free, lightning, lightning text, Manipulation, merge layers, Photoshop Elements 10, screen blending mode, Special Effects, Text Effects, text tool, video tutorial
After setting the mood, crafting a bolt of lightning, and generating a block of burnt text, it's now time to add the lightning effect to the text itself. To do this we'll be duplicating the original lightning bolt and getting help from a neat little clipping trick in order to confine the electricity to the inside of the font. The result is a high-voltage, action packed Utah valley a million miles away from where the original photograph was taken.
|
burnt, free, grunge, lightning, Manipulation, Photoshop Elements 10, Special Effects, Text Effects, text tool, wind filter, video tutorial
If we're going to be electrifying our image, what with a bolt of Lightning from the Utah sky, and pulses of electricity flowing through the text, then we'll need to make the text fit into our theme. Using the Wind filter and some multi-directional (you'll see) assistance, as well as some subtle layer styles and adjustment layers, we'll have the text smouldering in no time!
|
Most tutorials out there that demonstrate how to create a realistic lightning strike use hand-drawn custom brushes. Although this method produces great results, the brushes have to be downloaded and installed, and they're seldom free. That's why I prefer the alternative method of creating a bolt of lightning the old fashioned way - using filters, tools and a little creativity. It's also much more fun and easier than you think - when you know how!
|
The first video I ever created was a Lightning Effect for Photoshop CS2 users way back in 2007. 5 years later, to the day, I release an updated version for Photoshop Elements 10. Instead of just creating the lightning effect though, we start with the basics - setting the mood and tone of the image so it's ready to have a bolt of electricity zapping through the scene. Here we'll use a neat layer trick to add darkness to the cloudy sky, and levels to correct for an underexposed foreground.
|
One of the new features in Photoshop Elements 10 is the ability to add type to a selection, custom path or as we'll see in this video - a standard shape. Using the Ellipse Tool we’ll trace the outline of the moon and then add text to it. One of the benefits of this tool is it leaves the text editable and therefore completely available to change later on. Once you've worked through this video you'll understand the principle of all three tools, and be able to use them to create custom text of your own.
|
The Quick Selection Tool creates a freeform selection outline around objects with similar colours and shades. In this example I'll use it to select Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac leaving us with the option of changing pink to blue, or any other colour you fancy. The wonderful thing about this tool is its ease of use, the slightly annoying thing is its not always as quick as you'd imagine - especially if you're looking for quality results. Nonetheless its a great tool to have on your side, and will definitely come to your aid if you use the selection tools regularly.
|
beginner's guide to photoshop elements 9, Commands / Tools, Creative, free, fulledit mode, Graphic Design, guided edit mode, how to, Manipulation, organiser, Output, Photographic, Photoshop Elements 9, Special Effects, Text Effects, Vector Artwork, Web Design, video tutorial
In this video I'll introduce my 'Beginner's Guide to Photoshop Elements 9' series available on this site. I'll use the time to set out the course, discuss what I'll teach and help you understand the overall objective and aim of the series. This is the 1st and shortest video out of the 86 available.
|
beginner's guide to photoshop elements 9, Commands / Tools, Creative, fulledit mode, Graphic Design, Manipulation, organiser, Output, Photographic, Photoshop Elements 9, premium, quick fix mode, site blog, Special Effects, Text Effects, Vector Artwork, Web Design
Today I’m pleased to announce the release of my 10 hour video series ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Photoshop Elements 9’ via digital download with a DVD version coming in the next few days.
The course focuses on all the key Elements of the software, right from importing and tagging images in the Organiser to printing and exporting in the Full Edit Mode. To browse the course, view sample videos or purchase the download/DVD please click the link below.
|
Animation, Automation, basic, Commands / Tools, Creative, free, Graphic Design, how to, learn, Manipulation, Output, Photographic, Photoshop Elements 9, site blog, Special Effects, Text Effects, Vector Artwork, Web Design
Over the past few months I’ve been thinking about re-recording my popular video series ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Photoshop Elements’, updating it from version 6 to 9. It’s a lot of work so it wasn’t a decision I could take lightly, as not only would I need to update parts of the course that had changed through the versions, but also add additional content on other essential commands and new features that came along with version 9.
|
Animation, Automation, Commands / Tools, Creative, free, Graphic Design, Manipulation, Output, Photographic, photoshop cs4, photoshop trial, Special Effects, Text Effects, Vector Artwork, Web Design, Tips & Tricks
If you don't have Photoshop, or are contemplating an upgrade, the best path to take is a fully functional trial version. If you're not sure if Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or even Photoshop Lightroom is going to serve your purpose, or you want to compare and balance out which variation best suits your specific needs, or even if you just want to play around and figure out if image editing is for you - my top tip would be to download a trial version. In this article I'll show you how it's done, completely legally and with Adobe's blessings.
|
|
|
