1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Graphics Software
Type & Layer Effects
Software Used: Photoshop 5.5

1.) Start with a new image. 400 wide by 200 pixels. White background. (Continued below...)

2.) Select the type tool type tool and click on the canvas to bring up the type settings. Type the word "Zone" using the settings shown below. Click OK.

type tool settings

3.) Click the type tool on the canvas again and Type "The". Change the font size to 24 this time.

4.) Switch to the move tool move tool and arange the two words as shown.
arrange the text as shown here

5.) Open a new file 20 wide by 2 pixels high.

6.) Zoom way in - about 1200%. Select the pencil tool pensil tool and a medium blue color for the foreground color and draw a line across the top half of the new image.
the first blue stripe

Switch to a lighter blue color and paint a line of the lighter blue across the bottom half.
the second blue stripe

7.) Select -> All
Edit -> Define Pattern

8.) Go back to your original image. Select the "Zone" layer. Go to Layer -> Type -> Render Layer.

9.) Ctrl-click on the "Zone" layer in the layers palette (this selects all non-transparent pixels). Go to Edit -> Fill and set contents to Pattern. Don't lose your selection.
changing the fill contents to pattern

10.) Make sure the foreground color is set to the medium blue color you used earlier. Go to Edit -> Stroke. Make the width 2 pixels and the location Center. Deselect (Ctrl-D).
setting the stroke options

11.) On the layers palette, double-click the T in the "The" layer to edit the type.
invoking the type tool to edit the type

12.) Double-click the color swatch and pick up the same blue with the eyedropper from anywhere on the screen.
using the eyedropper to pick up a color

13.) OK both dialog boxes. Your picture should look like mine.
The filled type

14.) Select the type tool again and type the word "Software" using the following settings:

type settings

15.)Select the move tool and move the text into place as shown.
Moving the text into place

invoking the layer effects dialog16.) Now all that's left is to add some nifty layer effects. Right-click the "Zone" layer on the layer palette and choose layer effects. If you move the dialog box so you can still see your picture you'll be able to see any changes you make in real time. (If drop shadow is applied, uncheck the box to remove it). For the word Zone, I used the layer effect Bevel and Emboss with a "pillow emboss" style. Adjust your settings to match mine, or play around with the controls until you get something you like.

layer effects setting for bevel and emboss

17.) Repeat the effect on the "The" layer but reduce the depth and blur to adjust for the smaller text size.

18.) On the Software layer, I applied the default drop shadow, and an inner bevel with the following settings.

layer effects settings for bevel and emboss

That's it... here's the finished image.

the finished image

More Photoshop Tutorials

Questions? Comments? Post to the Forum!

Explore Graphics Software

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Graphics Software

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.