Adobe Photoshop Basics

Here's some basic type effects you can create with the skills you've learned in these lessons so far. I've kept the instructions brief, but all steps involve tools and commands we've covered in previous lessons. Post to the forum if you get stuck or need a hint.

Glow Text

1. Open a new document and type some text about 72 points.
2. Set the text color to black.
3. Duplicate the type layer.
4. Change the color on the lower layer to a bright color.
5. Rasterize the bottom type layer.
6. Apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian with a radius of about 3-8 pixels depending on the type size.
7. Fill the background with black.

Automatic - Use the Outer Glow layer style/effect.

Inner Glow and Cut-Out Text

1. Open a new document and make a duplicate of the background.
2. Select the Type Mask tool and type some text.
3. With the text selection active press Delete to punch out the text from the top layer.
4. Duplicate the punched out layer.
5. Active the bottom punched out layer, lock its transparency, and fill with black.
6. Unlock the transparency.
7. Apply a Gaussian Blur about 3-5 pixels depending on the size of your text.
8. This gives you an inner glow effect.
9. Shift the blurred layer down and right to emphasize the cutout effect.
10. If desired, fill the background with a different color.

Automatic - Use the Inner Glow layer style/effect.

See-through Text

1. Open a photo or texture and add some text about 72 points.
2. Set the text color to 50% gray (R120, G120, B120).
3. Apply the Bevel & Emboss layer style/effect. Adjust the options as desired.
4. Set the blend mode for the type layer to hard light.

Double Emboss

1. Open a new document and fill the background with any color.
2. Add some text of the same color as the background.
3. Apply the Bevel and Emboss layer style with the pillow emboss option.
4. Hold the Ctrl/Command key down and click the the thumbnail icon for the type layer to load the type as a selection.
5. Go to Select > Modify > Expand> 5 pixels.
6. Create a new layer under the type layer.
7. Fill the selection with the same color you have been using.
8. Right click/Control click on the type layer and choose copy layer style from the pop-up menu.
9. Right click/Control click on the type layer and choose paste layer style from the pop-up menu.

Optional Homework: Create all 10 of these type effects and post them in the interactive classroom. Experiment with your own type effects and share your results with your fellow students.