For this week’s Photoshop 101, I am going to show everyone how to add an image (can be a photograph, pattern, texture, etc) to their text. It’s really easy and adds a lot of character to the typeface, compared to a solid color. I chose a photo that I love, but you can choose anything that is in a JPEG format.
1. First things first, open a new document
2. Using the type tool, type what words you would like to use with the image. If you want a different image in 2 different words, make sure you put them on separate type layers. Also, be sure to use a thicker font. The thicker the font, the more you’ll be able to see the image inside!
3. Select your image and drag onto your canvas. The photo I chose is from here.
4. Position the image in front of the text that you want to alter. On the layers pallet, put your mouse in between the image layer and text layer and hold option(alt). A little venn diagram arrow will appear. Click in the middle of your two layers with this guy and voila. Now, you should notice that the image layer is indented to the left and has an arrow pointing down to the text layer below it. If you want to move the image around that’s inside of your text, make sure you select the image layer and move at your own free will.
Now you have a finished product:
If you have any questions about any of the steps above or want to see a specific tutorial in the future, please leave a comment below. I will email you directly.
Some other Photoshop 101 tutorials you might enjoy:
Create a Letterpress Effect in 4 Steps
How to Add Instagram Effects to Your Non-Mobile Photos
All images and layouts are intended for Simple Street and designed by Amanda Genther. If you wish to share, please provide a link back to the blog! Thanks!
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
GIRL! That is so easy… how did I not know about this?! Thank you
I love this! I made some letters filled with glitter last week and went about it in the most painstaking, time intensive way. Your way is much much better
This is amazing – thanks so much, Amanda! I’ve been wondering about this trick for a while!!!!
having not taken a photoshop class in 7 years, these tutorials are going to change my life.
Thanks for posting this! I had no idea! I kept using the magic wand, mostly because I like the name of it, but it took forever.
Amanda – This is awesome! I will have to check out all of your tutorials. I use Lightroom, but just bought photoshop yesterday for my blog and for my photography business! So this will be very helpful! It was great meeting you at the Friday night parties at ALT! Loving your blog!
Perfect timing! I hope I can teach you something!
This is amazing! I am just working my way through photoshop and would love to try this.
What a genius concept…Photoshop lessons! I will def be back for more
Great! Can’t wait to share more!
I love this tutorial! I’ve always wanted to learn how to do this.
Awesome! So glad I can teach everyone!
YAY! Thanks for posting this, I’ve been wondering about it!
And yes, I know I’m going backwards, just had this bookmarked because didn’t have time to go through it before
Have a question: what font is that?
It’s called Bebas Neue!
love this! thanks can’t wait to try it out
This is so helpful! Thank you Amanda.
This may seem like a dumb q (I honestly haven’t been on Photoshop for years) but how do I now add my new imagified text to another project I’m working?
Robin – Once you are done with the the current art board, you can either select all of your layers and drag onto your new canvas or other project or you can flatten the image and then drag over to your other project. Either way, all you have to do is drag and drop onto the other project. Hope that helps!
So helpful! Yay thank you
Great tutorial!! Thank you!
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