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[Tutorial]Under-Water Text Effect


bubulinas

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Final Image

 

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:

watertext11b.jpg

 

Step 1

 

Create a new document (600X600px).

 

Paste in this great Texture

watertext1.jpg

 

Step 2

 

We want a near black background, but with a subtle texture.

 

To achieve this, go to blending options for your texture layer and apply a black color overlay

watertext2a.jpg

 

Step 3

 

Create a new layer called ‘radial gradient’ and drag out a white-transparent radial gradient from the center of your canvas.

 

Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’ and reduce it’s opacity to 50%. This should create a subtle lighting effect over your texture:

watertext3a.jpg

watertext3b.jpg

 

Step 4

 

Use your text tool to type out a large letter ‘P’ in the center of your canvas.

 

I used ChunkFive, 372pt, white for my text:

watertext4.jpg

 

Step 5

 

We will only be using this letter as an outline, so we don’t want it too imposing/obvious.

 

I reduce it’s opacity to 10% just to use as a guide for my main piece:

watertext5.jpg

 

Step 6

 

Now I want to start adding water to my composition.

 

I prefer to arrange all of my water images before I start applying them, so I’m careful to extract all relevant images and organize them correctly before I start adding them to my final piece.

 

I’ll show you how to extract water properly using the color-range option:

watertext6a.jpg

watertext6b.jpg

 

Step 7

 

Now it’s time to extract the water!

 

Go to select>color range. The default setting should be to select ‘sampled colors’ and the fuzziness setting should also be fine as it is. You can see these settings below:

 

Then press OK, and copy/paste your selection back into your original document.

 

I like to duplicate my water layer, and then merge the duplicate down with the original. This simply gives it more impact and makes it a little bolder:

watertext7a.jpg

watertext7b.jpg

 

Step 8

 

Now repeat this technique to extract the following photos:

 

water photo 1.

1104884_droplets_1.jpg

water photo 2.

1180590_lemon.jpg

water photo 3.

884261__2.jpg

water photo 4.

1131843_water_in_the_glass.jpg

water photo 5.

978587_splash_in_the_vodka1.jpg

 

Once you have successfully extracted each photo of water, paste your result into your original document, labeling each ‘water 1′ water 2′ etc… Remember with each to duplicate/merge down in order to make the water really stand out.

 

The great thing about doing things this way is that you now have all the water you need for your composition in a clear, organized set of layers. All you need to do is copy one of these images when you wish to use it on your composition, and hide the visibility of the original layer.

watertext8.jpg

 

Step 9

 

Now we want to use all of these extracted images of water to outline our letter P.

 

The images below show how I build up my outline. To fit all the images in, simply resize them, erase them where needed, and perhaps most importantly use your warp tool (edit>transform>warp) to fit the water to the letter correctly:

watertext9a.jpg

watertext9c.jpg

 

Step 10

 

Now select your original letter P layer. Reduce it’s opacity from 10% to 6%. Then go to filter>blur>gaussian blur and apply a 15px gaussian blur. This should create a very subtle definition for your letter, rather than removing it completely.

watertext10.jpg

 

Step 11

Now create a top adjustment layer (gradient map). Create a gradient ranging from 0971a2 to 3aa4d6.

 

Finally, reduce this adjustment layer’s opacity to 50% and change it’s blend mode to ‘overlay’. This should give a nice underwater effect:

watertext11a.jpg

watertext11b.jpg

 

About the Author: Tom

 

earning more about design and interacting with the community. On a more interesting note he can also play guitar hero drunk with his teeth.

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