Making "scratched" text effects in Photoshop 7

[Artifice]

Okay, I am trying to teach myself Photoshop 7 after years using Fireworks!

One thing I cannot seem to replicate is this.....I want to create scratches inside text, in other words I want to mask the text so that in places bits of the text are missing and th background shows through.

In Fireworks I simply place a black and white image containing the "artefacts" over the text, select both and choose Group As Mask. This then makes the white parts of the mask allow the text to show through but the black parts scrub out some of the text. Furthermore, the effect is restricted to INSIDE the text only.....

To see exactly what I mean here is a file I made in Fireworks.

http://www.artifice-design.co.uk/fringe_header2.gif

I am sure this is possible inside Photoshop 7, I just need some pointers as to how to go about it! If someoe could outline the process I would be very grateful. I am also finding the way masks work in Photoshop a bit confusing so if someone could run through the steps it would be appreciated....

Many thanks,
Mark

 

[rickwells]

Hi. This is pretty straightforward. If you have your text on a layer, then open your black and white image containing the artefacts. Select the black ( or white whichever is the artefact shape you want) areas and drag them on to your text window forming a new layer above the text. Position as required. Click on the text layer so that it is highlighted. Hold down the command (Mac) key and click on the artefacts layer to select the area. Press delete or use the eraser tool to remove this selection from the text. If the text has been produced with the type tool in PS be sure to render the layer first.
There are other ways which Iam sure you will discover fairly quickly.

 

[dimoj]

The equivalent in PS would be this:

Text on one layer. Black and white image on layer above. Now with the LAYERS PALETTE visible hold Alt (Option on Mac) on your keyboard and position the pointer in between the text and image layer in the layers palette, the pointer will change to a symbol of two overlapping circles with an arrow. Click there and that will create a clipping group between the two layers resulting in the effect in your link.

 

[dimoj]

Just realised you not only wanted to clip the top layer but also mask off the white areas. If you have done what I suggested in the above post then after that double click the layer containing the image in the layers palette, the LAYER STYLES dialogue will open to the BLENDING Options section. Down the bottom select Blend if GREY and then adjust the THIS LAYER slider until all your white disappears.

Just one of many ways. One advantage of this method is that it is 'non-destructive' i.e. both your text and image are still there in their original form if you need to revert back to their original states.