Tips for tiny text in Photoshop?

**Soliloquy** · 09-21-2008, 09:58 PM

I've been trying to add some really tiny text to an image, but it keeps coming out fuzzy and unreadable. I've tried various pixel fonts, and realize the best ones may not be free but still I'm wary of buying a font and then still have it look blurry when I make it very small. Of the small fonts available on these sites, which is your favorite for making tiny readable text?

Pixel Fonts and Super Pixel Fonts - Fonts For Flash - Download bitmap and free pixel flash fonts
http://www.bestflashanimationsite.com/pixel-fonts

**Caddyman** · 09-22-2008, 04:26 AM

i use pixel fonts a fair amount, in order to get small text looking good you ahve to have a good looking small font to begin with and then use "none" in the styling dropdown. that will crisp it up, then maybe is the text is white, duplicate the layer, color overlay with black, and move the layer below the white, then offest a px each down and right. makes a clean shadow to make the text pop a bit mroe.

**Soliloquy** · 09-22-2008, 06:02 AM

ah, I didn't think to try a shadow like that. Thanks Caddy!

**Caddyman** · 09-22-2008, 08:03 AM

yeah sometimes if you use the actualy layer effect drop shadow it gets fuzzy, but using it this way it works better and is clearer.....lerned it from dissecting header templates of Johns at vbskinworks. he uses this method alot on smaller text.

**Soliloquy** · 09-22-2008, 08:16 AM

I didn't know that, but it makes sense. You're right, those regular drop shadows are always a bit fuzzy.

**Caddyman** · 09-22-2008, 11:07 AM

yeah you can dial them down to 1 pix and they still have that jagedness to them, so use the double layer. sometimes its a pain to edit 2 texts all the time, but better results overall