Note this article was originally written in 1995 using Photoshop 3.5. If you use a later version of Photoshop, you'll have to transition the steps to that version's functions. We are working on an upgrade for this article since it's still very popular.

Using Layers to simulate WOOD

...or as art for actual wood sign prototypes

Start with the backboard

We pulled our Photoshop CD off the shelf to use the wood background it contained. This could just have easily been another background CD, or perhaps even a piece of scanned material. Check your local home store for wood-grained, vinyl materials. There are a dozen different styles -- usually adhesive backed -- sold as "shelf paper." Our Wal-Mart had it for $3.99 for a 10-ft. roll. Nice.

Since the photo CD provided us with only a single-plank strip, we had to take the board and duplicate sections of it vertically across the field in order to simulate our sign-board of laminated planks. Thank goodness there were two knots in the plank that we were able to utilize. Knots give the sign a real wood feeling.

Now, cut the type

Once our sign board is completed we bring in the type on its own layer. Now, I've seen this written up a dozen times by several different writers, yet here I don't want to get bound up in channels and masks. Although the Photoshop gurus and writers bring forth page after page of instructions for this technique, it's really not necessary.

The type is everything here. Look at our layers palette.
      Building the sign consists of duplicating the type layer, then applying different effects to each layer, then making sure the stacking order is maintained.
      Note here too, that you don't have to be using Photoshop in order to get very nearly the same technique. Any program that has layers, and blurring will do the exact same thing. (In our diagrams, watch where the "EYE" indicates active, visible layers.)

Step 1: Prepare the background.

Easy enough. Make sure the wood looks good. You may at this point want to reduce some of the colors, especially if you're going out onto the web with your graphic.

Step 2: Type. Key your type into a channel.

Okay, I said I wasn't going to get into such stuff, but you'll need this mask layer.
      Once you have this mask, the white portions will show and the black will be "masked" from the rest of the scene. Use your arrow keys to "tweak" the active selection. Count the times you hit the key so you'll know how many you've moved.

Step 3: Prepare the Cut-out

Return to layers view.
Click "New Layer" then load the selection (the type in the mask).

• A: Invert, fill with Black, Deselect (Cmd/Ctrl D)
• B: Gaussian Blur -- perhaps three or four pixels -- you choose
• C: Select All, (or select the "Move" tool) then tweak the selection down and to the right 3 or four pixels
• D. Choose Select menu > Load the selection,
• E. Choose Select menu > Invert selection
• F. Delete the background. You're left with the shadow for your cut-in type.
• G: Overlay the background -- load selection, invert and delete --

PRESTO: cut-out letters. Nice.

Review: 1) make the selection, 2) invert the selection and fill with black, 3) apply Gaussian blur, Move tool (tap: V) tweak down and to the left several pixels; 4) load selection again, then INVERT the selection again, then delete -- leaves part of the blurred shadow; 5) In a new layer, load selection again, move to the "Wood" Background, press Command/J to float a copy of the selection to its own new layer. 6) color correct the "wood" letters darker to simulate insets.

Next continue to make Highlights and Shadows

Photoshop, and Elements emergencies:

call the Emergency Hot Line and list your symptoms, version and OS. Help will be on the way.

Photoshop Practitioners:

Submit your Photoshop tutorial or training site to the Photoshop 911 emergency directory so we can refer users to your site. Practitioners can also contact us to become a Photoshop911 partner.

Got a tutorial?

If we publish your tutorial, how-to article, tip or trick, you'll be rewarded with selections from the Designers' Bookshelf!

Thank you for visiting

. . . the Photoshop Tips & Tricks department of the Design & Publishing Center   Don't forget: this is a reader-driven web site. We need your input and participation to continue bringing great content to Photoshop users everywhere at no charge.

High content, low noise since 1990