Photoshop 5.5 Tips & Tricks

In this example, we will use the Type Mask

Tool. This tool works differently than the

standard Type Tool in a few different ways.

First it creates only the selection of the

text no actual type appears on the canvas.

Second it does not create its own layer

when the selection appears on the canvas.

About This Exercise

1. Open an image.

2. Open the Layers Window if it is not already open.

Go to the Windows Menu and select Show Layers Window.

3. Click down on the Drop Down Arrow to reveal the other Type Tools.

Select the T Icon with dotted lines outlining it, then click down on the

canvas.

Page 1

Type Mask

Tool

1. Open An Image and Add Text

1. When the Text Control window appears, Select a thick font face

and Choose a Large Font Size.

2. Reposition text so it is above an interesting portion of the image.

Note: the font outline is on the canvas layer.

Photoshop 5.0 Tips & Tricks

With your Selection still active,

1. Create a New Layer by clicking on the New Layer Icon at the bot-

tom of the Layers Window.

2. Turn off the Image Layer by clicking on the Eye Icon on it’s layer in

the Layers Window. You should only see your active selection.

3. Activate the new blank layer by clicking on its Title in the Layers

Window. It is now the Target Layer.

Page 2

Type Mask

Tool

1. With your selection still active, copy the

portion of the image your selection is float-

ing above by

going to the Edit Menu and Choos-

ing Copy or you could use the Command

and C Keys.

2. Copy Image and Create A New Layer

Photoshop 5.5 Tips & Tricks

With your selection still active,

1. Choose Paste in the Edit Menu.

Your copied images fills the text selection.

At this point you could use the text as is or you add some effects to the

layer. We will experiment with some of the Type Effects.

3. Paste Your Copy Into The New Layer.

Page 3

Type Mask

Tool

Photoshop offers a number of type effects that used to take hours to create.

Time saving third party software was another option but in some cases these

were costly and you had to keep track of upgrades.

Photoshop offers a number of the most popular effects, drop shadows, bevels,

embosses and cutouts among them. You can use multiple effects on your

layer. I will show you some but you should experiment on your own to get the

feel of how these effects work alone and with each other.

1. Make the Canvas Layer Visible again by clicking in the Visiblity Icon

box.

Notice how the text layer appears to blend into the layer beneath it.

4. Make Layer Visible.

Photoshop 5.5 Tips & Tricks

Page 4

Type Mask

Tool

Experiment with the controls to

see how they behave.

The Apply box must be

checked in order for you to see

the changes you make to the

settings.

You can apply more than one

effect to your text. Just leave

the apply box checked and

choose the next effect. If you

don’t like the effect, uncheck

the Apply box. Doing so will

remove that effect from your

text.

5. Add Drop Shadow

With the Type Layer selected.

1. Go to the Layer Menu, drag Down to

Effects and over to Choose, Drop

Shadow.

The Effects Dialog box appears and

contains not only the controls for creat-

ing a drop shadow but the other effects

are available through the effects drop

down box.

Photoshop 5.5 Tips & Tricks

A number of people like the look of the text cutout effect. Photoshop

offers this effect with the Inner Shadow option.

6. Experiments

Here is an example of two effects applied to one image. The Outer Glow

with the Edge option selected was applied first. It creates a simple glow

not unlike a neon glow. Next I applied a drop shadow.

End

Type Mask

Tool