Patterned/outlined text
This tutorial was done on Photoshop 4, but it has been edited to include directions for version 5 where there is a difference. The illustrations are from version 4.
1. create a new file 400 X 150 RGB. Click the type tool and type your text. The font I used is Albert at 80 points
* If you are using Photoshop 4, ignore this and go to step 2. If you are using version 5 , go to the layers palette and right click on the 'T' on the layer just created when you typed the text. Choose render layer from the right click menu. If you don't do this, none of the filters or fills will work. Before text is rendered, it can be edited. The text can be changed or the font or size or color, but after you render the text it can't be changed.
2. Choose a pattern you want to use. You can find patterns anywhere., On the web, from scans, or make them yourself. For this tutorial I created a checkered pattern (I will soon have a section of tutorials on creating different patterns) for now, open the pattern of your choice, or use this check pattern. Right click and save it just like a graphic.
3. Choose select>all. Then edit>define pattern. Then minimize or close the pattern and return to the image. Make sure preserve transparency is checked and then choose edit>fill with pattern. See the illustration below.
4. Select the text. Either choose select>load selection>layer 1 transparency or use the wand tool to select the background (don't forget to select the spaces in the middle of letters) and click select>inverse. The text alone should be selected.
5. flatten the image with the text still selected. Layer>flatten image and then set the foreground color to the color you want the outline. I used red here.
6. Click Edit>stroke 3 pixels from center. (You can use 4 pixels for a thicker outline, 2 for a thinner one.)
7. Add a drop shadow to complete the image if you wish.
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