Text and Rasterization
Because all text layers are contained in groups, rasterization affects how text interacts
with other objects in your project.
Note: Text can be rasterized independently of the group in which it lives. Doing this
affects how the text interacts with objects in its own group. For example, applying a Circle
Blur filter to text that exists in 3D space (such as text on a path) causes the text to no
longer intersect with other objects in the same group. The same operations that cause
a 3D group to rasterize cause 3D text to rasterize. In some situations, selecting the Flatten
checkbox in the Layout pane of the Text Inspector can minimize this effect.
The following example shows the nonrasterized 2D group (Group 1) containing text. The
text interacts with the image beneath it in the layer stack because the text is set to the
Soft Light blend mode. (Notice the texture in the words “big cats” created by the image
beneath it.)
1410
Appendix A
About Rasterization
In the next example, the 2D group that contains the text is rasterized—triggered in this
case by selecting the Crop checkbox in the group’s Properties Inspector. The text’s Soft
Light blend mode no longer interacts with the object beneath it (the tiger image) in the
layer stack. Group 1 now appears with a rasterization frame around the group icon.
For more information on rasterization with 2D and 3D groups, see
Groups and
Rasterization
.