Pre-typesetting on Raws for Speed Release Groups...

So if you are typesetting for a speed release group this little tip will help you shave some time off your typesetting. I find that figuring out how to split text and in which bubbles they go into takes the most amount of time as a typesetter... Centering the text in the bubbles can be done in a relatively short amount of time... About 1/2 hour to an hour depending on how many pages... So I figured out this little trick to shave an hour or more (usually more), off my typesetting time once I get the final raws.

If you get the final script before you get the final raws then you can do the basic typesetting on the raws. Don't worry overly about how centered you are in the bubbles since you will have to adjust again once you get it on the final product if the page is straightened in any way. Place all of your text layers into a group folder so that you can move that folder all at once. The other benefit of doing it this way is that once in a folder all the layers are linked so you can move all the layers at once on the final raw to get the general placement on the final raw.

To make a group folder click on the folder icon at the bottom of the layers palette. Then start placing your text. All the layers will go into this folder as long as you don't click on a different layer after you begin. You can also drag all the text layers into the group folder but this takes more time. For more on making a group folder check out the Erasing Text tutorial.

Next you need to open both the raw and the final raw in photoshop. Make sure that the raw is active and you can see part of the final raw in your window. Click on the group folder that contains your text layers and drag it over onto the final raw. This will make a copy of the group folder on the final raw and will include all your linked text layers.

Use the move tool (V) to adjust all the layers on the document until you have a good placement. Then use the text tool (T) to adjust each individual text layer within it's bubble.

 

	Here is an example of a raw that has been pre-typeset
	Notice I have two images open. The raw and the cleaned raw. I have the raw one active when I drag the text over to the clean raw. I keep all my text layers in their own group folder so all I have to do is drag the group folder onto the new document.
	To move the text click on the group folder and drag it over on the new image. This makes an exact copy of the original folder on the new image. Use the move tool (V) to get the basic centering of the text on the image. Then use the text tool (T) to center the text in each bubble.
	Here is the cleaned raw that has had the text dragged over from the raw and each text re-centered in the bubbles.

And that is pretty much all there is to pre-typesetting.

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