Round Brush. You can adjust the size later to match the text stroke width.
- Choose Your Color: In the Color Picker, select the color you want for your highlight. A bright, semi-transparent color like yellow or green is typical, but you can use any color you like.
- Create a New Layer: This is a crucial step for flexibility. Go to the Layers panel and click the "Create a New Layer" icon. This new layer will be where you paint the highlight. It's often helpful to name it something descriptive like "Highlight Layer".
- Apply the Highlight and Set Blend Mode/Layer Order: With the "Highlight Layer" selected, brush over the text you want to highlight. To make the highlight look correct and allow the text underneath to show through, you have two main options:
- Use Multiply Blend Mode: With the "Highlight Layer" selected, change the Blend Mode dropdown in the Layers panel from "Normal" to Multiply. This blend mode makes the highlight color interact with the text color underneath, effectively "multiplying" them and creating the desired effect.
- Place Layer Below Text: Alternatively, you can simply drag the "Highlight Layer" below your original Text Layer in the Layers panel. If the highlight layer is below the text and the text layer's blend mode is Normal (or similar), the brush stroke will appear behind the text, acting as a highlight. This method often requires adjusting the brush opacity to make it look less solid.
Key Settings Summary
Here's a quick look at the essential settings:
| Tool/Setting | Value/Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Brush Tool | Hard Round Brush | Creates solid lines |
| Brush Color | Desired Highlight Color | Sets the highlight shade |
| New Layer | Created above Text Layer | Isolates highlight effect |
| Blend Mode | Multiply (on Highlight Layer) | Makes highlight transparent |
| Layer Order | Highlight Layer Below Text Layer | Alternative transparency method |
Using a separate layer for the highlight gives you the ability to easily edit the highlight color, size, or position without affecting the underlying text. You can also adjust the opacity of the highlight layer for a more subtle effect.
