The Sprague Lab

Hello from beautiful Nashville!

(At least, I’m SURE it’s beautiful. I’m writing this on Wednesday night before actually ever being IN Nashville, but I bet it’s lovely.)

This week’s PSF focuses on type. We don’t spend enough time looking at type, I think, so I’m here to right that wrong. :)

We’ll be using the Horizontal Type Mask tool to create a grungy font. Something like the grungy font I created for the title on this layout, which I made with a mix of digi goodies and my April kit (still available) from Those Were the Days:

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A wide font. I used Impact.
• A grunge brush. Do some Googlin’, or pick up this awesome Digital Distressing Kit over at ScrapArtist. There is a ton of grungy goodness in it. My brush for this tutorial came from this kit. You’ll need to have whatever brush you’re using downloaded and unzipped before starting this. :)
  

Let’s get started!

1. Open up a new blank file in Photoshop (Go to File > New > Blank File). Set your page dimensions. If you’re planning to print this out, like I did, set them to letter size, 300 dpi, RGB color, white background.

2. We will be using type as a selection, rather than as type, so we’ll need to have a new layer to paint on. Create a new layer by going to Layer > New > Layer, or by clicking the New Layer button in the Layers palette.

3. Select your Horizontal Type Mask tool from the toolbar by clicking and holding on the Horizontal Type tool.

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4. In the Options bar at the top of your screen, select Impact (or another wide font), and something large for a size, like 72, or if you’re feeling saucy, type 100 in the box.

5. Click down on your layout. Your screen turns pink to indicate that you are working in a mask, and that whatever you type will actually become a selection.

6. Type your title.

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7. When you are finished typing, select the Rectangular Marquee tool from the toolbar. This hides the mask and shows your title as a selection.

8. Select your Brush tool from the toolbar.

9. Drop down the brush selector in the Options Bar at the top of your screen, and click on the tiny blue arrow button.

10. Choose Load Brushes from the flyout menu.

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11. Navigate to the place on your file system where you unzipped your grunge brush. Select it, and click Load. I chose the file called NRJ_sanding.abr.

12. Double-click on the brush you would like to select from the brush selector in the Options bar. I chose a large square “sandy” brush, which I’ll use to paint inside my selection.

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13. With your selection still active, click the foreground color swatch at the bottom of your toolbar and use the Color Picker to choose an ink color for your grungy type. (I chose the same dark red color as the photo frame I used). Click OK.

14. Now just sweep or click your grungy brush across your selection a few times, to make it as dark or as light as you want.

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15. When you are happy with your grungy type, hit Ctrl-d to deselect your selection, and you can use your title to complete your layout.

Completing the Layout

Here’s the portion I created digitally before printing:

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I created a letter-sized page and added in this great stuff:

• Light green paper from Meredith Fenwick’s Easy Silence paper pack (gorgeous!)
• Photo frame from Anna Aspnes’ Esther kit

I added my grunge type along the edge, and printed this whole bit out onto photo paper.

Then I completed the layout with goodies from the April kit from Those Were the Days – gorgeous stuff! It even includes the little Fontwerks stamp I used on the punched circle embellishments.

Here it is again at full size:

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I had great fun making grungy type here. I think swirls, or patterns, or all kinds of brushes would be really cool to experiment with. Link me up when you get your layout done! I would love to see!

Have a great weekend, and Happy Photoshop Friday!

-J