{"id":5709,"date":"2025-05-19T15:29:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T15:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/?p=5709"},"modified":"2025-05-19T15:29:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T15:29:26","slug":"how-to-make-transparent-text-in-photoshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/2025\/05\/19\/5709.html\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make Transparent Text In Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Learn how to create transparent text in Photoshop so your image behind the text shows through the letters! A step by step tutorial for Photoshop 2025 or earlier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"How<\/div>\n
\n

Here\u2019s an example of what the transparent text area will look like when we\u2019re done:<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The final transparent text effect.<\/div>\n

Which Photoshop version do I need?<\/h3>\n

Step 1: Open your image<\/h3>\n

Start by opening the image where you want to add some transparent type. I downloaded\u00a0this image<\/a>\u00a0of the New York skyline from Adobe Stock:<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The original image.<\/div>\n

Step 2: Add a new layer<\/h3>\n

In the\u00a0Layers panel<\/a>, we see the image on the\u00a0Background layer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Click the\u00a0Add New Layer<\/strong>\u00a0icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.<\/p>\n

\"Clicking<\/p>\n

Clicking the Add New Layer icon.<\/div>\n

A new blank layer named Layer 1 appears above the image.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll use this layer to create the area of white that will surround the text.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The new blank layer.<\/div>\n

Step 3: Fill the new layer with white<\/h3>\n

Fill the layer with white by going up to the\u00a0Edit<\/strong>\u00a0menu in the Menu Bar and choosing\u00a0Fill<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing the Fill command from the Edit menu.<\/div>\n

In the Fill dialog box, set the\u00a0Contents<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0White<\/strong>. Then click OK.<\/p>\n

\"Setting<\/p>\n

Setting the Contents to White.<\/div>\n

Photoshop fills the layer with white, temporarily blocking the image from view.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The result after filling the layer with white.<\/div>\n

Step 4: Lower the layer opacity<\/h3>\n

In the Layers panel, lower the\u00a0opacity<\/strong>\u00a0of Layer 1 to\u00a075 percent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Lowering<\/p>\n

Lowering the layer opacity.<\/div>\n

With the opacity lowered, the image now partially shows through so we can see it as we\u2019re adding the text.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The result after lowering the layer opacity.<\/div>\n

Step 5: Select the Type Tool<\/h3>\n

In the\u00a0toolbar<\/a>, select the\u00a0Type Tool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Selecting Photoshop\u2019s Type Tool.<\/div>\n

Step 6: Choose your font<\/h3>\n

In the Options Bar, choose your font. I\u2019ll use\u00a0Futura PT Heavy<\/strong>\u00a0but any font with thick letters will work.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing a font in the Options Bar.<\/div>\n

Still in the Options Bar, set the font\u00a0size<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0150 pt<\/strong>. We\u2019ll need to resize the text once we\u2019ve added it, but this will give us a large enough starting point.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing an initial font size.<\/div>\n

Step 7: Set the type color to black<\/h3>\n

Before leaving the Options Bar, make sure your\u00a0type color<\/strong>\u00a0is set to\u00a0black<\/strong>. If it\u2019s not, press the letter\u00a0D<\/strong>\u00a0on your keyboard to reset it to the default.<\/p>\n

Black will let us see the text in front of the white background, but will disappear once we make the text transparent.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The text should be black for now.<\/div>\n

Step 8: Add your text<\/h3>\n

Click inside the document and add your text. I\u2019ll type the words\u00a0NEW YORK CITY<\/q>.<\/p>\n

\"Adding<\/p>\n

Adding the text.<\/div>\n

Click the\u00a0check mark<\/strong>\u00a0in the Options Bar to accept it.<\/p>\n

\"Clicking<\/p>\n

Clicking the check mark.<\/div>\n

In the Layers panel, the new type layer appears above Layer 1.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The new type layer.<\/div>\n

Step 9: Resize the text<\/h3>\n

Go up to the\u00a0Edit<\/strong>\u00a0menu in the Menu and choose\u00a0Free Transform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Choosing the Free Transform command.<\/div>\n

Photoshop surrounds the text with the transform box and handles.<\/p>\n

But before dragging the handles, go up to Options Bar and make sure the\u00a0link icon<\/strong>\u00a0between the\u00a0Width and Height fields<\/strong>\u00a0is selected. This will lock the aspect ratio of the text as we resize it so we don\u2019t distort the letters.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Width and Height should be linked together.<\/div>\n

Then drag any of the handles to resize the text.<\/p>\n

Here I\u2019m making the text larger to cover as much of the image as possible.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dragging the corner handles to resize the text.<\/div>\n

Then click and drag inside the transform box to reposition the text. I\u2019ll move my text in front of the waterline.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re done, press\u00a0Enter<\/strong>\u00a0(Win) \/\u00a0Return<\/strong>\u00a0(Mac) on your keyboard to accept it and close Free Transform.<\/p>\n

\"Dragging<\/p>\n

Dragging the text into position.<\/div>\n

Step 10: Change the Blending Options<\/h3>\n

In the Layers panel, make sure the\u00a0type layer<\/strong>\u00a0is selected and click the\u00a0Layer Effects<\/strong>\u00a0(fx<\/strong>) icon at the bottom.<\/p>\n

\"Clicking<\/p>\n

Clicking the fx icon.<\/div>\n

Then choose\u00a0Blending Options<\/strong>\u00a0from the top of the menu.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing the Blending Options.<\/div>\n

This opens Photoshop\u2019s\u00a0Layer Style<\/strong>\u00a0dialog box set to the main Blending Options.<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0Advanced Blending<\/strong>\u00a0section, change\u00a0Knockout<\/strong>\u00a0from None to\u00a0Shallow<\/strong>. This turns the type layer into a\u00a0knockout<\/q>\u00a0layer, which means that Photoshop will use the shapes of the letters to punch through Layer 1 and reveal the image on the Background layer.<\/p>\n

\"Changing<\/p>\n

Changing Knockout to Shallow.<\/div>\n

You won\u2019t see the effect until you drag the\u00a0Fill Opacity<\/strong>\u00a0down to\u00a00 percent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Dragging<\/p>\n

Dragging Fill Opacity to 0.<\/div>\n

Click OK to close the Layer Style dialog box.<\/p>\n

Not only has the text itself become transparent, but so has the area on Layer 1 directly below the text, as if the text punched a hole right through it.<\/p>\n

The image on the Background layer is now visible through the letters.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The result with the image now showing through the text.<\/div>\n

Step 11: Select Layer 1<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s resize the white area surrounding the text so it\u2019s not covering up the entire photo.<\/p>\n

Click on\u00a0Layer 1<\/strong>\u00a0in the Layers panel to select it.<\/p>\n

\"Selecting<\/p>\n

Selecting the white-filled layer.<\/div>\n

Step 12: Resize the layer with Free Transform<\/h3>\n

Go back up to the\u00a0Edit<\/strong>\u00a0menu and choose\u00a0Free Transform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing the Free Transform command.<\/div>\n

Before dragging the transform handles, go back to the Options Bar and this time\u00a0unlink<\/strong>\u00a0the\u00a0Width and Height fields<\/strong>. This will let us drag the handles freely without caring about the aspect ratio.<\/p>\n

\"Unlink<\/p>\n

Unlink the Width and Height.<\/div>\n

Then drag the top and bottom handles in towards the text. Press\u00a0Enter<\/strong>\u00a0(Win) \/\u00a0Return<\/strong>\u00a0(Mac) on your keyboard when you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n

\"Resizing<\/p>\n

Resizing the white border.<\/div>\n

Step 13: Adjust the layer opacity<\/h3>\n

Finally, adjust the\u00a0opacity<\/strong>\u00a0of Layer 1 to fine-tune the visibility of the text.<\/p>\n

Increasing the opacity will make the white area surrounding the text more solid and the type easier to read. Decreasing the opacity will fade the text area into the image.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll set the opacity to\u00a085 percent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Increasing<\/p>\n

Increasing the layer opacity.<\/div>\n

Here, after increasing the opacity, is my final transparent text area result.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The final result.<\/div>\n

Troubleshooting: Revealing a layer other than the Background layer<\/h3>\n

The steps we\u2019ve covered in this tutorial are all you need when the image you want to reveal through your text is on the\u00a0Background layer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But if your image is not on the Background layer, you\u2019ll need to place the type layer and the white-filled layer below it in a\u00a0layer group<\/strong>. Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n

In the Layers panel, select the type layer. Then hold\u00a0Shift<\/strong>\u00a0on your keyboard and select the white-filled layer below it. This selects both layers together.<\/p>\n

\"Selecting<\/p>\n

Selecting both layers.<\/div>\n

With both layers selected, go up to the\u00a0Layer<\/strong>\u00a0menu in the Menu Bar and choose\u00a0Group Layers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

Choosing Group Layers from the Layer menu.<\/div>\n

Back in the Layers panel, the two layers are inside a layer group. And in the document, your image will now be visible through the letters.<\/p>\n

\"Choosing<\/p>\n

The two layers are now grouped together.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn how to create transparent text in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,583],"tags":[581,754,62],"class_list":["post-5709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adobe-photoshop","category-ai","tag-ai","tag-clipping-mask","tag-photoshop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5709"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5711,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5709\/revisions\/5711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isophal.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}