Graphic Design Q: Changing Text Color Depending on Background

[andrewjesaitis]

I have wished I knew how to do this for a long time. I am sure there must be a way to accomplish this, but have been unable to figure out how in Adobe PS, Illustrator, or Indesign.

Lets talk about it in two cases. First, the easy one (I think). You create a closed path filled black. Text spans the filled in shape and onto a white/no color background. How do get the text white on top of the black shape and black on the white background.

Second case. Imagine a contrasty photo. Can you get the text white on the dark parts of the photo and black on the light part of the photo?

[7cs]

I wondered about this myself, I know in FCP the cheap easy way to do it is to change the blending options but I don't really know how to do it in PS.

[Microcosm]

I had never wondered this until I saw this thread.. now it's going to bug me.

[Baconzoo]

Set the transfer mode (dropdown that says Normal) to something else. maybe double them up and play around.
Just play with every option. If Normal is clicked and blue, then you can arrow through the options to see the effect.
http://animators.digitalmedianet.com....jsp?id=346989

[andrewjesaitis]

Got it for the first case in illustrator. Create your shape and text. Then select the text and create outline (so that each letter is a path). Then overlay the shape and text. Select both and use pathfinder exclude function.

If anyone knows how to do it on a photo, that would be money.

[dipstik]

I feel like you should be able to do it on a photo just using gradient overlays on each section of the photo where there is color change, apply it to the text, and play with the opacity a bit, etc. I wish I could explain it better, but I'm sure there is a tutorial online somewhere.

[chocolatecoveredbacon]

i think you can do it, but i'm not sure off the top of my head. i'll have to mess around later tonight and see if i can figure it out.

so you're hoping to take a photo in illustrator...and add text to it. you want the text to be white in the dark areas and black in the light areas...correct?

i'll see what i can come up with.

[brice618]

http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161090

If I understand what you're asking for, that will get it done in PS. Not sure how to do it in Illustrator though.

[andrewjesaitis]

Yeah for the picture thing I'm sure it'd be done in PS. I was hoping that there was a quick way to do it in Indesign for overlaying text on pictures for article titles etc. But, I'll try to do it with a mask in PS the next time I need one.

And just as an fyi, you can do the pathfinder method for filled paths/text in indesign the exact same way as in illustrator.

[4-TEEF]

Yeah for the picture thing I'm sure it'd be done in PS. I was hoping that there was a quick way to do it in Indesign for overlaying text on pictures for article titles etc. But, I'll try to do it with a mask in PS the next time I need one.

Not to be a dick but...

Are you sure you want to do this from a design standpoint? I can see it maybe working as a photo illustration but for general design use sometimes these things are better left undone.

[andrewjesaitis]

Not to be a dick but...

Are you sure you want to do this from a design standpoint? I can see it maybe working as a photo illustration but for general design use sometimes these things are better left undone.

Of course I'm not sure, but I'd have to see it on the page to make a decision.