The Type Mask Tool

How to Use the Type Mask Tool in Photoshop Elements 9

By Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova from Photoshop Elements 9 For Dummies

11 of 12 in Series: The Essentials of Creating Artistic Effects in Photoshop Elements 9

Using the Type Mask tool in Photoshop Elements epitomizes the combination of type and image. The Type Mask tool doesn’t create a new layer. Instead, it creates a selection on the active layer. This is the tool of choice for filling text with an image or cutting text out of an image so that the background shows through.

A selection is a selection, no matter how it was created. So, even though they look like letters, they act like selections. You can move, modify, and save them.

Credit: Corbis Digital Stock

The Type Mask tool enables you to cut type out of solid color or image layers.

Here are the steps to create a type mask:

1. In Edit Full mode, open the image of your choice.
2. Convert your background into a layer by double-clicking the word Background on the Layers panel; and then click OK.

This step enables you to jazz up the type with styles later on.

3. Choose the Horizontal Type Mask tool from the Tools panel.
4. Specify your type options (such as font family, style, and size) on the Options bar.

 Horizontal Type Mask tool settings on the Options bar.

5. Click the image and type your desired text. When you’re done, click the Commit button on the Options bar.

A selection border in the shape of your type appears on your image.

6. Choose Select→Inverse, which deselects your letter selections and selects everything else.
7. Press the Backspace (Delete on a Mac) key to delete everything outside your selection border.

Your type is now filled with your image.

8. Choose Select→Deselect.
9. Experiment with applying layer styles to your type.

If the Effects panel isn’t visible, choose Window→Effects. Select the Layer Styles button (second from the left) located in the Effects panel. Select the type of Layer Styles you desire from the drop-down menu on the panel, such as Drop Shadows or Bevels. Finally, double-click the exact style you want.

Credit: Corbis Digital Stock

Fill type with imagery by using the Type Mask tool.

If you want to view your type against a solid background, create a new layer and then choose Edit→Fill Layer and choose your desired color from the Use drop-down menu.

The Smudge Tool

Using smudge tool in Photoshop

Photoshop painting tutorial smudge tool for digital painters and artists.  This post I am going to show you guys some trick and tip on smudge tool.  A lot of artists love it, but I only use it from time to time.  Mostly if I want to soften the edge or blend value, I reply on soft brush (default round in Photoshop).  It can create effective enough result for me and it is fast.  Since I don't have much patience, I often lack of attention to detail in most of my painting.  As you see in most of my videos, I love painting fast and just get the point across as conceptual piece.  Once in a while I will spend days doing finish painting.  For some professional illustrators, they are all about attention to detail and a lot of precision.  And smudge tool is one of their best friend because of the control and precision it can offer.  It can though take quite a long time to get exactly what you want, but it will you get the result.


1)  In figure 1, it shows you where the smudge tool locate.  Right in the middle of vertical tool bar.

figure 1.

In figure 2, it shows you my horrible scribble.  #1 is, of course, smudge tool.  I have no idea why I highlight circle that again.  #2 Brush selection, click left or right on your Wacom pen (depending on where your setting) then select soft brush (default) for testing purpose.  You can actually use any brush you desire with the smudge tool.  You will have to try them out and see which gives you the best result.  #3 Brush selection window and size.  #4 is indication of how strong your smudge is going to be, the higher it is the more dragging power it will get.

figure 2

In figure 3, I did a sample demonstration using smudge tool to create type of edges.  If you want to know why these type of edges are important in painting and illustration, go read three important rules for painting (there are actually more then three, but this is the starting point.  If you can remember this and get it right, you can add on other technique to make your painting better) and Digital painting using custom brushes in Photoshop.  OK. now I used hard round brush to create the first blob of paint with two contrast color.  On the second blob, I used smudge tool with 50% or below strength to create soft edge.  If you use more strength then the edge will be stronger (hence harder).  On the third row, I try to use smudge tool to blend the whole blob with 20% or lower strength.  I could have done a better job.  Then the last one, I use 90% strength.  Did you see what it does?  It drag the darker color from one side to the other.  It can do the same on the other side also.  Smudge tool can be a very good tool to manipulate shape and get the precision on your edges.  I believe more so than just regular hard and soft brush.  You can make the brush size smaller and get down in to the detail with less mess than most brush tools.  Now, you can go try it out.  You never know it might be one of your favorite tool.

figure 3

I hope you enjoy the post.

The Blur Tool

How to Make a Blurred Background in Your Picture With Photoshop CS5

Begin by opening the image for which you want to learn how to blur out the background. You can either launch Photoshop CS5 and use the Open command on the File menu, or you can right-click the file, click Open With, then click Adobe Photoshop CS5.

At the right side of your Photoshop window is a Layers panel that displays each of the layers that are currently in your Photoshop image. If the panel is not there, you can press F7 on your keyboard to open it. If you are working with a regular image file, such as a JPEG, GIF or PNG, then there will only be one layer. However, if you are working with a PSD, PDF or other file type that is capable of storing layer information, then there could be several layers there. Regardless of the file type, click the layer that contains the background you want to blur.

Click the Edit in Quick Mask Mode button at the bottom of the toolbar at the left side of the window. If you are having trouble locating this tool, look for the icon in the image below.

Click the Brush tool in the toolbar, then select a brush size that is large enough to efficiently draw over the foreground object that you do not want to blur. In the image below, I am drawing over the middle penguin, because I want him to be the part of my image that is not blurred. To do some more precise work with the brush tool, I recommend decreasing the size of the brush, then zooming in on the image to get the more precise areas, such as the edges of the object.

When you are done, then entire foreground object should be painted in a transparent red color.

Click the Edit in Standard Mode button at the bottom of the toolbar to go back to the regular editing mode. This is the same button that you clicked earlier, but the name of it is changed now.

Your entire background area should now show the blinking black and white lines that indicate that an area is selected.

Click the Filter menu at the top of the window, click Blur, then click Gaussian Blur.

Drag the slider at the bottom of the window until you see the desired amount of blur in the image. The higher the number in the Radius field, the blurrier your background will be.

When you are happy with the blur effect displayed in your image, click the OK button to apply the blur to the image.

Be sure to save the image with a different file name if you want to keep a copy of the unaltered, original file.

Once you are comfortable using the Quick Mask tool and the Gaussian blur, you can also consider applying other blur types to your Photoshop images. They can produce similar effects that you might prefer to the one created with the Gaussian blur.