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There are many characters and symbols not on your keyboard, such as ä, ©, and ™.
You can often enter these characters and symbols by pressing Alt (Windows), or Option (Mac), plus a keystroke.
Sometimes, the particular font that you're using may not have the character or symbol that you need.
If so, change the font.
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Chinese Characters in the Shapes Library |
The numeric keypad is on the right end of your desktop keyboard.
Hold Alt and enter the four-digit number using the numeric keypad.
The Number Lock (NmLk) must be on.
If you're using a laptop that doesn't have a numeric keypad, press Fn + Alt + enter the four-digit number.
If that doesn't work, do the following.
Turn on Number Lock.
Number Lock turns some of the letter and number keys into number keys.
Look for the keys with small numbers in the bottom right corner.
Next, press and hold Alt, and then enter 0169.
Be sure to turn Number Lock off!
Here are some commonly used symbols.
| Copyright | © | Alt + 0169 |
| Trademark | ™ | Alt + 0153 |
| Bullet | • | Alt + 0149 |
There are more character codes at Windows - Alt Key Numeric Codes.
You can also use the Windows Character Map.
To open the Character Map window, do one of the following.
1) Do one of the following.
• Click the Start button.
• Press Ctrl + Esc.
• Press the Windows key.
2) Enter charmap.
3) Click OK.
4) Double click charmap.exe.
1) Do one of the following.
a) Click the Start button.
b) Press Ctrl + Esc.
c) Press the Windows key.
2) Select Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Character Map.
1) Select the character or symbol that you need.
The Alt plus keystroke command, if there is one, appears in the lower-right corner of the Character Map window.
If there's a command, go to Command.
If not, go to No Command.
2) Remember the numbers of the command.
3) Minimize the Character Map window.
4) Select the Type tool.
6) Press Alt + the numbers of the command.
2) Click Select.
3) Click Copy.
4) Minimize the Character Map window.
5) Select the Type tool.
6) Click on the screen.
7) Press Ctrl + v.
Here are some commonly used symbols.
| Copyright | © | Option + g |
| Trademark | ™ | Option + 2 |
| Bullet | • | Option + 8 |
There are more at Accent Codes for the Macintosh.
The PopChar X program displays character and symbol Option plus keystroke commands.
You can use the Character Palette.
Do the following.
1) Select the Type tool in Photoshop Elements.
2) Click on the screen.
3) Go to Finder.
4) Go to Edit > Special Characters.
5) Open the View menu at the top of the Character Palette window.
6) Select the type of character or symbol that you need from the left column.
7) Double click the character or symbol that you need in the right column.
Or, select the character or symbol, and click Insert.
You can add the Character Palette to the menu bar by doing the following. 1) Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > International.
2) Click Input Menu.
3) Select Character Palette.
A flag icon will appear in the menu bar.
The Chinese characters below are located in the Shapes menu.
The characters represent the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
| Number | Character | Animal |
| 1 | 子 | Rat |
| 2 | 丑 | Ox |
| 3 | 寅 | Tiger |
| 4 | 卯 | Rabbit |
| 5 | 辰 | Dragon |
| 6 | 巳 | Snake |
| 7 | 午 | Horse |
| 8 | 未 | Goat |
| 9 | 申 | Monkey |
| 10 | 酉 | Rooster |
| 11 | 戌 | Dog |
| 12 | 亥 | Pig |