Tips and Tutorials for PSP 8

Metal Text

This tutorial is NOT to be scripted or made into a "Quick Guide" unless it is for your own personal use.

To do this tutorial you will need a working knowledge of PSP. If you are new to PSP, or have a problem doing this tutorial, you can find me at Raven's PSP Forum, be happy to help you out.

You also need 2 Gradients, Steel and Lilac.
Download, unzip the files and place them in your gradients folder.
Click here to download. Click here to download.

This is an easy tutorial. It's very similar to my Metal Plate tutorial. If you are very new to PSP 8, you might want to try that tutorial before trying this one.

Step 1

Open a new image 600 X 300
Set the background to Transparent.

Click on your background color to open the Materials Palette.
Find the "mqc Lilac" Gradient.
Set it to
Style> Linear
Repeats> 4
Angle> 348

Click on your Foreground color to open the Materials Palette.
Find the "mqc Steel" Gradient.
Set it to
Style>Linear
Repeats>1
Angle>208

Step 2
Click the text tool

on your tool bar.
Check on the tool options, make sure it's set to Vector.

Click on your image and type your text into the Text Entry Box.
Highlight your text and choose a Font and size.
Keep the Stroke to 0.0 and check Anti-alias.

When you have all your options set, click apply.
Go to Objects>Align>Center in Canvas.
Your text will move to the center of your image.

(Shown at 50% )

Step 3

Go to Selections>Create from Vector.
Go to Selections>Load/Save Selection>Save Selection to Alpha Channel.
A dialog box will come up showing your selection. Just click on Save.
You may or may not need to use the selection, but it's good item to have.
As long as you save your image as a PSP image the selection will be there.

If you want to test it, go to Selections>Select None to deselect your text.
Go to Selections>Load/Save Selection>Load from Alpha Channel. Click on Load.

Note: If you "undo" while working on your image your selection will be lost.

Step 4

Make sure you text is still selected.
Go to Layers>Convert to Raster Layer. (You can't add effects to a vector object.)

Go to Effects>Artistic Effects> Contours.
Use these settings. Color Black.

Note: If you want a little different look adjust the setting on "Detail"

Step 5

Go to Effects>Artistic Effects>Enamel.
Set it like this. Color white.

Go to Adjust>Blur>Blur Average. Set it to 5.

Step 6

Go to Layers>New Raster Layer.
Flood Fill Layer 3 with the "mqc Steel" gradient.

Go Adjust>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Set it to 5.

Note: The amount of Gaussian Blur to use varies with the size of the text.
Smaller text = less blur,
Larger text = more blur.

Step 7

Open your Layer Palette.
Click on the small arrow next to Normal on Layer 3.
Set it to Hard Light.

Step 8

Go Layers>Merge>Merge Visible.

Go to Effects>Artistic Effects>Chrome.
Use these settings.

Step 9

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Inner Bevel.
Use the Metallic Preset, or experiment with other settings.

Click here for the settings if you need them.

Step 10

If you want a little color to your metal, open your Materials and pick out any gradient, dark ones seem to work best.
Here I used the "Duotone dark blue" that comes with PSP.

Add a new Raster Layer.
Flood Fill with the gradient.
Set the Layer Blend Mode to Overlay.
Adjust the Opacity to your liking.

Step 11

Merge Visible.
Go to Selections>Modify>Inside/Outside Feather.
Set it to Inside, Feather Amount 1.
Go to Selections>Invert.
Go to Edit>Clear.
Go to Selections>Select None.
That will give you a cleaner edge around your letters.

Go to Adjust>Sharpness>Sharpen.

You could add a Drop Shadow and call it done, but try experimenting with some of the adjustment filters. You can get some nice results.

Here I tried Adjust>Brightness/Contrast>Curves.

That's it, you're done..:)

Making variations to this tutorial can give you many different metal effects.
You can see some ideas here.

To create a metal plate go here. Need screws for the plate? Go here.

Experiment, and have fun!

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Tips and Tutorials for PSP 8