With PSP7, we now have an easy way to play around with outlined text. It is now part of the text dialog choices! As of beta2, the left hand side of the text dialog box contains swatches similar to the regular color swatches on the new color palette and they function in much the same way except that here they are not foreground and background *colors*, they are *stroked* (which would be better named *outline*) and *fill*

In this first setting to the left, we have chosen a red outline for a bright green text (fill). This is done in the same manner as making changes in the color swatches on the color palette.

Click on the colored box area labeled stroked and hold to get the choices for plain color (brush icon), gradient, texture or nothing (which looks like a screw head) --- choose the brush icon.

To get a specific color for your outline, click once without holding down the mouse button and you will get the color window. Repeat with the second box, labeled fill to get your fill color.

To have solid text without an outline, there are two methods, one, use the same color for stroke and fill, or, simply make the stroke choice as nothing as is illustrated in the dialog sample to the left. Shown also is a texture selection although it was not used in the sample text to the right.

Shown to the left are the choices to make the text at the right. Although this sample is quite dull actually, you can see the possibilities!

The title image for these PSP7 pages was made using a gradient for the fill and black for the outline. A simple drop shadow was added and VOILA! --- None of the tinkering with flood fill and outline creation necessary in previous versions.