$(cpicName) Help - Adding Talk Bubbles

The Talk Bubble feature in lets you have fun with your images. Take any image...from your digital camera, scanner, the internet, or original artwork, and add a high quality talk bubble or thought bubble, just like you'd see in professionally drawn cartoons. | <#endif> --></phtml>

Adding Talk Bubbles To add a talk or thought bubble to your image, open the file in the Image Viewer. Select Place Talk Bubble from the Image menu, or hit 'B'.

When you enter talk bubble mode, the text adjustment window will open. You may type your text in this window, as well as change the color, font and style of the text. To switch between 'talk' and 'thought' style, click the 'Use Talk Style' checkbox. When you are satisfied with your text, click 'Ok' to return to the image.

The talk bubble will be drawn at the right size for the amount of text you type. Less text will create a smaller talk bubble. You may add text to your selection by typing that text in.

The floating text toolbar will allow you to return to the adjustment window at any time by clicking 'Options'. You may also apply your text by clicking 'Done' or cancel the text by clicking 'Cancel'. Other options for changing the appearence of your talk bubble may be found on the text toolbar. More information on these options is found below.

Customizing Talk Bubbles The instructions above will get you started with talk bubbles, but for more flexibility, try the items below.

Moving the Bubble
To move the talk bubble, place your cursor on the bubble. When your cursor changes to a hand, just click and drag the bubble to the new position.

Changing Bubble/Text Size
To resize your talk bubble, click on the knobs (small black squares) on the rectangle surrounding the talk bubble. When you place your cursor over one of these knobs, your cursor will change to a double ended arrow. Now click and drag the knob to resize the talk bubble and it's text.

Making Thought Bubbles
A 'thought bubble' style uses many curved edges for the 'bubble' and circles for the 'crescent.'

To make a thought bubble, follow the same steps as you would for a talk bubble, but check the box marked 'Use Thought Style' on the text toolbar. You can change back to a talk bubble at any time by unchecking the box.

Changing the Crescent

</phtml> | You can change the crescent of the talk bubble (the part of the talk bubble that points down at your image). Changing the crescent will make your talk bubble look much more natural. You can control the position, angle, width and curve of the crescent.

Placement
To move the crescent, move the 'Bubble tip placement' scrollbar on the text toolbar. This will rotate your crescent around the talk bubble. You may also move the crescent by clicking and dragging the knob on the crescent. This knob is located where the crescent and the bubble meet.

Tip Position
You can change the position of the crescent tip by clicking and dragging the knob at the tip of the crescent. This will allow you to control where the crescent points.

Width
To adjust the width of the crescent, use the scrollbar marked 'Bubble tip width.'

Curve
The curve of the crescent may be adjusted using the scrollbar marked 'Bubble curve.' Move this slider to bow the crescent in either direction.

You can also adjust where the crescent points. At the tip of the crescent, there is a single knob. Click and drag the knob to position the tip.

Adjusting the Text

You can change the text of the talk bubble, including font and color, and style using the text adjustment window. The text adjustment window appears when you enter text mode. To adjust the text after returning to the image, click the 'Options' button on the text toolbar. The Text Window will appear, where you can change the attributes of your text. | </phtml>

Related Topics:

- Adding Text To Images
- Editing Images
- Viewing Images
- Saving Changes