[Hall of tricks]

There are many tutorials about outline text.  Here's another one, which I think shows a simpler method and has a distinct advantage: the text and the outline remain a single piece of text that you can edit later.  You don't add the outline to the text.  This way all the text properties are kept. Here's an example:

How do I add the outline in the text?  I use light exactely above the beveled text.  Want to change the text later? No problem! Click the Text Tool and click on the outlined text. There you go.  Here's how I do it!

Let's start by creating an image with a piece of text in it.

• Create a new image of 400 x 100.
• Click the Text Tool and click anywhere in the left side of the empty image.
• Type HOLLOW then press Enter or click OK.
• Select a font you like (a sans-serif font works best).
• Use the Font Size tool to resize at will (70 points is nice).
• Drag the text to center it in the image.
• Select a dark color for the text.  I kept mine black.
• From the Mode drop-down list, select 3D Round.

Now for the outline part.

Zoom on one of the letter (at least up to 3x).   Click back on the Text Tool. Drag the Border dial near the beginning Drag the Depth dial near the middle Click the Light button and hover the mouse (don't click yet). When you see the inside of the letter become paler, then click. You have just locate the light source right above a curved (beveled) surface.   See the big letter H below.

• For the final touch, click the Options button.
• In the Shading tab set Shininess and Strength to 100%
• Choose a Specular light.  This becomes the color of the inner text. If you want choose an Ambient color for the outline color. I'll leave mine black. Click OK.

Adding a drop shadow to the text

• From the Style button, choose Shadow.
• Again from the Style button, choose Options under Shadow.
• Enter a value of 3 to the X and Y offset.   Click OK

See! Outlined text doesn't have to be difficult. In the Gradient Outlined Text tutorial I show how to add an additional dramatic effect to this text (with only a few clicks in the Light tab of the same dialog box.