Fiddling with pictures [create filled circle for numbering]

Sorry, I know this isn't strictly an XP topic but I wondered if one of you gurus had experienced, and solved, this problem?

I want to add sequential numbers to twenty pictures for a school brochure.

I'm thinking that the best way might be to place a white or suitably contrasting colored circle in one corner of each pic then add a number with the text tool.

But how to create a circle (or rectangle) template that I can drag onto each pic? Or maybe there's a better way?

I've got several GFX editors, including Photoshop, but GFX dedicated forums tend NOT to be too user friendly for noobs or noob questions.

Advice would be appreciated

 

Thanks PeteC, I'm gonna give that a try, (tho I may have to come back for amplification)

Your example is just what I'm looking for, brilliant.

Cheers

 

Hi again, PeteC. Using your tips, I've made enough progress to be able to find out what I don't know Oh, PShop is CS3 Extended.

OK, here's your original text with my additions:

Create an empty layer immediately above the Background layer (Shift\Ctrl\N)

Select the Eliptical Marquee tool (M) and set the style to Fixed Ratio, height = 1, width = 1 (Guess I can always use 'Fixed Size' to get a consistent result)

Click/drag on the new layer to produce a circular selection.

(For a rectangle use the Rectangular Marquee tool)

Use the Move tool to position (V)

Fill the selection with a colour of your choice - Edit > Fill,(Shift-F5) Ctrl + D to deselect

With the new layer still active select the Text tool (T) - type in no. into the filled area and move the text into optimum position (?) - centre (Is there a way to automate this movement to center?)

Link the text layer and the new layer together (Shift\Click or Ctrl\Click to select layers, CHAIN icon in Layers Palette) so that text and coloured spot move together for final positioning.

Can always alter the opacity of the new layer - and hence the coloured spot (?) to give it translucency.(not sure what you meant by 'colored spot')

I discovered that I could then open another pic alongside the first and drag the numbered circle onto it. Then I unlinked the circle from the number, clicked the 'eye' of the number to remove it, and replaced it with another number. This step seems a little clumsy - is there a way to automate this process? Is that what's called an 'action'?

Last question - With the Text tool selected and working, is there a hotkey method to move to another tool? Like, hitting V (for MOVE) puts a V in the text. Or is it always necessary to mouse-click another tool to end texting?

Thanks again PeteC - been using PS for years and never got past using basic basics. It's great to do something a little more complex with the confident expectation that it's gonna work!