Inserting Text in Multiple Images on One Sheet

[David Armitage]

I tried to create greeting cards (2 per sheet) with text on the front of the each image but the Overlay panel only allows one cell of text per page. I thought I had solved this by using 'Render on every image' but this tool places the text smack dab in the center of the image and does not allow you to move it or resize it. Does anyone know how to place text in multiple places on one sheet?

 

[Denis Pagé]

Your best friend for doing this and more will be LR2/Mogrify from Timothy Armes... Click the Quick Guide top of his page to get an idea of what you can do with it.

 

[David Armitage]

Thanks Denis. I'll try the Quick Guide and then I'll try Timothy Armes. David

 

[David Armitage]

I have reveiwed LR2/Mogrify. (What does 'mogrify' mean?) So, is it accurate to say that adding text to multiple images on a single sheet can't be performed with the basic LR2 software?

 

[Denis Pagé]

...So, is it accurate to say that adding text to multiple images on a single sheet can't be performed with the basic LR2 software?

Not the way you want. It is very limited at the moment.

 

[Brad Snyder]

David, BTW, Welcome to the forums.

Well, it's definitely accurate to say 'pretty' text can't be added to multiple images on a single sheet. You can add custom text to each photo, in a variable size fixed font in white space at the bottom of the individual photos. I don't see any way to hack that to a different font/position.

Mogrify, I assume is appropriated from: transmogrify

My massive American Heritage dictionary tells me that is a transitive verb of unknown, but not recent origin, meaning 'to change or alter in form, appearance, or structure', and goes on to add [COLOR=#''''ff]'often with grotesque or humorous effect'[/COLOR]. (Hmmm, I guess they've seen my work. )

 

[Victoria Bampton]

I have reveiwed LR2/Mogrify. (What does 'mogrify' mean?)

Ok, I'll bite.... and the simple answer - the name LR2/Mogrify comes from the ImageMagick Mogrify command line tool it uses.

 

[David Armitage]

Ah, hello everyone. Last night's question was the first time I've done this. 'Junior Member' is putting it lightly! Thank you all very much for your 'welcome's', and your responses.

Your answers are very helpful. I thought I was losing my mind, not being able to figure out how to add text to each image. It seemed like such a normal tool to include. (I still find it odd that its not a tool in the basic Lightroom software.)

I'm using Lightroom on a trial basis. (Eight days to go!) I also tried CS4 on a trial basis. I am an amatuer photographer and my only development experience is in the darkroom. I went digital recently and although I'm having a blast figuring out this new world, it has its (REALLY) frustrating moments. Its probably too broad a question (do I start a new thread? not sure of the etiquette) but which program is better suited for an amatuer photographer? Lightroom or Photoshop CS4? In some ways my first question (about adding text) is not indicative of my objectives. I'm most interested in developing and printing photos. I was just curious about adding texts and making greeting cards and stumbled upon the issue.

(Victoria, is "ImageMagick Mogrify command line tool" a 'tool' in LR2?)

Here we go!

 

[Brad Snyder]

David, to pitch in for Victoria, (she's in England's time zone), Lr2/Mogrify is an 'export plugin' which is available from a non-Adobe third party developer, Tim Armes. I know he's recently changed his commercial model, but there's a free trial available and the unlocked product is available for a donation/modest fee. This export plug-in works as an interface to hand your Lr exported files over to a really gnarly, Unix-developed, command line driven image utility called mogrify. Mogrify is part of a comprehensive 'image massaging' package called Image Magick. The Image Magick package is offered free by its developers. So, no mogrify is not part of Lr, but via the plug in, its powerful functionality is accessible from Lr. This is a very steep learning curve to climb for someone in the early days of new technology and new software, and I know that what I've said here, may just be a lot of jargon at present, but we'll be happy to elucidate.

Lr vs CS4. We recently had this discussion on another thread, I'm going to look for it, and post back.

Edit: David, here's the most recent thread comparing/contrasting Lr vs CS. Feel free to follow up with questions there, or back here.

 

[David Armitage]

Dear Brad, et al,

This is very helpful. Thank you. (I'm rather overwhelmed! What an extraordinary tool this forum is.) I appreciate the detailed description of Lr2/Mogrify. I will spend some time absorbing all this. The link to the LR/CS thread is especially useful to me right now. More later!

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Thanks Brad! David, you'll find this place a wealth of information, and if you ever come up with a question you can't find the answer to, we'll always be pleased to help.