Dr Mike Howarth: website

MIKE'S PHOTOSHOP SKILLS

EXERCISE 2: 3D TEXT

3D text

1)

First thing you need to do is to open up Photoshop and create a new image.

2)

You will see another box opens up asking you to specify the properties of the new image you would like to create

In this case use a width of 250 pixelsand a height of 100 pixels.

3)

Since we are not going to be working with the background in this image, we are not going to change it in any way, and we will create additional layers on top of it for our text.

So create a new layer.

After creating a new layer, be sure it is the active layer. ( It will be highlighted as show).

4)

Next select the type tool from the toolbar.

5)

Now we are going to modify the size, colour, and font type we would like to use. This can be done using the text toolbar across the top of the screen.

In fact Lucida Handwriting was chosen.

6)

When you go to choose a colour, keep in mind this colour will be used for a darker shadow colour for the image, so go with a colour such as dark blue, or black using the foreground colour picker...

7)

...then choose your colour using the picker itself. Your image should now look something like this on the left

8)

After you select your background colour, be sure layer 1 and not the background layer is active, and type what you wish.

Your image will now look something like this on the left

9)

Now duplicate the layer

10)

After duplicating the layer, select the duplicate layer (on top of the original) using the layer menu and making it the active layer. Then, using the type tool, select your text in the image and change the colour using the picker. Try a lighter shade.

11)

Your layer menu now will look something like this. After you change the colour of the duplicate layer's text, and making sure it is still the active layer ( as show above )

use the arrow keys

on your keyboard and move the text left and up 2 pixels or so. Each time you tap an arrow key it will move the active layer 1 pixel in the direction you specify. Now you might have something that looks like this on the left

12)

Now we are going to apply some filters to our text. In this case we want to give it that '3D' look, so we are going to give the text some bevel. Being sure the top layer is active, click on the<'f' icon near the layers menu.

Select the 'Bevel and Emboss' from the popup menu. This will open up a window like this on the left.

13)

Using the default settings will work fine. Go ahead and click ok to apply the filter to the layer. Since I was going for a black and white 3D logo in this example, flatten the image ( layer, flatten image )...and then desaturate the image.

15)

And here is the final product.