How to use the Type tool to add text

The Type tool adds text to a picture as its own layer, so you can change the words, font and colour at any time.

Where to find it

It has its own button in the toolbar. Press T to pick it.

Choose the tool. Press T, or click the T in the toolbar.
Click or drag. Click for a single line of text, or drag a box for a paragraph that wraps. Click on a path to type along it.
Type. Type your words. The text uses the foreground colour and the font and size in the options bar.
Finish. Press Ctrl+Enter (Cmd+Enter on a Mac) or click away. Esc also keeps new text.
Edit later. Click the text again with the Type tool, or double-click it with the Move tool.

Font: Type any font name installed on your device, or pick one of the included fonts. Add font… loads a TTF, OTF, WOFF or WOFF2 file, which stays on your device.
Size: The text size in pixels.
Style buttons: Bold, Italic, Underline and Strikethrough, plus a menu for ALL CAPS and Small Caps.
Tracking and Leading: Space between letters, and between lines (auto by default).
Alignment, Vertical type and Warp: Left, centre or right; columns of upright letters; and warp styles such as arc and flag.

Select some letters while editing to change the font, size or colour of only those.
Text is saved as editable type in PSD files, so it stays editable if you open it again.

Yes. Click Add font… in the options bar and choose a font file. It is kept on your device and listed under your fonts.

Photostar is a free online Photoshop alternative that runs in your browser. There is no account to make, and your files stay on your device.

Checked 13 November 2026 in the current editor.