Dripping Text in Photoshop
6
By Nick Ustinov
Revised by Nathan Segal May/2001
This is the first of several tutorials to updated for use with Photoshop
6.0. For those of you with Photoshop 4.0, the previous tutorials will
be posted in another section.
In this tutorial, we will be using the Stamp filter that has existed
since version 4.0.
The first step is to start with a new RGB image. Next, using the Type
tool, type some text, aligning it so it is positioned near the top of
the canvas, leaving room for the dripping effect. Note: Large thick text
such as Impact, works well for this effect. Also, make sure that the text
is white on black.
The next step is the rotate your canvas and apply the Wind filter. But
before you do, the Type layer must be rasterized with the background or
the effect will not work. In the Layers palette, click on the small triangle
at the top right of the palette and choose Flatten Image from the list.
Then, choose Image: Rotate: 90 CCW and from the Filter menu, click on
Stylize: Wind. In the Wind dialog box, choose Wind under Method and From
the Left, under direction and click on OK. Repeat this step 2 times by
clicking on CTRL+F or CMD+F on the Macintosh.
Once you've fininshed, choose Image: Rotate Canvas: 90 CW and rotate
the image back to the horizontal. Now, choose Filter: Sketch: Stamp and
experiment with the setting until you get the appearance of dripping text.
Next, under Select, use Color Range to closely select the dripping text
and save it as a Selection with the settings New Channel and file name
#2.
The finished and selected, dripping text.
Now you can apply special effects to the text. In this case, we'll create
something bloody. Make sure the Channels palette is active. If not, click
on Windows: Show Channels. From there, switch to the RGB channel, and
if the channel selection is not already loaded, click on Select: Load
Selection: #2. Set the foreground color to a light red and a background
color of a dark red. Fill the selection using Edit: Fill, inverting the
selection as necessary to fill the foreground and background.
Finally, choose Filter: Stylize: Emboss and experiment with settings
until you get an Embossed effect that suits you. To retain color, access
the Fade command from underneath the Edit menu and in the Fade dialog
box, choose Hard Light beside Mode and adjust the Opacity for the desired
effect, but be careful not to reduce it too much, or you will lose the
Embossed effect.
*Nathan Segal is a Writer and Artist who is also active
in Stock Photography.
This article first appeared in November 1998.
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