Jump to content

Improved Grafitti Technique


dynojuggler

Recommended Posts

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it

I have seen several tuts for using Alpha-Displacement Mask. I have seen examples of it using text but they weren't exactly what I was looking for. I wanted one that looked more like it was actually laying on top of the ground.

Simply using my image as-is for a displacement mask gave me this...

1

This is what I wanted it to look like and this is what this tut will share with you...

2

Only one Plug-in is necessary for this effect:

Displacement and Alpha Mask Plug-in by Bleek II

Okay, let's get started...

1. Open the image you will be using for your background and name it Base. Duplicate this layer and name the new layer Mask.

3

2. Change the Mask layer to Black and White. Change the brightness and contrast. The levels will vary depending on your chosen background image. You want the image to have clearly defined shadows.

Adjustments> Black and White

Adjustments> Brightness/ Contrast

4

3. Slightly blur the image with Gaussian Blur. Again, the level of blurring will vary depending on your chosen image. This layer will be used later to give shadows to your text so think about how soft you want your shadows to be.

Effects> Blur>> Gaussian Blur

5

4. Flatten the image and save it as "Displacement Mask".

Undo the flattening.

Render the Mask layer invisible

Add a layer between the Base Layer and the Mask layer and name it Text.

5. Add your desired text. Black typically is not an ideal choice for text color since it won't really show any shadows later in the process.

6

5a. Optional: If necessary, adjust your text layer to follow the "lay" of your image using Rotate/Zoom

Layers> Rotate/Zoom

7

6. Run Alpha- Displacement using the image you saved earlier as Displacement Mask.Make sure “Displacement On?” is checked.

Adjust X and Y settings to your preference. Your settings depend on how deeply you want your text to fall into the grooves/ cracks of your image. Higher setting create deeper grooves.

IMPORTANT: Whatever you choose to set them to, make sure X and Y are exactly opposite (i.e. if X is 5, then Y is -5).

You can leave everything else at the default settings.

Effects> Alpha- Displacement

8

7. Make the Mask layer visible again.Change the Blending Mode to Multiply.

If necessary, adjust the Opacity of the layer.

9

8. Choose the Text layer.

Using the Wand Selection Tool set to Global, click anywhere outside the text.

Choose the Mask layer and hit delete.

10

8a. Optional: Merge the Mask layer down. Depending on the texture of your base image you can run Blur, Feather, or AA Assistant and then any other effects that will help your text blend into the landscape. For this image, I ran a light blur on the text and then used Frosted Glass to give it a subtle sand texture.

9. Congratulations, you are done. Flatten and save your image.

Some other examples of using this technique with other than text...

11

12

Hope other n00bs like me find this useful!

dynojugglersigsmall-1.jpg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great tutorial! Very useful.

The only thing I'm asking is: shouldn't this be in 'Distortions & Modifications'?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great tutorial! Very useful.

Thank you! I was hoping this wasn't already covered in this fashion.

The only thing I'm asking is: shouldn't this be in 'Distortions & Modifications'?

Sorry, I guess I had tunnel vision. I was originally looking to do some things with text using this, so that is what I had in my head. But in retrospect, yes, definitely this belongs in Distortions and Modifications.

dynojugglersigsmall-1.jpg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok, lets move it then. Abracadabra.....,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok, lets move it then. Abracadabra.....,

That's a cool trick. David Copperfield had better watch out. boltbait.big_smile.png

Thanks for moving it.

dynojugglersigsmall-1.jpg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

This, imo, is probably the best graffiti tutorial on the forums ^^ I've been trying to achieve the same for a while, but only just figured out what I wasn't doing right thanks to your tutorial. Thanks!

No, Paint.NET is not spyware...but, installing it is an IQ test. ~BoltBait

Blend modes are like the filling in your sandwich. It's the filling that can change your experience of the sandwich. ~Ego Eram Reputo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This, imo, is probably the best graffiti tutorial on the forums ^^ I've been trying to achieve the same for a while, but only just figured out what I wasn't doing right thanks to your tutorial. Thanks!

Thank you for the great encouragement!

I am very glad that my tut was helpful to you.

dynojugglersigsmall-1.jpg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

Awesome, mine is in my signature. Turned out great and I skipped the last step since I liked it the way it was. Thanks!

Graffiti-1.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

You paint.neters are awesome.

 

Thanks to this tutorial, and the other one on bricks, I was able to make this:

post-117642-0-07714000-1387816285_thumb.

Edited by Kitty Soules

All in all, you're just another brick in the wall.



Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

Thanks for the tut, just gave me an idea for a sig, *Bookmarked*.

                                                   bfn.jpg

                                                                             

                                                                                                          Gengar~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...