Step 2
Now that the boring part is out of the way, let's start the main highlight to this tutorial, the gold text. But first let me explain for just a moment what your going be doing here. Usually, If I create something really unique, I try to remember how I did it as quickly as possible. If your the type that creates lots of graphics, you'll forget just as quickly as you create it. So, what we're going to do with this tutorial is pass along a very simple tip.
We're going to name the layers as the colors that we'll be using. This way, should you ever want to remember how you created this effect, all you'll need to do is resort to the source file that I know your going to save. You are going to save it aren't you? We'll if you don't, you can always come back here to re-take the tutorial, but it really is a good habit to get into. For all of you that have downloaded my free psp source file(s).. I know.. I don't always practice what I preach. I'm impatient at times and always feel in a hurry. That's my story...
It's only five layers, so let the fun begin.
On the Materials palette, set your Background color to #c6b89e
On the Tools toolbar, select the Text Tool (T)
On the Tool Options palette I've chosen the Monotype Corsiva font (you can substitute this with the Symbol font) and these are my settings:
Click towards the center of the canvas where you would like to place your text. Enter your text in the Text Entry dialog box. I've entered "2007":
Layers > Convert to Raster Layer
Layers > Properties...
Change the Name: Raster 2 to #c6b89e > OK
Now, let's create a selection from our text and save it to the Alpha channel.
Selections > Select All [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + A]
Selections > Float [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + F]
Selections > Defloat [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + Shift + F]
Selections > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection To Alpha Channel... > Save
Don't de-select yet!
Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok
When the New Raster Layer Properties box opens, Name: #5b3004 > OK
On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #5b3004
Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 1 > Okay.
On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:
This filled layer represents our upper left edge. We want to remove the excess fill, but rather than do it manually, we'll put the selection into edit mode and use the buttons on our keyboard. This will help keep create a small crisp edge and is almost essential when working with narrow style fonts. You see this better in a moment.
Selections > Edit Selection
Your selection is now a salmon pink color:
On the Tools toolbar, select the Move Tool (M)
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard move the selection down one pixel and to the right one pixel:
Take the selection out of edit mode
Selections > Edit Selection
Now hit the DELETE key on your keyboard:
Don't de-select yet!
Let's put the selection back into edit mode!
Selections > Edit Selection
On your keyboard move the selection left four pixels:
This layer represents our lower left edge. Take the selection out of edit mode
Selections > Edit Selection
Layers > New Raster Layer... > Name: #8f4619 > OK
On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #8f4619
On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:
Trim off the excess
Selections > Edit Selection
On the Tools toolbar, select the Move Tool (M)
On your keyboard move the selection right three pixels:
Selections > Edit Selection
Now hit the DELETE key on your keyboard:
Selections > Select None
This next layer that we're going to create represents the "reflection" from the background beneath our text. If our background was blue for example, we would select blue for our foreground color. I generally try to pick a color from that background that is between the top and the bottom of the text.
Layers > New Raster Layer... > Name: #62160f > OK
On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #62160f
Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection From Alpha Channel... > Load.
Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 3 > Okay.
On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:
Trim off the excess
Selections > Edit Selection
On the Tools toolbar, select the Move Tool (M)
On your keyboard move the selection right two pixels:
Selections > Edit Selection
Now hit the DELETE key on your keyboard:
Selections > Select None
Because this is suppose to be a reflection, we don't want it that crisp. Let's blur it very slightly! It's to small to go out of bounds of the main text so we're not going to worry about loading an alpha channel to keep it within the text.
Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius: 1 > OK
Now the final layer that really adds the class to this!
Layers > New Raster Layer... > Name: #ffffff > OK
On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #ffffff
Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection From Alpha Channel... > Load.
Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 1 > Okay.
On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:
Trim off the excess
Selections > Edit Selection
On the Tools toolbar, select the Move Tool (M)
On your keyboard move the selection down two pixels and left one pixel:
Selections > Edit Selection
Now hit the DELETE key on your keyboard
Selections > Select None
Now, if that doesn't look like gold text, I don't know what does!
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