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Chris_Text_Tricks1
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1995-12-22
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Chris' Quick(!?) Text Effects
Presented by Chris Cox
ChrisCox@aol.com
cc4b@andrew.cmu.edu
This is more a process piece than it is an example.
Learn as you go along.
1. create a new picture, 400x200 grayscale
2. use the type tool to put in the word "Text"
New Century Schoolbook Bold, 150 pt, do not antialias
(antialiasing would just waste time here)
make sure you have Trutype or ATM fonts
(really jagged text sort of ruins the effects)
3. center the text in the picture
4. select all
5. copy to the clipboard
6. make a new channel (#2)
7. paste
8. Image->Map->Invert
9. select none
10. go back to channel #1
channel 2 is now a mask of our original text
to compare the results, just make channel 2 visible
11. Filter->Blur->Blur More
12. Filter->Blur->Blur More
13. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the gamma slider to 2.0
notice that you seem to have thinned the letters
14. Filter->Blur->Blur More
15. Filter->Blur->Blur More
16. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 30
move the white slider to 220
notice the letters are thinned yet again, but sharper this time
In reality, the letters are the same size we started with, but the corners are more rounded
The blurring spread the letters out, Level adjustments tightened them up again
17. Filter->Blur-> Gaussian Blur
2.0 pixels
18. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 20
move the white slider to 170
Now you've _really_ thinned the letters
19. Filter->Blur-> Gaussian Blur
2.0 pixels
20. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 80
move the white slider to 210
notice if you move the white slider too far, you lose the thin sections
21. Filter->Blur->Blur More
22. Filter->Blur->Blur More
23. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 70
move the white slider to 170
move the gamma slider to 0.51
The type is now slightly thinner, and much more rounded
24. Filter->Other->Maximum
1 pixel
that thinned things a lot
but you have less control than when using blur/levels
25. Filter->Blur->Blur More
26. Filter->Blur->Blur More
27. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 100
move the white slider to 240
28. Filter->Other->Maximum
1 pixel
notice that thin sections are about to disappear
29. Filter->Other->Maximum 1 pixel
notice that some thin sections are gone
also some areas are becoming straight lines (horiz, vert, 45 degrees)
(this is because of the way the filter works)
30. Undo
31. Filter->Blur->Blur More
32. Filter->Blur->Blur More
33. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 190
leave the white slider alone
34. Filter->Blur->Blur More
35. Filter->Blur->Blur More
36. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 190
again, leave the white slider alone
37. select all
38. copy to clipboard
39. make a new channel (#3)
40. paste
41. select none
42. Image->Map->Invert
43. switch back to channel #1
44. Filter->Blur->Blur More
45. Filter->Blur->Blur More
46. Filter->Blur->Blur More
47. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 200
again, leave the white slider alone
48. Image->Calculate->Add
untitled, black
untitled, channel #3
new, new
that's one way to get nice outlines
(screen, add, and difference all do the same thing here)
49. close the outline window (it's just an example)
50. Filter->Blur->Blur More
51. Filter->Blur->Blur More
52. Filter->Blur->Blur More
53. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 170
move the white slider to 240
The text is now larger than the original
If you are not careful, you may close the gaps in and between letters
54. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
2.0 pixels
55. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 100
move the white slider to 200
56. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
2.0 pixels
57. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 80
move the white slider to 180
the text is larger, some areas are filling in, and edges are becoming more rounded
58. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
2.0 pixels
59. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 100
move the white slider to 180
(Gee, doesn't look much like NewCenSclbk does it?)
Using the outline trick now gives a great pattern for glows
60. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
3.0 pixels
61. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 60
move the white slider to 160
Corners are just about circular now
62. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
4.0 pixels
63. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 80
move the white slider to 220
64. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
4.0 pixels
65. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 100
move the white slider to 200
66. Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur
67. Image->Adjust->Levels
move the black slider to 80
move the white slider to 190
Ok, so this is getting ridiculous.
But, the letters are still recognizable!
By now you should have a good feel for using blurs and level adjustments
to thin, thicken, open and close type. This one set of tricks allows you
to alter typefaces for a multitude of effects.
Note that these tricks are usable with _any_ high contrast shape.
Also note that these manipulations are just the beginning when you
use the image as a mask for channel operations.