GRAPHICS AND TYPE
QUICK TIP
While this type of lettering can be created from
scratch in Photoshop, you can make your life easier
by creating all the text outlines in Illustrator, which
offers a lot more control over the editing of objects.
Once you’re done, simply drag your objects from
Illustrator into your Photoshop canvas.04
TYPE ON A PATH
For the first line of text, start by drawing a
diagonal path using the Pen tool (P). Make sure that
Path is selected in the selection box in the Toolbar.
Once this is done, select the Type tool (T) and click on
the path. The text will now follow the alignment of the
path. Type in your text and change the size, style and
tracking of the text where necessary through the
Characters palette. Create new paths and repeat the
process for each line of text.05
CLEAN IT UP
As with all cursive fonts, there may be
letters that don’t join up properly. Additionally, with
the Pacifico font, the strokes of many of the letters
end abruptly. These will need to be cleaned up to
appear more natural and handwritten. Right-click
on the text layers and select Rasterize Type. Use
the Polygonal Lasso tool (L) to either delete
unnecessary areas or to create additional fill areas
so that the text appears clean and flowing. You can
also take this opportunity to refine the placement
of some of the letters.06
ADD SOME EMBELLISHMENTS
Embellishments not only help to add drama
to the image but also help to encourage the flow of
reading. Use the Pen tool (P) to add embellishments
and swirls to some of the letters. To create curves,
click and hold down the left Mouse Button and
manipulate the handles to get the curve that you
want. To edit the anchor points afterwards, select the
Pen tool (V) again, hold down Cmd/Ctrl and click on
the anchor point that you want to edit.07
PLAY WITH OVERLAPPING
Create breaks in between areas that overlap
to bring some depth to the image. This gives the
impression that the letters and the embellishments
are going above and under each other. Use the
Polygonal Lasso tool (L) to create boundaries and
delete the areas just before and after an overlap,
making sure that each break is approximately the
same size for a convincing effect. Be sparing with
these overlaps and leave the majority of the letters
alone so that you don’t affect the legibility of the text.08
ADD SOME ILLUSTRATIONS
To introduce an element of fun and
some unpredictability, incorporate illustrations
into the lettering. Make sure that these
illustrations relate to the meaning of the words
and that they are stripped back and simplified so
that they don’t compete with the letters. To
highlight the word Quartz, we are going to add a
crystalline symbol. Draw this by using the Pen
tool (P) – make sure that Shape is selected in the
selection box in the Toolbar. Select No Colour for
the Fill setting and gold for the Stroke setting.