How to select and fill an outline?

[Peru]

Photoshop Elements 11

I have a single layer with an image of text that is in outline form. The color of the outline is not consistent, so I wish to make it a solid color. How do I select just the outline of each of the letters so that I can use the bucket tool to fill in the outline with a solid color?

[Bob]

Bob,

Could you post a small sample? It would help us make a recommendation.

[Steve Grisetti]

Meantime, you can try simplying the text layer (you'll find the option when you right-click on the text layer on the Layer panel). This will turn your text into rasterized imagery, which you can then select with the Magic Wand tool.

You can then use Refine Edge to bring the selection in a bit and remove some of the existing outline before you use Edit/Stroke to add your new outline.

[Peru]

Thanks for the suggestions.

It's not a text layer, but text as part of an image.

My wife found a solution:
Use the polygon lasso around the outside perimeter and use a brush to color most of it.
Then use the polygon lasso around the inside perimeter and color the rest.

[Steve Grisetti]

Good plan, Bob!

[Bob]

That will certainly work, but there may have been an easier solution. There are many ways to make selections and some work better in some situations and some work better in others.

[Peru]

She's got it done now, Bob, but thanks. Next time I'll post a screen shot when I ask how to do something like that.

[momoffduty]

I would have suggested something, but I tend to do things the long way.

[Peru]

But they do get done, Cheryl.