Larry's Graphics Tutorials - Titles with Photoshop

Making a title using a Text mask

Part 1 of 3

Index

Title 3

Title 4 (pt 2)

Introduction

As I have said before there are many ways to create title graphics. I have so far shown you a couple of ways. One other way is to use a text mask. This works almost the same way as with common text but adds the possibility to apply textures to the text.

When I started this tutorial I had no idea what the the final result would look like.

Step 1 - 2

The first steps

Let's start as usual:

• Open a new file. Size approximately 450 x 250
• Fill the original layer (Layer 1) with white colour

Now we have to find the Text mask tool. Where is it? Take a look at the tool bar. On some of the flat buttons there is a small, black mark in the bottom right corner. This mark tells us that there are more tools attached to these buttons. To find these hidden tools click on a button and hold the (left) mouse button down. Now you will se a horizontal bar with flat buttons popping up. To select one of theses buttons (tools) keep the mouse button pressed and move the cursor to the tool you want. Then release the button and the tool is selected.

• Click on the Text tool button and hold down the mouse button

A bar with four flat buttons pops up. The first button is grayed out. It is the Text tool which is already selected. The next tool is the Text mask tool (the one we want) and then comes the Vertical text tool and the Vertical text mask tool.

• With the mouse button pressed move the cursor to the Text mask tool
• Release the mouse button

The Text mask tool is now selected and can be used.

• Create a new layer

The reason for this is that unlike the Text tool the Text mask tool does not auto generate a new layer. And we don't want the text to go directly onto the background.

• Click where you want the text to start

The Text edit box is brought up. Before we do anything take a look at the dialog box. It varies in a couple of ways from the ordinary text edit box. There is no colour box, and no preview checkbox! Since there is no preview you won't be able to see the text you type other than in the text box. This is a bit problematic because you need to make absolutely sure your text isn't wider, or higher, than the file you have on your screen.

• Choose the font Impact and set the size to 55.
• Type in the text HOMEPAGE
• Highlight the text and set character spacing to 150
• Click OK

When the text edit box has closed you can see the text as a text mask on the work space. If you need to move it (I had to) just click in a letter, hold down the mouse button and drag the text in position. No need to use the Move tool here.
The Text mask gives you a lot more choices than the ordinary text tool BUT there is one thing you CANNOT do! You cannot edit the text. Once you have typed in the text and clicked OK you are stuck with it. No way to edit spelling mistake and such other than delete the text and do it all over again. Keep this in mind!
Since the layer with the text isn't a text layer (that is why you can't edit the text) you have full access to all the filters right from the start. You can also colour the letters individually. Before we proceed with creating the title let's take a look at some of the things you can do.

• Pick a colour (I picked green) and select the Fill tool

Note: If you used Caps lock when typing the text your cursor will now take the shape of a thin cross. To get the bucket shaped cursor just release the Caps lock key on your keyboard.

• Click inside one of the letters

The whole mask is filled with colour.

• Pick another colour and click in the O

Now only the O is filled with the new colour. In other words, you can fill each letter with different colours

Index

Proceed to Part 2