Transparent Text with layer effects applied

What features would you like to see in Pixelmator Pro?
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2022-06-07 20:41:21

It would be nice for any "text layer" to be moved to transparent text. Then critically this should also allow keeping things like the layer style visible (like a drop shadow). So once a text layer is created I want to hide the text (make it transparent) but keep the drop shadows, or inner shadow, stroke, etc or other layer style applied around the outline of the "invisible" text.
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2022-06-10 16:08:08

Hi ShaTy, you can do this by going into the Type color settings and lowering the opacity to 0:

Image
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2022-06-11 11:34:25

Hi Simonasd.
I guess what ShaTy wants didn´t work in Pixelmator Pro as we can just have Styles visible when the source is not fully transparent; what I´m trying to say is when the object isn´t visible Shadow and InnerShadow won´t show up anymore.
This is just a hack:
Image
Possible use case:
Image
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2022-06-13 17:14:59

EllenM - you explained it perfectly. I am looking for the ability to things like the VACATION example you posted above. Thanks Pixelmator team!
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2022-06-14 14:36:48

It took a bit of work to get something similar to your example. With a little more sizing I think I could get it better. The method I used was:

0 Place the image you want to overlay with text.
1 Create and place text on a new layer any color you like (not black or white). Convert it to pixels.
2 Duplicate the layer, change color to black, move below original, and shift layer 2-3 pixels to your liking.
3 Duplicate original layer, change color to white, move below original, and shift layer 2-3 pixels opposite.
4 Merge three text layers together, select the colored layer, by color, and delete it.
5 That leaves a transparent text. above your image. See my example for sub layer placements

I also had some luck with blend modes but I could not get an outside (drop?) shadow on the text I was working with. I have to look into that more. Hope this is useful information. Image
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2022-06-14 17:14:05

That looks nice as a workaround. I think step 4 was the critical good idea to delete by color:
"Merge three text layers together, select the colored layer, by color, and delete it."

Unfortunately this means it is challenging to delete by color later if any blur is applied.

Also no way to change the text or enlarge very much after converting to pixels.

Thanks!
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2022-06-15 09:31:47

I think I found a way to keep Text editable by that hierarchy. But for the known reasons just Drop Shadows work - not Inner Shadow. And you can move the 2 Text objects via Arrange tool:
Image
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2022-06-15 16:04:06

0 Place image to be overlaid.
1 Create BLACK text and reposition as desired.
2 generate and position 2 drop shadows one almost white and one almost black
3 cycle through blend modes to see which one you like best
I chose difference for my example, duplicated the text and moved it over the sky.

A pretty good approximation.

I also was able to convert the sky to shapes and it retained the same characteristics and was able to easily move or hide the individual letters - both the text and individual shapes were transparent. Image
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2022-07-09 05:03:11

Ellen M pointed an interesting way to make it happen, great. Image
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2022-07-09 14:50:25

by bob don Ellen M pointed an interesting way to make it happen, great. <p><img src="//support-cdn.pixelmator.com/uploads-new/cuf_1657342987_____________.jpg" class="postimage is-shown is-visible" alt="Image" width="1500" height="844"></p>
Yes, bob don. The image with your quote is nice, very interesting and nicely done ( I like how the characters are behind the bubbles ), but the original topic was invisible text.