"Pixelated" text

[FireyFly]

Not a real sig/image, just the text effect, so don't mind the background.
FYI I used the default Verdana font, pixelate & crosshatch.



as well as




...and for something completely different, but still on the theme of pixels and text:


I made it in MS Paint but didn't feel like creating a topic just for that image, so I'll merge it into this topic.

[Kotik]

I quite like them to be fairly honest.

[Excruciating]

Yeah... that's a pretty cool effect. Tutorial worthy

[FireyFly]

Well, that'd be a pretty short tutorial, so I'll write one in this post.


Step 1: Create a new image, fill layer with black (Alt+Del if you've got resetted colours).
Select the text tool and write your text, I used Verdana, bold, size 60 and made it crisp. Use white colour.

Step 2: Duplicate the text layer (Ctrl+J).
Duplicate the black layer and place it between the two text layers. The layer order should be (from top to bottom) Text, Black, Text, Black.

Step 3: Select the topmost text layer and merge down with the black layer below to have a text+black layer.
Go Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic... on the combined layer, and play around with the number until you find somewhere where you can still recognize the text. I used something around 14-16.

Step 4: Now go Filter > Brush Strokes > Crosshatch.... Use "Strength" 1, "Sharpness" either 1 or 2 depending on how hard edges you want, "Stroke length" depends a bit on your own taste, but I'd say around 8-10.
Change blending options on this "pixelated/crosshatched" layer to overlay.

Step 5: Take the text layer with the regular text and go Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and play around with it until you're satisfied.

Step 6 (Optional): Merge all layers together and put as screen if you want another background behind it. Or invert it and put it as multiply if you want it dark. Colour with either Hue/Saturation or Color Balance. (Ctrl+U or Ctrl+B respectively.)


Play around with the settings in the different steps to develop your own style.

[Alk]

too simple, but looks great

[Tomi]

"too simple, but looks great"

How can somthing be too simple? Things don't always have to be complex to be good.

[FireyFly]

Thanks Alk.

I still have to agree to Tomi, sometimes simplity can be really great, and as I said, it isn't a real image. Just something to show the text effect, no background/render/etc.

Anyways, thanks for the crits, does my tutorial look good? I'll create some images to show the process if it's neccesary.

[Kotik]

Thanks Alk.

I still have to agree to Tomi, sometimes simplity can be really great, and as I said, it isn't a real image. Just something to show the text effect, no background/render/etc.

Anyways, thanks for the crits, does my tutorial look good? I'll create some images to show the process if it's neccesary.

Yes, perhaps webmaster could even move the topic to the tutorial section if you make a proper tutorial out of it.

[FireyFly]

Okey, that'd be nice.
Then I'll make some process pictures, when I get time. Got to do some school homework now.

[Isick]

I think Alk is saying that the effect is good, but if you are using that image as a sig then it is too simple.

Things can be too simple just the same as they can be too complicated and cluttered.