Tutorial 1 Hollow Beveled Text 

Requirements: Adobe Photoshop 5.0 or 5.5
The Project:  To create metal outline, looking text for an opening page on a site.

This is one of my favorites!  The tip appeared in an issue of Photoshop User magazine.  Click images for a closer look.

Once you have started the program. 

Click File, Click New, you will then get a box that you can use to determine the site and resolution of your image.

Just for this example change your settings to:

Width 4 inches   
Height 3 inches   
Resolution 72 pixels/inch
Mode RGB
Contents Transparent

Once you have clicked ok, click your type tool, choose a thick text (I used Futura XBlk BT)  and use these settings:

Size: 75 Points
Color: Black
now  type the words ENTER (then press enter), then type HERE.  All capital letters will look best.

Picture 1-1

Hold the CONTROL key and click the ENTER HERE text layer in the Layers Palette.  This will selects the type layer.  Now click the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette.

Now onto the good stuff.  Click Edit on your menu at the top of the screen.  Choose Stroke and use the settings in the picture 1-2.

Picture 1-2

This will create a border around your text in whatever your foreground color is set at.  After you see the results, Deselect the text by clicking Control and the letter D.  Drag your original text layer into the trash can in the Layers Palette.

Now it will start to take shape.  Click Layers on your menu at the top of the screen.  Choose Effects, then, Bevel & Emboss.  Now use the settings in Picture 1-3.

Picture 1-3

Once you click ok after these settings you will get something similar to Picture 1-4.

Picture 1-4

It needs some color.  So we need to select the text by clicking Control and the actual ENTER HERE layer in the Layers Palette.  It will now be selected.

Go to the Gradient Options Palette and either select one of the drop down presets or create your own gradient.  I choose Violet & Orange.  Once you have picked a color combination, click your Gradient Tool on the Toolbar, then drag the gradient tool from the top of the text to the bottom to fill it with your color scheme.  Now deselect the text by clicking CONTROL and D.

Now choose Layers from the top menu, then Effects, then Drop Shadow.  Use these settings in Picture 1-5 :

Picture 1-5

Now save your file or do whatever you want with it.  You should have something similar to the image below in Picture 1-6.  If not, try again!

Picture 1-6