Mosaic Text - by Spacific Designs.com

MOSAIC TEXT

This Tutorial will show you how to create a simple patched text and add two colors simultaneously.

1.) Open Photoshop and create a new file. Go to File > New. Make it 800 X 400 pixels at 300 dpi in RGB mode on a Transparent Background. Now press D, then X to set the Foreground color to White.

2.) Next, use Alt+Backspace to Fill this layer with White, then click the Eye icon

to the layer to turn OFF it's visibility.

3.) Select the Horizontal Type tool

. Go to the Options bar and Select a font. (I used Arial Black Regular 60 pt Sharp.) Click on the work area and type the First letter.

4.) Go to the Layers palette and click the Top layer to commit, then Right-Click this layer and a pop-up menu will appear. Select Rasterize Layer.

Now, click on the work area and type the next letter. Repeat Step 3. Continue with this procedure until all of the letters you wish to use have been added. Placement is not important at this time. (Each will be on it's own layer.)

Text is probably not a pretty site at this stage, and we will fix this shortly.

5.) Now, in the Layers palette... click the Drop down arrow to the Blending Options and a menu will appear. Select Difference. Click the Next layer Down in the palette and repeat procedure until All Type layers have been converted.

6.) Select the Move tool

. Now, Drag letters into desired position. (You will have to click each letters layer to Select prior to moving.) Position letters with a bit of overlapping. Notice as you work how the patchwork falls into play.

7.) On to the magic part...Click layer 1 and you will notice that the colors have become reversed.

8.) Select a new color for the Foreground color and use Alt+Backspace to fill. Two colors will be applied at once! Experiment with different Foreground colors.

Adding a mixture of Colors now to this image, if you wish, is a simple endeavor. In the Layers palette... Ctrl+Click on any Type layer to Create a Selection. (Note: The Color change here was made by simply changing the Color to the Background layer prior to Creating the Selection.)

Then, change Foreground Color and use Alt+Backspace to Fill. Follow this procedure to All letters until you are pleased with the results. Use Ctrl+D to Deselect Selection at finish. (I noticed at this point that the letter "S" had some unclean edges present.)

Here's the fix... Ctrl+Click it's layer to Create a Selection, then go to Select > Modify > Contract. A dialog box will appear. Enter 1 at the input area and click OK. (Selection will move Inward by 1 pixel.) Now, go to Select > Inverse and follow with Edit > Clear, then press Ctrl+D to Deselect Selection. Simple as that!