Text Art
    

Using letters from the alphabet can be an imaginative way to create logos and text art designs. For this tutorial I'll be using the font Bookman Old Style. I'll use just two letters the T and the C.

Create a new image 400X400

Create a new layer.

Using the shape tool with only the outline create a circular elipse in the middle of your canvas with whatever color you want. This will be your guide layer.

Using the text tool on a new layer with Bookman Old Style or another font you like create a capital T about the same size as the one below. If you are using Bookman Old Style set the size to 72.

Place the T at the top of the circle as shown below.

Go to Image>Flip. After you flip the T upside down you may have to move it so that it is aligned on the top of the circle as shown below.

On a new layer create another T and align it with the bottom of the circle as shown below.

With one of the layers with the letter T on it go to Effects>Reflections Effects>Kaleidoscope. Use the settings shown below. Click OK.

Using the text tool on a new layer follow the same procedure as above and align them as shown below.

Again with one of the layers with the letter C on it go to Effects>Reflections Effects>Kaleidoscope and use the settings as shown below.

Select the layer with the other letter C on it and do the Kaleidoscope effect again with the settings shown below.

You should now have an image similar to below.

Staying with the same layer go to Edit>Copy and then Edit>Paste as a new layer.

Go to Effects>Reflection Effects>Feedback and use the settings shown below.

Your image should now look similar to the image below.

Select the layer your T circle is on and go to Edit>Copy and then Edit>Paste as a New Layer.

Using the Deformation tool resize the new T layer so that it looks similar to the image below.

Using the shapes tool set to a radial gradient of your choice draw a circle in the center of your image on a new layer so that your image looks similar to the one below.

Now, because we've done all the lettering on different layers we can apply different effects to each layer of text.

Turn off all layers but the one with the smallest Ts. On the layer with the smallest Ts, use the Magic Wand tool to select the text. Invert the selection so only the text is selected.

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Inner Bevel and use the settings shown below or create your own to your liking.

With the text still selected go to Selections>Float then Selections>Matting>Remove Black Matte. Then go to Selections>Matting>Remove White Matte. Then go to Selections>Matting>Defringe and set it to 30.

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow and apply a drop shadow that suites you.

You can turn on all the layers again to see the progress of your image but be sure when using the Magic Wand tool to select text on each of the layers that you turn all the other layers off.

Follow the above procedure to do the same thing to one of the C circle layers.

Again, on a C circle layer using Inner Bevel and the settings below create your bevel. Then following the procedure above, create your drop shadow.

Follow the same procedure for the other T layer using the settings below.

I created one image with a black background and one with a white background.

To change the background you need to select the "Background" layer and use the Flood Fill tool to fill it with whatever color or pattern you like.

Merge your layers and save your images.

Below are the two finished products.

Copyright Vikki Olds, All Rights Reserved