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Making an Aluminum Foil Type Effect
- Launch Adobe Photoshop.
- Select New under the File menu (white background) and set the image size to a height of 90 pixels and a width of 120 pixels. Set the resolution to 72 dpi or pixels per inch. Set the Mode to RGB Color. This will allow us to use layers.
- Next make a new channel (#4).
- Use the Type tool and type in the word "Foil". Here we used Matrix Bold 50 point type.
- Keep the selection active and fill it with clouds by using Filter -> Render -> Clouds.
- Click on the composite channel. Keep the selection active and choose Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects. Use the following settings:
- Intensity = +15
- Gloss = 0
- Plastic = 69
- Exposure = 0
- Ambiance = 14
- Texture Channel = 4
- Height = all the way to the right
- To brighten the foil, select Image -> Adjust -> Brightness and set the Contrast to +40.
- Your image should look like this:
Making Simple Type Gradients
- In Photoshop, select File -> New. Create a new document 120 pixels wide and 50 pixels high.
- Select the Text Tool. Type in your text.
- Set the background color to black, and the foreground color to very pale gray.
- Next, select the Gradient Tool. You can change the setting of the Gradient Tool by double-clicking on the Gradient Tool icon. This will open the Option palette for the Gradient Tool.
- In the Options Palette for the Gradient Tool, the first setting should be Normal, the Opacity 100%, the Style should be Foreground to Background, and the Type should be Linear.
- Apply the gradient from top to bottom of the text selection while holding down the Shift key. Using the Shift key with the Gradient Tool constrains the gradient to a smooth vertical blend.
- While the text is still selected, use Control-C on Windows, or Command-C on the Mac to copy the text to the clipboard. Use Control-V on Windows or Command-V on the Mac to paste a copy of the text.
- Use the down arrow key on your keyboard to nudge the copy of the text down two pixels. Then use the right arrow key to nudge the copy over two pixels.
- Next apply the top to bottom gradient in the opposite direction. (Start at the bottom of the type, hold down the Shift key, and draw a straight line up.
- Select Mode -> Indexed Color using the Netscape Web 216-color palette, and save this as a Gif file.
- Your image should look like this:
- You could also use this effect on clipart, line art, or a logo.
Making Flaming Type
- Create a new Grayscale file 250 pixels by 100.
- Fill background with black.
- Switch the foreground color to white. (press X)
- Use the Type tool to type in the word "Flame".
- Move the type to the bottom of the frame to make room for flames.
- Select Save selection from the Select pull-down menu.
- Deselect the text (Command-D).
- Rotate the image 90 degrees CCW.
- Apply Filter -> Stylize -> Wind Blast, Left.
- Rotate image back 90 degrees CW.
- Apply Filter -> Style -> Diffuse Normal.
- Apply Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, radius 2.5.
- Apply Filter -> Distort -> Ripple. (use default settings 100, medium)
- Select Load selection (from under Select pull-down menu)
- Choose Select -> Modify -> Contract 2 pixels.
- Choose Select -> Feather 1 pixel.
- Change foreground color to black (press D) and press Option Delete to fill selection.
- Deselect (command-D).
- Convert image to Indexed color mode. Mode -> Indexed Color
- Select Mode -> Color Table and choose Black Body from the pop-up menu.
- You can use the Levels dialog box to adjust the color and height of the flames. (Command-L). It helps to work in the Red and Green channels separately.
- Your image should look like this:
More to come...
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