DRAWN TOGETHER
BRING TOGETHER THE FINISHING TOUCHESQUICK TIP
Classic chalk typography is typically monochromatic. The problem with this is that it can often end up
feeling a little flat. By introducing a receding colour (such as blue) and an advancing colour (such as
orange), you will add depth, making the image will feel more dynamic and spritely.CLARITY VERSUS FEELING
When it comes to typography, there is always a
battle between the clarity of the text versus the
overall feeling you want to convey. In chalk
typography, unless you are using it to sell a
product, the legibility of the text almost comes
second to the emotion you are evoking. Chalk
typography is graceful, dynamic and intricate,
which should be celebrated and not
apologetically leashed. Of course, make sure that
your text is legible at closer inspection, but at first
glance, the viewer should be bowled over by
power of the flowing text, not necessarily the
meaning behind it.14
DRAW BOWS
For a bit of quirkiness, create two bows to
support the third banner. Create the chalk fills in a
similar way to steps 9 and 10. However, once you’ve
got the chalk effect the way you want it, create a new
Photo Filter adjustment layer by clicking on the
round icon in the Layers panel. Place the adjustment
layer directly above the layer with the bows, Ctrl/
right-click on it and select Create Clipping Mask. Fill
the adjustment layer with the turquoise colour to
change the colour of the chalk fill.15
SLEEPING DUCKS AND JUMPING FOXES
Introducing small illustrations will help to
add to the illusion that this piece has been created
using real chalk. Use the Polygonal Lasso tool (L) to
create silhouettes of a jumping fox and a sleeping
duck and follow steps 9 and 10 to create the chalk
effect. For the purposes of association, place the fox
above ‘Bright Vixens’ and the duck below ‘QUACK!’.
For the duck, add some ‘Zzz..zzz’ using the Type tool
(T) to indicate he is sleeping. Manipulate the ‘Zzz..zzz’
using the Warp function (Edit>Transform>Warp).16
CREATE A CROWN
Using chalk brushes and effects is not
enough to fool the viewer into believing that this
image has been created in chalk. The viewer also
needs to be bombarded with subtle mental
association triggers in order to trick the brain. People
often associate the idea of monarchy with history,
and so by placing a silhouette of a crown at the top, it
automatically makes the image ‘feel’ older than it is.
Create the crown as per step 15 and change the
colour of the chalk by following step 14.17
DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT
Much like the crown, a date of
establishment often makes the brain believe
something is older than it actually is at first glance.
Use a bold serif font such as Copperplate to create
the date using the Text tool (T). It doesn’t really
matter what date you put in – I’ve used 2014 mainly
because I like the feeling of anachronism and
absurdity, but if you really want to trick the viewer,
use an older date. Lower the opacity of this layer
slightly to help it blend into the blackboard.18
LARGE FOX
One of the great things about classic chalk
typography is that the more you look at it, the more
it reveals. While the words are no doubt the star of
the image, create some secondary interest by
placing a large fox in the bottom right of the image.
Make sure that the lines are free flowing and that
they do not connect; the rougher you make the
lines, the more convincing they will appear. Change
the highlights to an orangey-gold colour by
following step 12.GRAPHICS AND WEB