‘What the font!?’ How to create artwork using just some basic fonts
Mar 9, 2007 by Patrick Winfield | Design, Tutorial
With this simple tutorial you will be able to create a basis for some interesting artwork, or images that stand well enough on their own, by just using some of your fonts in Photoshop. This is a great experiment for any skill level, and can help you think of various ways to use the tools you have. Without further ado…
Step 1. Choose a font and type away. I created a 500 pixel square document and used the font ‘Haettenschweiler‘ to make a wide ‘y‘ shape. This letter will be the base for the flower, or circular shape, that will be next.
Step 2. Duplicate the ‘y’ layer and rotate it using constrain proportions by holding shift. You can specify the rotation point by moving the marker in the middle of the shape when you select rotate. I dragged my point to the top right of the ‘y‘. Using keyboard shortcuts is very helpful here. Merge the layers when the shape is complete. Duplicate this layer and scale up/down the dups to create some larger shapes and adjust the colors.
Step 3. Make a pattern from a selection of the shapes you merged. Make a square selection with the marquee tool and copy it, then go to ‘Edit-Define Pattern’. Now you have a custom pattern that you can use to fill the background, ‘Edit-Fill-Pattern’. I gave my filled pattern a blue tone by using ‘Image-Adjustments-Hue/Saturation’, then hit the colorization option and adjusted the lightness and hue.
Step 4. Now let’s create some larger bands of color. Using the font ‘Adobe Caslon Pro‘ I typed a ‘j‘ and made the font size very large. I repeated this a few more times with various characters and colors using the same font. I also rasterized some of the letters and filled the shapes with gradients.
Step 5. Add some distortion. Using the free transform tools create some new characters, then rasterize the text, and give the shape some perspective by going to ‘Edit-Transform’, then play with the various transform options.
Tips: Use basic filters, sparingly, to add some extra texture. When you use a filter, say Gaussian Blur, you can the go to ‘File-Edit Filter‘ to further adjust how the effect combines with the existing layer. You can flatten the whole document and then duplicate this on another layer and delete portions of the new layer as well as play with the various blending modes in the layers palette. Adjusting the opacity of various elements can add some depth to the image.
The most basic fonts can be used very creatively with a bit of imagination and willingness to take some chances. Thanks for reading – check back next week!
8 Responses to “‘What the font!?’ How to create artwork using just some basic fonts”
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This is such an awesome and inspirational post. I have Adobe PhotoShop, which is what I think you have used to demonstarte this tutorial.
I actually use a MAC G4, but I keep coming back to your site to read up on these posts because they are great ideas, really helpful and to the point.
Thanks!
EVE
Awesome title for the post! As long as the font is not Verdana, I’m cool ; )
“As long as the font is not Verdana, I’m cool”
No way, man. Verdana is the best.
hi..im a textile designing student from Pakistan…im doing my thesis on “using fonts in textile designing”"..i have to use fonts to make designs which i can use on fabric by using different techniques.
i’ve been searching for these types of designs which u have made and i want some help to make more designs…..
so if u can help i’ll b very thankful to u
To ada- sounds like an interesting study. I would be happy to help, what are your thoughts?
Everything is basically laid out in the above example- do you have anything specifically that you would like to ask?
well actually for our thesis we have to choose a theme and then we have to develop designs from it according to the product which we have to make…im my case im doing purses and stoles and with the help of fonts(i have to choose any 2 or 3 fonts)i have to develop designs which should b suitable for my products….
at first we have to develop all designs on paper by hand…then we’l scan them and do furthur work on them…but may b our teachers allow us to do more work using softwares keeping in view the demand of my topic coz it would be difficult to design the correct shape of letter with hand…
after final designs we have to apply them on fabric through silk painting…fabric painting…screen printing…stencling etc…
so what i want from u is some different and new ideas keeping in mind my products…means how can i use fonts to develop a design that would suit on purses, bags and stoles.
r u here ??
wow the last time someone left a comment was nearly 2 years ago