Scrapper's Guide Tutorial #22 Blending Words with Photos

Keyboard Symbols:

a/o = Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac)

c/c = Control (Windows) or Command (Mac)

Sign me up for FREE Digital Scrapper newsletter

Please Note: An asterisk (*) and chapter title indicate where you can find additional helpful
information in my DVD, The Scrapper's Guide to Adobe® Photoshop® Elements, Vol.1.

Completely new to Adobe® Photoshop® Elements? Haven't watched my DVD yet? Click here for a quick orientation to the Elements desktop, tools, and palettes.

To see additional tutorials visit our archives.

022 Blending Words With Photos

Open the photo where you wish to add a subtle title that blends in with the photo.

Open the Layers palette and duplicate the photo layer by clicking and dragging it onto the New Layers icon.

Click on the eye next to the thumbnail to hide this duplicate layer.

Click on the original (bottom) layer to select it. Then click on the Type tool and type a title. It doesn’t matter what color you use. Click on the check mark in the Options Bar to accept the type.

Click on the photo layer above your type to select it. Selecting this layer will cause it to become visible again and will cover up the type on your photo.Then choose “Layer > Group with Previous” from the Menu bar. Nothing will appear to change, but the layer above your type will be indented and have an arrow pointing down.

Click on the type layer in your Layers palette to select it. Then open the Layer Styles palette and choose “Bevel” from the menu in the top, left corner. Click on a bevel icon to apply that bevel to your type. (I used Simple Emboss.) *1

Your type will now appear on your photo and incorporate all the colors of your photo.

If your bevel is too pronounced, go to the Layers palette and double click on the black circle on the type layer.

When the dialog box comes up, move the size slider to the left until you’re satisfied. The amount you have to adjust the slider will depend on the resolution of your document.

Here’s the final result.

Writing in the Sand

Use this same technique to simulate writing in
the sand, but add these additional steps:

Instead of a type layer, create a blank, new layer by clicking on the New Layer icon. This layer should be sandwiched between the two photo layers.

Click on the Brush tool to select it.

Click on the triangular arrow in the Options Bar to select a brush. Double click on a brush to choose it and close the menu at the same time. To the right of the Brush menu are other options. Make sure the Mode is normal and the opacity is at 100%.

Draw the letters and words you want to use. (You could also use the Type tool with a font that looks hand lettered, but you would need to simplify the type layer by choosing “Layer > Simplify Layer” before proceeding.*2)

Press “Control T” (PC) or “Command T” (Mac) to put a transform box around your words. Then hold down the Control key (PC) or the Command key (Mac) and click and drag one corner at a time to get the proper perspective as shown. Click on the check mark in the Options Bar to accept the transform or click on the Cancel circle to escape and try it again.

Instead of applying a bevel to the words, choose Inner Shadow from the menu and use the first icon. You will probably need to adjust it following the same procedure I outlined above for bevels. *1

For this photo, I also lowered the opacity of the word layer 50% using the Opacity slider at the top, right of the Layers palette.

Here’s the result.

Adobe® Photoshop® Tips

1 Click on the black circle with the white “f” in it at the bottom of the Layers palette to access layer styles such as Bevel & Emboss or an Inner Shadow. You can make all the adjustments you need within the dialog box before you click okay.

2 Choose “Layer > Rasterize > Type.”

Sign me up for FREE Digital Scrapper newsletter

Go to top