Day 90: Cloud Text

This was a bit of a challenge. The basic technique was to create a path of text and apply a stroke to it. The brush dynamics used were similar to the star path from the Christmas tree I did. I want to tweak more with brush dynamics.

Tutorial link

Day 89: Metal Text

Meh.

Tutorial link

Day 88: VHS Text

I used the same font two days in a row but it seemed appropriate. The tutorial skipped over how to make the scan lines and failed to address how to blend the text into the background.

Tutorial link

Day 87: Wavy Text

I changed a lot of the effect options to try compensate for not having the font. It worked pretty well. The wave filter was unpredictable and I think the thick font I used didn't create enough thin lines to generate the smoke. Not bad though.

Tutorial link

Day 86: Shattered

Interesting result. I like some of the letters better than others.

Tutorial link

Day 85: Chrome

The first step forgot to mention that you need to create a duplicate text layer (also set that layer fill to 0%). Also the last instruction is to apply a lens flare... I filled the layer with black then applied a movie lens flare and then set the layer fill to 0%).

Tutorial link

Day 84: Polished Metal

Another good tutorial that tweaks with almost all of the layer style options. The lens flare works.

Tutorial link

Day 83: Glass text

Another simple but decent effect. I should tweak the highlights a bit if I do this effect again.

Tutorial link

Day 82: Bubble Gun

Another simple one. A series of layer styles. I should begin to save these layer styles into a library and bring them to work.

Tutorial link.

Day 81: Watery Text

Simple and easy to follow.

Tutorial link

Day 80: Grunge Rock Metal

Cool effect. Simple to follow and neat overall. I used a different font but I think it worked out.

Tutorial link

Day 79: Neon Sign

This was a fun tutorial. Nuff said.






Tutorial link

Day 78: Failed Lines

Arghhh This tutorial was very poorly written. There were too many steps left out. I tried to replicate the effect as best as I could but I got frustrated and stopped. I like the brush dynamics on the lines and the sharp edge gradient but it would have been better if he had written the tutorial so it included all steps! Arghh!

Tutorial Link

Day 77: 3-D Text effect

Wow this was a really detailed tutorial that included channels, creating two actions, repeated merging and a bit more. Overall the effect is nicely constructed and I learned a bit about the way to make an Action work for you to eliminate some repetitive steps.

Tutorial link

Day 76: Wooden Text

I keep finding wood related text effect. This was an interesting tutorial that was easy to follow but a tad bit tedious. My favorite part is the pillow emboss on the screws to make them appear to be pushing into the wood.

Tutorial link

Day 75: Flower Text

Oooh Pretty :)

Tutorial link

Day 74: Trippy Spacy text

This was a rather complicated tutorial. I sent far too long tweaking with the background. I didn't use the same font which may be why I don't like my final piece... yeah blame it on the font :)




Tutorial link

Day 73: License Plate

Nifty License Plate effect. I need to work more with the grunge brushes to create a more natural looking distressed effect. I like the over all look but the edges could use some finesse.

Day 72: Flame Text

This was a really cool flame effect created using a series of duplicated layers set to various blending modes. The flames are actually just the same smoke image transformed into different shapes.

The letters are a bit hard to read in place and I don't like some of the more saturated areas of color but this one has potential.

Tutorial link

Day 71: Bee Movie Text

Ok, ok... so the movie is a few years old but it was fun none the less. The effect is a made up of a series of layer styles (nothing too fancy) and a scaled down version for the smaller text. I found the honey comb picture on stockxchange and did a quick vignette.

Tutorial link

Day 70: Time Portal

I tricked out this sculpture image with a Stargate portal. The effect was created by first tracing the inside of the sculpture then applying clouds, equalize then glass with tiny lens (twice). I then adjusted the Hue/Saturation before using the smudge tool on the face and foot of the guy... look closely it appears that he is getting sucked into the portal.

I found this tutorial in Photoshop Creative Magazine Issue 26 on Vol3 of the DVD set.

Day 69: Plastic Text gone Grunge

I was looking for a simple quick tutorial and ended up spending a bit too much time tweaking with the colors, the background and the texture effects. It's not spectacular but I like the background and the smoke effect.

Tutorial link

Day 68: Retro Space Text

Old school video game screen style. Ok results but nothing too fancy. Not much to say on this one.

Tutorial link

Day 67: Particle Glow Text

For this effect I used several particle image,a smoke image, and a rough background texture. By using color dodge as the blending mode combined with a significantly distorted series of text flares and a few layer styles the glowing effect and shatter effect looks slick. The smoke and particles came with 20-40 different images that I plan to take to work and make available to my kids.

Tutorial link

Day 66: Creepy Texture Displacement

So I decided to try the displacement technique on a face. CREEPY!! I've included the original picture, texture and results.

Tutorial link

Day 65: Patriotic Text

Using displacement maps is something I rarely do but I should learn more. The basic premise is applying one image on top of another but having it distort around the first image. I've seen this done to image where the skin has been displaced with scales or a fruit peel replaced with wood texture. I'm interested in finding more tutorials that use this filter.

Tutorial link

Day 64: Charlie Button

The button effect was created using a series of layer styles. The reflection in the upper right is hard to see since Charlie's hair and head are so light in the picture. I think a dark image would have shown off the reflection more but I liked this image of him :)


Tutorial link

Day 63: Sugar Bag Text

So, I'm currently tweaking out on this website called PSHero. His tutorials are easy to follow. Although many of the effects are not very overly complicated I like the beginner friendly explanations that I can use with my students. This involved a few layer styles and a slight offset of text. Not award winning but still interesting to learn different techniques.Tutorial link

Day 62: Notepad paper

This notepad paper was made from scratch using the single row marquee tool (which I've never even touched before!) It was fun to apply the shadows and the texture to the paper. I would like to tweak with the torn edges more to create a better effect. Overall cool!

Tutorial link

Day 61; Sticker Peel

Pretty nifty. I created a simple peeled sticker using several layers. After adding multiple layer styles I then developed the background. It started out as a close up of grass and a rusty iron texture. The color doesn't quite work for me but I like the overall effect of the grass. Perhaps if the green of the sticker and stripe was toned down it might match up better.

Tutorial link.