Frozen Text Now with a guide to ALPHA MASKS

[m2lucky]

Ok Guys I just made a snowy text tutorial, and that was cool but I was playing around with PDN and I came up with this, and I think it is a really cool result. Let me know what you think.

Edit: New sections on alpha masks on the bottom

Plugins needed Drop Shadow http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22881

Optional

Alpha maskhttp://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2178&hilit=alpha+mask

This is the end Result

1. Create a New Image Size is not critical I am using 600 by 200

2. Select All CTRL-A

3. Delete the selection so now you just have a checkerboard pattern

4. Type your letters in a large font with a light blue color. I used Baveuse which you can download here http://www.dafont.com/baveuse.font size 72 with the color Hex #87D2DB

5. Next hold SHIFT and use the magic wand so you have just the text selected

This is just an optional way of cutting out the image that requires no plugins. If you want a better way to cut out the image the will make the image a little less aliased look at the bottom of this tutorial

6. Then after you have your text selected use the add noise tool and use the setting below

7. Then once you have the noise added use the motion blur tool :MotionBlur: with an angle of -180.00 and a distance of 15. Have the Center block checked

8. Create a New Layer :AddNewLayer:

9. On the second layer, create a linear gradient :LinearGradient: with the primary color white, and the secondary color fully transparent. Make sure when your on Layer 2 that you still have your text selected. This will make the image look slightly shiny.

10. Merge the layers together :MergeDown:

11. Create a New Layer :AddNewLayer:

12. Now, use the ellipse tool with the main color white on Layer 2. Make sure you draw a filled shape :ShapeInterior:

13. Once you have that change the opacity of the second layer to 85

14. Then you want to do a Gaussian Blur :GaussianBlur: of 8 on your second layer

15. Merge layers :MergeDown: 16. Now once you have the layers merged now you can FINALLY deselect the text :Deselect: 17. Now its time for a drop shadow

Offset x: -2

Offset y: 1

Widening Radius: 2

Blur Radius: 4

You should end up with something like this

OK GUYS, due to popular demand I will update this tutorial with a quick guide on alpha masks if you want to cut out your image that way.

Plugins used:

Alpha maskhttp://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2178&hilit=alpha+mask

It is beneficial to use alpha masks.

Here is an image with alpha masks

Here is one without alpha masks

Yes I know it is the image in the above tutorial using the magic wand. But this is just a comparison of the two.

1. Take the image that we made but just the background you can get the background by following steps 6-14

you should have something like this. This background is 600 by 200

2. Next make a new image with the dimensions the same size as the other image. So if your background is 600 by 200 make this image 600 by 200.

3. On the new imageUse the PaintBucket tool to paint the background black :PaintBucketTool:

4. Create a new layer :AddNewLayer:

5. Write some text on that new layer in some white text. You should end up getting something like this.

6. Now save that image as a .png

7. Now its time for the alpha mask. Go back to your original image and click on alpha mask. When you are on alpha mask find the mask that you saved.

8. Now you have just completed an alpha mask. The image is slightly less aliased. Once you have this you can go back to step 15 on the tut above.

9. If you followed right you should end up with something like this

I hope this new way of cutting images with alpha masks helped you guys, and I would love to hear your comments, criticism, and praise

Alright Guys let me know what you think. I would love to hear what you think, and I would love to see your creations and/or variations on this.

[TopHATslash]

Make a mask using for the text and then run alpha mak on the blurred-noise layer rather then using magic wand.

[m2lucky]

I have never used alpha masks before what is the different between alpha masks and the magic wand??

[dairyman]

I have never used alpha masks before what is the different between alpha masks and the magic wand??

You're finished product will end up much more anti-aliased.

[comagoosie]

Make a mask using for the text and then run alpha mak on the blurred-noise layer rather then using magic wand.

I am not the best at masking, would using masks the right way turn out something like this:

EDIT: I can't find Baveuse text... :?

[m2lucky]

I really like that that is really good.

[comagoosie]

I really like that that is really good.

Just do what TopHATslash described (first I believe you have to download the plugin)

And I must admit this tutorial is enjoyable! I think I have made more than a few versions with varying font

[someone93]

Using alpha masking or not makes huge difference!

I'm glad I took my time learning how to use it.

My try:

Hmm, maybe a black background whould be better... :?

[m2lucky]

Someone I really like it.

I was wondering if any of you guys could maybe direct me to a tutorial on alpha masks or something. I can't find any good way to use alpha masks.

Can anyone help me out??

[SmooK]

great tutorial i loved it,

here is my try

[m2lucky]

smook I really like how you edited it to make it pink. I think that looks really well done with the background great job

[dinthead]

You can download the baveuse ttf file from here.

http://www.dafont.com/baveuse.font

[m2lucky]

ok thanks sorry i forgot that I downloaded it. I updated the tut to for the link.

[Down]

Looks kinda like ice age text.

[m2lucky]

Yeah it kind of does look like the ice age text in this picture

It doesn't really look like it in this pic though mayb ill write a tut or that text... or not. maybe if I can figure out how to make that crack appearance

[SmooK]

smook I really like how you edited it to make it pink. I think that looks really well done with the background great job

one girl asked me to make it but i coudn't find a good tex method, your where perfect for this

[BlissC]

Bookmarked! That's a really nice effect - I'll have a go at that!

It also looks kind of like a brushed metal as well, especially on SmooK's pink version.

[m2lucky]

Thanks I am glad you guys like the effect. Yeah I kind of did use some of the brush metal effect for inspiration. I also used some of The Un-Photoshop style sig tut as inspiration too. I kind of combined the brushed metal effect with some of the shininess techniques used in those tutorials. Then I put my own spin on them and then ended up with that effect. I am really glad you guys liked it. And I would love to see some more of your guys trys at it

[BlissC]

I'll have a play with it tomorrow after work. I'll give a try with some text as a test, but I have a pic that I think it might work a treat on. I originally did it using one of the chrome style tuts, but I've never been happy with the finished effect - a kind of brushed effect might suit it better. I'll have a play and post my results.

[SmooK]

Bookmarked! That's a really nice effect - I'll have a go at that!

It also looks kind of like a brushed metal as well, especially on SmooK's pink version.

hey actualy you are kinda right, it does look like brushed metal. i hope you liked my picture.

and thanks again for the tut that you gave. in this way i got many worked out pictures, and this gives me inspiration thanks. 8)

[BlissC]

Well I've not tried it on text yet, but I've tried it on a pic of a scalpel I was working on a couple of weeks ago and wasn't happy with, and I like it! Nice effect and easy to follow. It'll come in very useful.

This was the original pic I did using a combination of the various chrome techniques. Far too shiny and not good at all...

And this one's the same pic, but using the effect in this tut - still needs some work, but much better...

[m2lucky]

Ya wow that is a great interpretation of my effect. I really love that second scalpel.. Keep up the good work

[BlissC]

Another one with text using a background I did from another tut for a new year pic I did (fits the weather here in the UK at the mo - it's very cold!)

[m2lucky]

I like that. It looks really good

[Malazar]

Hey hope I did this right you need to explain the eclipse step so they know where to put the eclipse but other than that it was an excellent tutorial