Text as Brush

This is a Photoshop Text Effect tutorial. Here we will be using the Text to create a Brush. Then work with it to create a poster. Some good free fonts are available for download at http://typenow.net/themed.htm

These fonts are from actual films and bands. You can also get good free fonts at http://www.dafont.com/

I will be using fonts from the first site, for this tutorial.

I will also be using this free stock image. You will find it here
I will use it later.

This is the effect I am aiming for.

Step 1 : Click the Horizontal Type Tool.

Step 2 : Set the Font, Size and Color. The Color is by default set to Black.

Step 3 : Type out your Text. I have typed Brooding.

Step 4 : Click the Tick Mark in top Panel to commit the Text.

Step 5 : Press v for the Move Tool and move the text to the centre.

Step 6 : Go to Edit>Define Brush Presets.

Step 7 : we will give the Brush a name. I am naming it Brooding. Click OK.

Step 8 : Double click the Text Layer thumbnail.

As soon as you double click, the Text is highlighted.

Step 9 : With the Text highlighted, you can type in new Text. I have typed Dark.

Step 10 : Click the Tick Mark.

Step 11 : Go to Edit>Define Brush Preset.

Step 12 : I am naming this Brush Dark. Click OK.

Step 13 : Again double click the Text Layer thumbnail.

Step 14 : The Text is highlighted.

Step 15 : I am lowering the size of the Font in the top panel. Just type out the value in the box to set the size.

Step 16 : I have typed in new Text - Gothic Film.

Step 17 : Click the Tick Mark.

Step 18 : Go to Edit>Define Brush Preset.

Step 19 : I have typed in Gothic Film as the name of the Brush. Click OK.

Step 20 : Click off the eye icon on the Text Layer. Click on the Background layer.

Step 21 : The Foreground/Background colors should be set to the default Black/White. If it is not press x and d on the keyboard.

Step 22 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE to fill with Foreground Color, which is Black in this case.

Step 23 : Press b for the Brush Tool. Click in the top panel to reveal the Brush Controls. You will find the three Text Bushes at the bottom.

Step 24 : Click the Brushes on the right hand side for the Brush controls. If you don't find it go to Windows>Brush..

Step 25 : Click the Brush Tip Shape at the top. Drag the Spacing slider to 200%. You can see the Brush change.

Step 26 : Click Shape Dynamics. Drag the Size Jitter slider to 100%. For Control if you use a Pen tablet set it to Pen Pressure or change it to Fade.

Step 27 : Drag the Scatter slider to 100% and check Both Axes.

Step 28 : Click on Transfer. drag the Opacity Jitter and Flow Jitter sliders to 100%.

Step 29 : Open up the image. Press v for the Move Tool. Press shift and drag and drop it onto the Black document.

Step 30 : The image is on the large size. Press SHIFT+ALT and drag down the top left handle diagonally to resize.

Step 31 : After resizing position the image at the right side of the image and press ENTER.

Step 32 : Click off the eye icons on the Text layer and the image layer (Layer2) below it. Click the New layer icon and a new Layer 3 forms below Layer2.

Step 33 : Press b to bring up the Brush Tool. Click on the Brooding Brush.

Step 34 : Make the Brush smaller by pressing [ (left bracket). To make the Brush large press ] (right bracket).

Step 35 : Press x on the keyboard to switch the Foreground Color to White.

Step 36 : Press SHIFT and paint in a straight line to left. I am using a Pen Tablet. I am varying the Pen Pressure. Where I am applying pressure, the Brush appears more strongly and fades when I release the Pressure.

Step 37 : We must save the Brush with the attributes. Click to open the Brush controls.

Step 38 : Click to open the New Tool preset.

Step 39 : Name the New Tool Preset Brooding. Click OK.

Step 40 : Click on the Second Brush which is Dark.

Step 41 : Click Brush Tip Shape. Drag the Spacing slider to 200%.

Step 42 : Click Shape Dynamics. Drag Size Jitter to 100%. Change Control to Pen Pressure if you are using a Pen Tablet or turn it to Fade.

Step 43 : Next click on Scattering. Drag the Scatter slider to 100%. Check Both Axes.

Step 44 : Click on Transfer. Drag the Opacity Jitter and Flow Jitter to 100%.

Step 45 : Now save it as a New Tool Preset as earlier.

Step 46 : Name the New Tool preset as Dark. Click OK.

Step 47 : Click with the Brush instead of painting. I am using the brush on the right side, because there is where the image is.

Step 48 : Turn on the eye icon of Layer2 (the once containing the image). and Layer 3 to clip the Layers.
Press ALT and click between Layer2 and 3.

Step 49 : After making the clipping layer, the image looks like this.

Step 50 : Click back on Layer2.

Step 51 : Continue painting with the Brush and the face becomes visible slowly.

Step 52 : Click on Layer 2. Click the Add Layer Mask button. A layer Mask forms on Layer2.

Step 52 : Click the Gradient Tool.

Step 53 : Click the Gradient Editor in the top panel.

Step 54 : Click the Foreground to Background preset. Click OK in Gradient Editor.

Step 55 : Press Shift and you can drag the Gradient Tool in a straight line. I have not dragged the Gradient Tool over the entire image, but just a portion of it.

The image looks like this.

Step 56 : Click on Layer 3 again.

Step 57 : Press b for the Brush Tool. Click on the last Brush Gothic Film.

Step 58 : Click Brush Tip Shape. Drag the Spacing slider to 200% as earlier.

Step 59 : Click on Shape Dynamics. Drag the Size Jitter to 100%.

Step 60 : Click on Scattering. Drag the Scatter slider to 100%. Check Both Axes.

Step 61 : Click On Transfer. Drag the Opacity Jitter and Flow Jitter to 100%.

Step 62 : Click with the Brush as I have done around the image. Go over the face to reveal more of it.

Step 63 : Click on Layer 2.

Step 64 : Click the Add New Fill or Adjustment Layer button and click on Hue/Saturation.

Step 65 : In the Hue/Saturation check Colorize.

The image looks like this.

Step 66 : These are the settings I have given for Hue, Saturation and Lightness. There is nothing hard and fast about it. You can give any setting you want that pleases you.