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Photoshop 5.5
Text Effects on the Cheap
by Joyce Evans
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Here is an inexpensive text effect I
like when the printing budget is low.
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1
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File|New I used a size of 400 x 200 pixels at a
72 resolution because it will go to the web. For printing
purposes you need a resolution that will print well,
at least 150. |
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2 |
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Press the letter D to make your forground black
if it isn't already, click the Text Tool  and
type with a heavy font. I choose Freehand 471 BT at
100 points. I am typing Vacation, a word that seems
to be on a lot of people's minds this time of year.
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3
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Switch your forground color to white. You can either
do this from the toolbar or just press the X key on
your keyboard. |
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4 |
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We want to fill the text now with white - the keyboard
command is Shift-Alt-Backspace for the PC or Shift-Command-Delete
for the Mac. Doesn't look like much does it? But be
patient. You may wonder why we didn't just start out
with white text. You certainly can do that as well,
it helps to start with black to be sure it is positioned
where you want it and that it is the look you want. |
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5 |
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Layer|Effects|Outer Glow. Click on the colored box
and select black for your color. And use these settings:
Mode: Normal
Opacity: 80%
Blur: 10
Intensity:100
Click Ok, then go to Edit|Undo Outer Glow (we are
going to try another effect)
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6 |
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Try this one - Layer|Effects|Inner Shadow with these
settings: Mode: Normal
Opacity: 75
Angle: 120
Distance: 4
Blur: 6
Intensity: 100
Since you can see the effect as you make the changes,
play with the settings until you get the look you like,
Click Ok, then go to Edit|Undo Outer Glow (we are going
to try another effect) |
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7
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Option 3 - Layer|Effects|Bevel & Emboss Highlight
Mode: Normal
Opacity: 75
Shadow Mode: Normal
Opacity 75
Style Outer Bevel (try all the options, I really like
the pillow emboss with a depth of 10)
Angle: 120
Depth: 8
Blur: 8
Bevel Emboss
Pillow Emboss
Click OK when you get the look you like. |
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1 |
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Use on an Image
Try it on top of an image, Open a black and white or
a color image. If it's colored go to Image|Mode|Grayscale
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2 |
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Type your
text in white (click X to change color to white) Then
Layer|Effects|Outer Glow with these settings:
Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100
Blur: 12
Intensity 200
Click OK
This looks pretty good but we can do another effect
with the same image.
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Add a new Layer, Layer|New Layer or use the add layer
icon in layers palette. |
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Drag the new layer below the text layer. |
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Click on your text layer to make it active and use
these keyboard commands PC- Control+E Mac- Command+E
to merge the text layer with the new layer. |
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In the layers palette change the blend mode to Soft
Light. |
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I made a duplicate of the layer and positioned a copy
on the bottom just so you could see the different effects. |
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As you've
seen in this tutorial the effects tools are extremely
flexible with tons of options. Don't be afraid to experiment,
especially with the undo command available.
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