posted
I'm finding that I need to use Photoshop more and more. I know I need to take Butlers Course and all would be solved. But, I need to know some things in the meantime. 1. How do you make a simple outline? 2. How do you arc type? 3. Surround Shades, etc.
Just basic stuff. I have been looking for some tutorials and found letterhead fonts tips and tricks and also the photoshop site.
My system is Mac os 9.0.4 PhotoShop 5.0
I use an old version of FlexisignPro and the functions are very different for these effects.
Thanks for any clues, John Grenier upnorthstudio@yahoo.com
-------------------- John and Diana Grenier Up North Studio Les Cheneaux Islands Art Gallery P.O. Box 83 Hessel, MI 49745 906-322-2886 www.lescheneauxislandsartgallery.com Posts: 50 | From: Hessel, MI (Eastern U.P.) | Registered: Apr 2003
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We took Skill Path Seminars last month. Way good investment! Those guys answered any and all questions either Mac or PC. Seminars are nationwide too. Call
Wendy Hutchings Whutchings@skillpath.net CompuMaster Training 1-800-867-4340 Ext 1137
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I think v5 has the same Layer Styles if I remember right. There may or may not be an icon (black circle with an f in it) for them on the layers palette but there should be access to them through the Layers menu along the top of the screen.
The outline feature is labeled "Stroke" then there are drop shadows, Outter Glow (which can be made into a shadow or even a round-a-bout way to make a sharp outline too), Inner Glow, Bevel and Emboss and some other useful features.
I'm not sure if v5 allows text warping. I don't remember having that option when I was using v5 and I think vector text didn't appear in Photoshop until v6. You can use another program to make the curved text though and import an .AI or .EPS into Photoshop.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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John: I've been using Photoshop in one way or another since 1988 and even when it was new, it was a very complex application. Currently I'm Using 7.0 native / Panther 10.3.4 and it's a good program but . . . I wouldn't even attmpt to coach a Student on the net or even by telephone.
You need to take a seminar if there's anything available in your area. It's well worth the cost. I've been to two over the years, and as the new features are added through updates it remains a complex and sometimes difficult application. You must use it everyday to stay proficient!
It would help you to progress further, faster if you could get hold of version 6 or even 7 (upgrades), rather than version 5 which is really a dinasaur in comparison with the other two.
Hands on tuition is best, but the Inside Adobe Photoshop books (by Bouton et al) are good for a beginner, the Photoshop Bible is EXCELLENT, but maybe a bit bamboozling for a complete newbie, Photoshop Killer Tips, Photoshop Studio Skills, Photoshop Down & Dirty Tricks, Photoshop Type Effects, Photoshop Wow! are all good for whetting your appetite but assume some reasonable knowledge & fluency with the program first.
There are lots of good web tutorial sites, even free ones.
Then there's here, just post a question!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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To arc text in v5, I think I would arc the text in a vector-based program (CorelDRAW, FlexiSign, Adobe Illustrator, etc.), convert the text to curves (don't forget to delete the path if you attached the text to one), and export to adobe illustrator (v7 or less -- .ai is the extension) or EPS format. You can then File>>Place the .ai or .eps file in your photoshop file...it will make it's own layer. You will probably want to anti-alias this, which is an option that you have to select BEFORE you place the file...to anti-alias it make sure that "Anti-alias Postscript" is selected in the window that you get to by selecting File>>Preferences>>General.
As Mike Pipes said, I think v5 has a Layer>>Effects>>Drop Shadow command in the menu, this will automatically make a drop shadow on the things in the selected layer...you can adjust color, blurring, opacity, etc. of the drop shadow...it comes preset to black @ 75% opacity with the "Mode" as Multiply...Multiply is a mode used for layers that will have dark colors and some level of opacity less than 100%. If you want a bright color drop shadow...switch to Screen Mode (or Normal...as Normal works for any colors).
If there isnt a Layers>>Effects>>Drop Shadow command...then duplicate the layer...change the color to black (or whatever color you like)...put that layer behind the first layer...adjust to desired opacity...and Gaussian blur as desired (Filter>>Blur>>Gaussian Blur...adjust the slider as needed).
Mike also said that there is a Layer>>Effects>>Outer Glow command...I think there is...it comes set to a pale yellow and mode is preset to Screen (Screen is the mode for light colors that have less than 100% opacity)...but you can make the color black (or any color), adjust opacity, etc. If you switch to black...be sure to change mode to Multiply or Normal...Normal Mode is usually good if you are unsure which mode to use.
If there isn't a Layer>>Effects>>Outer Glow...duplicate the layer...change the color to black (or bright yellow or color of your choice)...apply a stroke ("Stroke" is photoshop's name for outline) by selecting Edit>>Stroke...a bigger stroke makes for a bigger "glow"...probably 2 or 3 pixels on the "outside" or "center" (not "inside") is good enough...push this layer behind the original layer...apply a Gaussian blur and adjust opacity as desired.
If you have a manual for your Photoshop program...it is very good...adobe writes wonderful manuals...
Key thing is EXPERIMENT...make a "play" file and experiment with the effects until you get what you like...then duplicate what you did in a real file.
If any part of this is confusing, ask for clarification...I'll try to clarify... Hope this helps.
[ October 24, 2004, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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