PSP Crazy Text

PaintShopPro image editor software comes with a hidden gem - the ability to generate progarms that can produce a wide range of saveable images. Not many people are aware of this - or care very much! And not many people have my software background, so would not dream of venturing into this hidden world. But the good news is that I've done all the work and it's really easy to use. The purpose of this blog is to explain how.

The best way to think of the piece of software (refered to as a 'script') is that it's just like an app on your phone.  Except instead of running on your phone's operating system it runs on Paint Shop Pro. The scripting was introduced on PSP8, I use PSP9 and this post relates to that issue. However, scripting support exists on all later version so the script should run - but there's only one way to be sure - try it. Nothing lost if it doesn't. PSP9 is pretty ancient (from 2004) but I like it's straightforward user interface and it's very fast. Later versions of PSP have a more complex user interface akin to Photoshop and from my limited experience using a more uptodate version that I fooishly bought, it's a lot slower to use. So I stick with PSP9. Incidentally Photoshop also offers scripting but uses Javascript language instead of the Python language that PSP uses. If you are a Photoshop user I'm afraid this blog is of no use to you! And I'm afraid PSP is for Windows only, not Apple. PSP9 can usually be bought on eBay very cheaply.

HOW TO USE THE SOFTWARE

The Script - is named Font_Scriot4.PspScript and can be downloaded from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A5dlmSLtbeOoNLrLkhNomw5MJUL4n-9r/view?usp=drive_link

Having downloaded it you need to copy it to the right folder so that PSP can find it. It needs to go here:

C: (Windws)/\ ProgramFiles (x86) \ Jasc Software Inc \ Paint Shop Pro 9 \ Scripts-Restricted

Then open PSP9 and set up a new worksheet of your desired shape, size and colour by selecting, on the top menu bar, File->New

Select the script ' Font_Scriot4.PspScript' by  selecting, on the top menu bar, File->Script and click on  Font_Scriot4.PspScript

A text box should appear in the centre of the screen, select OK to use the built-in default text. or copy paste your own text and click OK.

The Crazy Text should then be generated on your worksheet. When complete you can save it, usually as a .jpg file, then use it wherever you want.. 

So, basically, run the script, paste in your text and press OK. That's it.

HOW TO VARY TEXT GENERATION

For this first software release you need to open File->Script->Edit and click on  Font_Scriot4.PspScript  - you can then select your prefered fonts,line wrap, etc (all at the top of the program under USER SETTINGS). Note that a hash sign hides whatever follows from the software interpreter. For now, a new paragraph is defined by a full stop.

So, modify the script and re-run it. To wipe the previous output press Control + Z  on the keyboard. Have a play!

For ideas on font pairing check out:
https://m3.material.io/blog/google-fonts-pairing-figma