Photoshop Tips

Step 1

3D Pop out Text
Make a new document, Lets say 200 x 200, White Background. Switch to Channels Pallet (windows>show channels). Create a new channel (Left from trash can). With a white foreground, Type any text or letter about the size I have here to the left (Works best with larger letters).

Step 2

Duplicate Alpha channel 1 (or #4 on PS 4.0): You can right click and choose duplicate on that channel or drag it to the New Channel button. Ok next select the new channel.  Gaussian Blur it by 6.0 pixels (Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur).

Step 3

Ctrl- Click (Mac: Command Click) Alpha Channel 1. Invert Selection (Select>Inverse) and hit delete. With that we've cut off any excess blur out side are Original text area and we now have a 3Dish looking letter.

Step 5

Go to the Layers Pallet (Windows>show layers). Click on the Background layer, now make a new layer. Fill new layer in with some dark color or texture. I used Navy Blue.

Step 6

5.gif (222 bytes) Ok Now the cool part. Go to Filter>Render>Lighting Effects. Switch texture channel to "Alpha Channel 2 (or #5). Light type "Spot Light". On mine I used Negative 50, Narrow 70. Now adjust the light direction to taste and click OK.
Step 7 Now go to Select>Load Selection, choose Alpha 1 (or #4) and click ok. Invert Selection and hit delete. Deselect (Select>Deselect).
Step 9 That's It! This also gets you more familiar with the channels and selections and how they work. You can get different results with fatter letters as well. For a smaller size, Make your  3D text big then re-size the image for best results.

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