Better Embossing
          FOR ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

 










This is a cool new technique I came up with.  It produces a raised / embossed / 3d effect without actually affecting the selection.  The picture is only changed outside of the selection.  I'm sure a lot of the numbers here can be changed slightly to produce a better effect.  If I come up with a better effect, I'll tell you, so if you find a better way, please e-mail me at trekkers@aol.com.  Enjoy the 'zine!

Before trying this tip, you should probably be somewhat familiar with the use of alpha channels.  Otherwise, this might get somewhat confusing.

1. Make a new RGB document.
2. Make some big type, white on black.
3. Copy this channel into 2 alpha channels named #4 and #5.
4. SWITCH TO CHANNEL #5
5. Gaussian Blur at 5 pixels.  You can use a higher pixel setting for a subtler embossing effect, and a lower setting for a more obvious embossing
6. Copy this channel (#5) into a new channel (#6).  For now, stay in channel #5; we're not finished here yet.
7. Load selection #4
8. Inverse the selection (in other words, what was selected before won't anymore and vice versa)
9. Fill the selection with white.
10. Deselect the selection, then invert the entire channel.

 









                                      Right now, channel 5 should look something like this.
                    Ch.5 will eventually be the mask for the area that the technique will affect.

11. Copy alpha channel #6 into a new channel (#7)
12. SWITCH TO CHANNEL #7
13. Invert the whole channel
14. Offset the channel by (5,5) pixels with the setting of "Repeat Edge Pixels"
15. Use the BLEND (under the image>calculate menu) ChOp with the following settings:
     • Source 1: Channel #6
     • Source 2: Channel #7
     • Weight: 50%
     • Destination: New Channel
16. SWITCH TO CHANNEL #8
17. Alter the brightness/contrast with the following settings:
     • Brightness: 0
     • Contrast: +50
 













                                        Right now, channel 8 should look something like this.
                               Ch.8 will eventually be the data for what to put in the Ch.5 mask

18. SWITCH BACK TO THE "RGB" CHANNEL
19. Apply any color (or even better, a texture) to the RGB channel.  Yes, that's right, just forget about the text and apply your texture right over it.
20. Now use the Composite ChOp (also under the image>calculate menu) with these settings:
     • Source 1: Channel #8
     • Mask: Channel #5
     • Source 2: RGB
     • Destination: RGB

Wow! You're done.  (Now if I could only figure out whether that text is raised or embossed).  Your final result should look something like that picture way up at the top.