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3D
Globs
Make those big trendy 3D globs using nothing but Photoshop. |
Beginner |
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Actions
and Batching
Save your precious time by automating tasks by using Actions and
Batching. |
Beginner |
 |
Box
Art
Learn how to turn 2D artwork into a 3D software box, hardcover book,
or other object. |
Intermediate |
 |
Brushes
Create custom brushes and learn to use Photoshop's powerful brush
engine. |
Intermediate |
 |
Chromage
Make oh so smooth chrome effects. |
Advanced |
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Colorburst
Learn how to make simple, eye-catching colorbursts. |
Beginner |
 |
Colorize
Colorize is a artistic effect used by a lot of graphic designers
to detail pictures. |
Intermediate |
 |
Fire
Text: Tutorial
Set your text ablaze with burning wrath. |
Intermediate |
 |
Grunge:
Tutorial
Create grungy background effects. |
Intermediate |
 |
Ice
Text: Tutorial
Learn who to chisel your own ice text. |
Intermediate |
 |
Keyboard
Shortcuts: Tutorial
Find out about all of Photoshop's lovely shortcut keys. |
Beginner |
 |
Lighting
Effects: Tutorial
Create realistic-looking plastic objects by using powerful lighting
effects techniques. |
Intermediate |
 |
Masking:
Tutorial
Hide parts our your layers with style by using Photoshop's powerful
masking features. |
Intermediate |
 |
Micro
Buttons: Tutorial
Learn how to make micro buttons in Photoshop. |
Beginner |
 |
Neon
Glow Text: Tutorial
Make neon text like that often found on commerical signs. |
Intermediate |
 |
Outlines
Create suave outlines the old-fashioned way. |
Beginner |
 |
Paths:
Tutorial
Use paths to create smooth and editable selections. |
Beginner |
 |
Seamless
Water Texture: Tutorial
Make a very stylish and useful water texture. |
Intermediate |
 |
Texture
Wrapping: Tutorial
Learn how to realistically wrap a texture around an object. |
Intermediate |
Need free help
using Photoshop? Click here! |
Start
by opening Photoshop and creating a new RGB image. I used
the dimensions of 550x150 in the example. Then create some
text by using the Type Tool (keyboard shortcut T).
Next Ctrl
click (Mac: Cmd click) on the text layer to select
it. Then create a new layer by clicking 
. Click and drag the new layer below the layer that your
text is on. Go Select>Modify>Expand and
choose the number of pixels that you want your outline
to be. I chose 2 pixels in the example.
Now
choose the color that you want your outline to be as the
foreground color. Then hit Alt+Backspace (Option+Backspace)
to fill the selection.
Right
now you have a basic outline, but there are some more things
you can do if you would like to enhance it a bit. For instance,
outer glows or drop shadows are always nice with outlines.
In the example I added an outer glow, by using the Blending
Options (a.k.a. layer effects). To do this, hit Ctrl+D to
deselect your selection and then go right click the layer
you are currently on with your outline (in the Layers Palette)
and choose Blending Options. To see the watch setting
I used, you can click the image to the left.
To
further increase the coolness factor, you may want to add
a gradient to your text. I did this by clicking the text
layer in the Layers Palette and then creating a new layer.
Next Ctrl click (Cmd click) the text layer to make
it a selection and pick the Gradient Tool (it's hidden
under the paint bucket tool in PS 6 and above). Now you
can either edit your own gradient or use one of the predefined
gradients. In the example, I used a linear gradient 
.
Click once and then again in the direction that you want
the gradient to go.
One
other popular outline effect is the floating outline. To
do this you choose a large number of pixels when you expand
your selection (in step 2). Then Ctrl click (Cmd
click) your text layer again and expand by a lower amount
of pixels and hit delete (or fill it with another color
if you want). Now your outline will be floating around
your text in a groovy way.
