Magnifying Glass

Open an image about 400x400 pixels and fill the canvas with a light color.

Select the text tool and making sure "Create as Vector" is selected apply some text to your image.

Using the drag handles, drag the size of the text to almost fit the width of the canvas.

Go to Layers>Convert to Raster Layer and apply that to the text layer.

Create a new layer and name it Glass.

 

Choose the Selection tool and set the Selection type to Ellipse. Make sure Feather is set to 0 and Antialias is checked.

Draw an ellipse similar in placement and size as the image below.

 

Choose the Gradient style and set it to a circular gradient as shown below as well as selecting colors similar to the ones shown below.

 

Using the Flood Fill tool, (paint bucket), fill the selection with the gradient.

Drag the Opacity slider on the Layer palette to about 40%. Your image should now look similar to the one below.

Create a new layer and name it Frame.

Go to Selections>Invert and choose black as the foreground color. Flood fill the selection.

Go to Selections>Invert to invert the selection again.

Go to Selections>Modify>Expand and set the Number of pixels to 10.

Hit the delete key to remove all the black but what is shown below.

Go to Selections>Select None

Use the magic wand to select the black circle by clicking anywhere in the black.

Go to Filters>3D Effects>Inner Bevel and apply the settings shown below.

Go to Selections>Select None

Use the magic wand tool, with the Glass layer selected and click anywhere outside of the glass shape.

Select the text layer.

Go to Effects>Geometric Effects>Punch

Apply the settings shown below.

With the Frame layers selected, go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow and apply the settings shown below.

Invert the selection by going to Selections>Invert.

With the Glass layer selected, go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow and apply the settings shown below.

Choose the shapes tool and select the rectangle shape.

Create a new layer and name it Handle.

Set your foreground color to white and the background color to gray and choose the gradient fill style. Make sure you have the linear gradient selected and set the repeat to 1. Draw a rectangle on the Handle layer.

Select the deformation tool.

Rotate the handle and drag it into position.

In the layer palette, drag the Handle layer below the Frame layer.

Select the Frame layer.

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow and apply the settings shown below.

Go to Layers>Merge>Merge All(Flatten)

Go to Effects>Illumination  Effects>Sunburst.

Apply the settings shown below.

That's all there is to it. You now should have a magnifying glass with text under it that appears to be magnified.

Have fun!

Copyright Vikki Olds, All Rights Reserved