How to Draw a Speech Bubble in Photoshop CS5

Create speech bubbles in Photoshop using the Custom Shape tool.

Speech bubbles add character dialogue to comics and also sometimes turn up in Web designs, where they create a more laid-back, human feel. Photoshop CS5 includes a Custom Shape tool that comes with shape presets. Use this tool to draw a speech bubble and add some style, like an outline, to the new shape. When you add text to the bubble, click the Text tool on the bubble to constrain your text to its boundaries.

Instructions

1. Click the Shape Tool icon in the toolbar and hold down until a submenu appears. Select "Custom Shape Tool" and then select the Comment Bubble shape from the "Shape" setting in the Settings menu.

2. Double-click the foreground color swatch in the toolbar and select white.

3. Click and drag the tool on your image until you see the size and shape you want. Hold down the "Shift" key while making the Comment Bubble shape if you want to keep it proportioned.

4. Double-click shape in the "Layers" panel to load the "Layer Style" window. Go to "Stroke" and adjust the stroke settings until you are satisfied with the outline on the speech bubble. Speech bubbles for comics should have thick, black outlines at 3 pixels in width.

5. Select the Text tool from the toolbar and click on the Comment Bubble. Type your text into the bubble. Photoshop CS5 will automatically constrain your text to the shape.

Tips & Warnings

• While the Comic Sans font works when you need to make a quick speech bubble, consider installing other comic fonts on your computer, such as Komika Text or Action Man.

Resources

• Font Squirrel: Comic Fonts