To rasterize text in Photoshop CS5, right-click the type layer’s name in the Layers panel and choose Rasterize Type, or select the layer and go to Layer > Rasterize > Type. The text turns into ordinary pixels, so you can paint on it, use filters or apply tools that don’t work on live type. After this you can’t edit the words with the Type tool, so keep a copy of the original layer.
Quick Answer
Select the text layer > Layer > Rasterize > Type. Duplicate the layer first (Ctrl + J) so you still have editable text.
Steps to Rasterize a Text Layer
- Open the Layers panel with Window > Layers (F7) if it isn’t showing.
- Click the text layer. Its thumbnail shows a T.
- Press Ctrl + J (Cmd + J on a Mac) to duplicate it, then hide the original with its eye icon.
- Right-click the copy’s name, not the thumbnail, and choose Rasterize Type. Or use Layer > Rasterize > Type.
- The thumbnail changes to show pixels. You can now use brushes, filters, the Eraser and similar tools on it.
Rasterize or Convert to Smart Object?
| Option | Text stays editable? | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Rasterize Type | No | Painting, erasing, pixel-level effects |
| Convert to Smart Object | Yes (double-click to edit) | Most filters and transforms |
| Layer styles | Yes | Stroke, shadow, gradient effects |
Troubleshooting
- A filter warns that the layer must be rasterized: Choose Cancel and use Convert to Smart Object if you want to keep editing the text; choose OK to rasterize.
- Rasterize Type is greyed out: The selected layer isn’t a type layer, or more than one layer type is selected.
- Want to change the font first? Do it before rasterizing. See changing a text layer’s font.
- Need to underline text? See underlining text in Photoshop CS5.
- Combining layers after: See merging layers. Merging a text layer also rasterizes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo rasterizing?
Only with Undo (Ctrl + Z) or the History panel during the same session. That’s why a duplicate layer is worth keeping.
Is it the same in newer Photoshop versions?
Broadly yes. Current versions also offer Layer > Rasterize > Type and a Rasterize Type option on the layer’s right-click menu.
Does rasterized text lose quality?
It becomes fixed to the document’s resolution, so enlarging it later can look soft. Scale the text before rasterizing.
Summary
- Select the text layer.
- Duplicate it with Ctrl + J.
- Choose Layer > Rasterize > Type or right-click > Rasterize Type.
- Use a Smart Object instead if you need to keep the text editable.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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