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Tutorial: Beveled Text Effect (GIMP)

Tags: #Broken Gallery  #Tutorial 
  • Mr. likes this
  • TED
    Member
    May 5, 2014

    Hi, Billy Mays here with another GIMP Tutorial!  Before I begin, I want to thank Thiago Whatshisface for suggesting that I cover this one!  This tutorial will focus on making fancy text images like the ones you can get from the Cool Text site.  While it is a useful tool for non-photo manipulation artists, it does not offer the same customization that GIMP provides! 

    Prerequisites

    Font – This is the one thing you must have in order to create a Text Layer.  If you want to look for fancy fonts to use, you can download some from sites like DaFont and Formspring!  Google search "How to Install Font" if you have never done this before.

    Layer Effects Script – The Layer Effects Script is like a plug-in for GIMP that allows you to create certain effects for your layers.  One of the most popular effects for making fancy text images is the Bevel and Emboss effect.  This gives your text a 3D effect that pops pretty bright.  CLICK HERE to get to the page to download it from.  To save you some hassle, right click and choose Save Link As.  Then you’re going to go to Computer> Program Files>GIMP 2.  Double click GIMP 2 and go to Share>GIMP>2.0>Scripts and then press Save.  Now it is installed into GIMP!

    Let’s Get Started

    Now that you have everything you need, open up GIMP and create a new layer.  Your text layers usually are wider in length and have a short height.  For this tutorial, I’m going with the 800px by 250px setup.  Click on Advanced Settings and change the Fill With option to Transparency; then you can click OK. 

    Go to your Toolbox Window and click on the Text Tool Icon (looks like an A).  Under Tool Options, click on the button, that is under the word Text, to scroll through the list.  Once you have found your favorite font, click on it to select it.  To adjust the Size, select the number in the Size bar and type in a number from 100 to 170.  Sizes may vary based on how long your title is.  To adjust the color, click on the color button; the Text Color window should pop-up immediately.  Click anywhere on the rainbow bar for the color you want; then click in the box right next to it for the exact shade you want.  This will have your color selected to be used for typing.  Once you are satisfied with the color choice, click OK.

    Now click somewhere in the Image and type whatever you like.  Once you have done that, you will want to center it the best that you can.  Luckily this is an easy two-step process!  Go to your Toolbox window and click on the Alignment Tool icon (looks like a square with arrows coming out from all sides).  Select your text by clicking on the text in the Image itself.  To center it, go to the Tool Options and click on the first two middle buttons underneath the “Relative To” box.  Now it is completely centered in the Image!

    "Dat 3-D Effect"

    To give your text that 3D effect, go to Script-Fu>Layer Effects>Bevel and Emboss.  It should pop-up a box that says Bevel and Emboss.  For the Style, select Inner Bevel; then adjust the depth to 10.  The size also needs to be 10.  Make sure that the Highlight Opacity and Shadow Opacity are both 100.  For your convenience, check the Merge with Layer box.  Click OK and it will give your text a more 3-dimensional look to it.  If you find the dark edges to be too dark for your text, you can press Ctrl + Z to undo the Bevel and Emboss effect.  Pressing Shift + Ctrl + F will re-show the last Filter effect you used, which in this case is Bevel and Emboss.  Lower the Highlight and Shadow Opacity to 70 and click OK.  This usually yields good enough results that don’t warrant re-tinkering.  Now that looks beautiful!

    But wait; there’s more that we can do with this layer!  Click on Script-Fu, drag your mouse on Layer Effects and click on Inner Shadow.  You’ll need to change the color to the same one as your Text Layer.  Then for Blending Mode, you’re going to select Multiply so that the color only overlays the text and not outside of it.  Click on the Merge with Layers checkbox and click OK.  Now that Yellow looks like it has a Mighty Shine on the edges! 

    This, for the most part, concludes the tutorial.  If you haven’t checked out my OTHER GIMP TUTORIAL, you can look at the “Make Text Pop” section to add more to your logo!  Thank you, the reader, for checking this out!  Any problems that you are having, please comment below and I will address it without charging you shipping and handling!  Here’s a final result:

     

  • Member
    May 5, 2014

    Dat 3D, though.

  • Member
    May 5, 2014

    Thanks for these. This is something I very much want to learn, but I don't have time at the moment...so I bookmarked them for future reference.

  • TED
    Member
    May 5, 2014

    No problem at all!  I bookmark a lot of things I don't have time to learn as well.  One particular instance is this Latex Mask tutorial I found on YouTube that I thought would be neat to try.  Tomorrow, I'm going to dedicate all day to the liquid latex process of it.  If it turns out well, I might post pictures somewhere that is appropriate on the site.

  • Member
    May 6, 2014

    These tutorials are very informative and well presented. Great work, Billy!