PHOTO MASKING WITH TYPE

STEP : 1

To illustrate how this technique works, you’re going to create a promotional postcard. Select File > New to open the New document dialog box. Under Preset, choose Photo, set the width to 8.5 inches, the height to 6 inches, and then click OK.

Open a second file that contains an image of an interesting background texture, copy the entire image, close the file, and paste it into your first document.

STEP : 2

Press T to select the Type tool, set the font to Impact, the size to 112 pt, the leading to 112 pt, the alignment to Center, and the color to Black. Type the word Minimalism three times on three lines and use the Move tool to position the type layer in the center of the document, as illustrated in Figure 46-1.

PHOTO MASKING WITH TYPE

STEP : 3

In the Layers panel, move the type layer below the background texture layer so you can no longer see your text. Now, hold down the Alt/Option key and hover your cursor right above the dividing line between these two layers. When your cursor turns from a hand to the Clipping Mask symbol (which looks like two overlapping circles), click the divider. This clips the background image with the shape of the letters on the text layer, as seen in Figure 46-2.

Figure 46-2

STEP : 4

That’s good, but the text would look better in all caps. Double-click the text layer’s thumbnail to reselect all the text and replace the type with three rows of the word MINIMAL-ISM in all caps. Much better.

STEP : 5

Now add some Layer Styles to the text layer. Click the Add Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Drop Shadow. Set the distance to 18 px and the size to 7 px. Add the Inner Shadow style and set the distance to 5 px and the size to 6 px. Next, add the Stroke style, set the color to #662d28 (or a dark color sampled from your background texture image), the size to 3 px, and click OK.

STEP : 6

To finish the postcard layout, select the white background layer, press T to select the Type tool, set the font to Impact, the size to 24 pt, the tracking to -2, the alignment to Center, and the color to Black. Type the words (in all caps) AMERICAN MINIMALISM 1960s-1970s AT THE PARK MUSEUM. Use the Move tool to position this text evenly below the other type layer, as illustrated in Figure 46-3, and you’re done.

Figure 46-3

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