Graphic typography

Graphic typography

INTRODUCTION

As the saying goes – a picture is worth a thousand words. The Pixelmator software grants you the opportunity to conceive works of arts out of ideas and words. Follow this tutorial to create stunning typography incorporating graphic images.

The Layer Masks, the Brush Tools, the Gradient Tools, the Blending and other features of Pixelmator are used in this tutorial.

RESOURCES
 
PXM File
Stock photo (Castle) by xlibber
Stock photo (Meadow) by partybooper_rob

STEP 1

Open Pixelmator and create a new document. The image size used in this tutorial is 1000×600 pixels. Copy and paste the picture of the meadow. Rename the new layer to Meadow.

STEP 2

Next, copy and paste the image of the castle and use the Move Tool (V) to position the image in the centre of the canvas. Then use the Polygon Lasso Tool to select the outline of the castle. After the selection is complete go to Edit>Refine Selection, set the Smooth to 10% and click OK. Then copy and paste the selection into a new layer named Castle. The original image can now be deleted as it will not be used anymore. Lastly, resize the image of the castle (Edit>Transform) to 70% of it’s original size.

STEP 3

To make the castle tower blend in with the background image, right-click the layer Castle and choose Add Mask. Then select the Gradient Tool (G) and use a white to black gradient to fill the Layer Mask as in the example below.

STEP 4

Now, let’s cover the lower part of the castle with blades of grass. Create a new layer and name it Grass. Then open the Brushes Palette (View>Show Brushes), click the Action button in the palette and choose Nature in the drop-down menu. Select the brush that resembles a patch of grass and use dark green (color code – #273c0d) as the color of the brush. Add strokes of the brush to area where the castle intersects with the meadow. Use the image below as a reference. After that, sharpen the contents of the layer. Go to Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen, set the Sharpness to 20% and click OK.

Next, create a new layer named Grass and repeat the same actions, but this time use light green (color code – #5e742d) as the color of the brush. Do not forget to sharpen the new layer.

STEP 5

Now, select both layer named Grass in the Layers Palette, right-click them and choose Merge Layers. This will create a single layer from the contents of the two Grass layers, making it easier to manage. After that, set the new layer’s Opacity to 70%.

STEP 6

Now select the Type Tool (T), choose Alfa Slab One as the font, 270px as the font size and orange (color code – #ac662c) as the font color. Then add a text box to the left of the castle and type the uppercase letter C. If needed use the Move Tool (V) to position the letter as in the example below. Next, right-click the text layer in the Layers Palette and choose Add Mask. Use the Gradient Tool (G) to fill the mask with a white to black gradient as in the example below.

STEP 7

Let’s add a lighting effect to the letter C. Create a new layer and name it Gradient. Right-click Gradient and choose Create Clipping Mask. Then use the Gradient Tool (G) to fill the layer with a white to black gradient as in the example below. Lastly, set the layer’s Blending to Overlay and reduce the Opacity to 60%.

STEP 8

Now let’s cover the lower part of the letter C in grass. Select the layer Grass that was created in step 5, right-click it and choose Duplicate. Place it above all the other layers in the Layers Palette and use the Move Tool (V) to position it in such a place that the grass would cover the lower part of the text layer. Use the image below as a reference. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) to remove the parts of the layer Grass copy that are outside the boundaries of the text layer.

Lastly, select the text layer, the Gradient layer and the layer Grass copy, right-click them and choose Duplicate. This will create duplicated of the selected layers, that will be used in the next step.

STEP 9

Select the duplicate layers created in step 8 and use the Move Tool (V) to position them on the right side of the castle. Then use the Text Tool (T), select the duplicate of the layer C and type in lower case letters s, t, l and e instead of the letter C. Reduce the size of the text to 250px and use the Move Tool (V) to adjust the position of the castle and the text until the composition looks neat and tidy. Use the image below as a reference. Use the Move Tool (V) to adjust the position of the layer Grass copy 1, so that the grass covers the letter s. If needed, use the Eraser Tool (E) to remove the unnecessary parts of the grass layer.

STEP 10

Next, make 3 additional copies of the layer Grass copy 1 and position the new layers so that the patches of grass cover all the letters as in the example below. Use the Eraser Tool (E) where needed.

STEP 11

Now, let’s add a gradient effect to intensify the colors of the image. Create a new layer and name it Gradient. Then use a white to black radial gradient to fill the new layer as in the example. If you have trouble creating an appropriate gradient, consult the tip below. After that, set the layer’s Blending to Soft Light and reduce the Opacity to 80%.

Tip: To create a gradient used in step 1 open the Gradients Palette (View>Show Gradients). Then click the gradient that is situated first from the left in the third row. Either double-click the gradient or click the Action button and choose Show Gradient Settings. This will allow you to alter the settings of the selected gradient. Then select Radial as the gradient type to make the gradient circular.
 

STEP 12

Lastly, let’s make the color of the sky a bit darker. Create a new layer named Gradient 2 and fill it with a white to black linear gradient as in the example below. Consult the tip in step 11 for guidance on creating the gradient, only this type select Linear as the Gradient Type. Then set the layer’s Blending to Soft Light and reduce the Opacity to 80%.

CONCLUSION

Selecting an appropriate phrase will help to create a graphic visualization of a common word. Make sure that some letter of your chosen word resembles the item that is described. As in this case – the shape of an uppercase letter A is similar to the castle tower’s shape. Because of this semblance, the graphic image of the castle’s tower blends in nicely with the typography and completes the composition.