Customizing Styles with the Style Workshop

You can fine-tune existing type or panel styles, or completely change them in the Style Workshop dialog. When you open the Style Workshop dialog, the settings of the selected object is shown within the tabs of of the Style Workshop. (The dialog will not open with more than one object selected.) You are offered literally millions of stylistic choices to combine and apply.

When you enter the Style Workshop you are presented with three tabs, the Main tab, the Shadow tab and the Effects tab. With the Main tab selected, you are working on the main object itself to adjust the object's fill, inline, or outline. There is a radio button for choosing the four kinds of fills. You can choose from Color, Blend, Shader or Image fills. For each kind of fill you can add an Inline and Outline. Choose whether you'd like to fill the object or the stroke. Choose color or images and pattern palette for each. Use the Softness controls to add Blur and Noise effects. Add Opacity Masks. You can select fill effects, such as Starburst Fill, Dual Blend Fill, or Graduated Fill, foreground and background colors, and line thickness.

With the Shadow tab selected, you are working on the shadow of the main object itself to adjust the shadow's fill, inline, or outline. There is a radio button for choosing the four kinds of Shadow Kinds. You can choose from Drop, Cast, Block or Zoom. For each kind of shadow you can add an Inline and Outline. Choose whether you'd like to fill the object or the stroke. Choose color or images and pattern palette for each. Use the Softness controls to add Blur and Noise effects. Add Opacity Masks. You can select fill effects, such as Starburst Fill, Dual Blend Fill, or Graduated Fill, foreground and background colors, line thickness; and shadow effects including Three-D Block and Zoom Effect.

With the Effects tab selected, you are working on the main object itself to adjust the effects applied to the main object. There is a radio button for choosing the four kinds of Effects. You can choose from Emboss, Bevel, Distress or Gloss. For each kind of effect you can add effect on one another. Choose to adjust the highs and lows of the Light color. Choose the percentage of Intensity of the highs and lows for each. Use the Direction trackball to adjust the position of the lighting. And under Distress Kind choose from Inside, Outside, Pillow or Full and a width for each of the effects.

In order to open the Style Workshop, an object must be selected in the main window, or be active in either the Text Attributes, Panel Attributes, or Style Librarian dialog. Remember, you cannot open the Style Workshop if you have grouped objects selected, or more than one individual text object selected.

There are four ways to open the Style Workshop.

Method 1:

1. In the main window, use the arrow pointer to select a text or panel object you want to customize.

2. Select Style Workshop... from the Style menu (Command-E).

Method 2:

1. In the main window, use the arrow pointer to select a text or panel object you want to customize.

2. Click on the Workshop icon from the toolbar

Method 3:

1. Use TypeStyler's contextual menu by pressing the Control key while clicking on a text or panel object you want to customize.

2. From the pop-up menu choose Edit in Style Workshop...

Method 4:

1. Use TypeStyler's contextual menu from the Object Palette. In the Object Palette select a text or panel object you want to customize.

2. Click on the arrow in the upper right hand corner or the Object Palette and from the pop-up menu choose Edit in Style Workshop...