Gimpdome

Hello Class today we are going to focus on creating the Cutout effect for text. Now this method will work on other object but requires tweeking to line up right.

DISCLAIMER
I am not the one who came up with this method. It has been used for Photoshop for quite a while. I am just presenting it for use with gimp. I am sure there are other Cutout tutorials out there for Gimp as well. I did not ripp this from any one. It is the method I have used and known about for quite some time.


For this tutorial you will need:
1 - Basic knowledge of gimp is required.
          A: Knowledge of the Text tool
          B: Knowledge of the Drop Shadow Scrip-Fu Script
          C: Know how to manipulate layers.
   D: you will also have to have some knowledge of how to manipulate a selection.

Now if you are saying wait I know nothing of any of these well you are in luck because you are going to learn some tricks with them.

2 - This tutorial Works best with a fat font, but you can use any font you want. I recommend strolling over to DA Fonts and having a look through there selection.
3 - Some good music. I prefer rock, but what ever you like and helps you get the creative juices flowing. This is a must!!
4 - About 5 mins of free time maybe a few more to read the tut first.

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OK lets get started.

1 - Open up gimp and create a new image any size will work. For this tutorials i created an image that was 420x300.
2 - Fill the back ground with a solid color, gradient or picture. Any type of background will work. For this tut i use a gradient.
3 - Set your forground color to white and select your Typing Tool (press T)
4 - Type out what ever you want make sure to adjust the size and spacing as you want it to be. Name this layer Base Text.
[hspace height=3]

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5 - Right click the Base Text layer (the one you just created) and select Layer to image size.
6 - Right click the Base Text layer again and select alpha to selection.
VERY IMPORTANT DO NOT DESELECT YET!!!!
8 - Create a new layer.
9 - Invert the selection Selection>Invert or press ctr+i
10 - Select the Drop-Shadow script Script-Fu>Shadow>Drop-Shadow
Drop-Shadow Settings
X= 6 Y= 6 Blur = 10 Color= Light gray (#a3a3a3) Opacity = 60% Uncheck Allow Resizing click OK
[hspace height=2]

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VERY IMPORTANT DO NOT DESELECT YET!!!!
11 - Select the Drop-Shadow script Script-Fu>Shadow>Drop-Shadow
Drop-Shadow Settings
X= 3
Y= 3
Blur = 2
Color= Black
Opacity = 80%
Uncheck Allow Resizing
click OK

12 - Duplicate this shadow layer and set the Opacity to 50-60%
[hspace height=2]

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12 - Deselect Select>Deselect
13 - Duplicate the Base Text layer and raise the duplication to the top of the layer stack.
14 - Select Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur set it to 2 and click ok
15 - select the move tool and click the layer but do not move the text thought.
16 - Now we need to move the blurred white layer down and right 2px.
17 - The easies way to do this is use the arrow keys. Press down twice and right twice.
17 - Right click the Base Text layer and select alpha to selection.
18 - Select the blur layer and press ctr+k to clear it.
19 - Turn the Opacity down to 70%
20 - Turn the visibility of the Base Text Layer off.


There you have it a nice simple cut out text.

This looks pretty sweet!  I'll have to try it once the kiddies go to sleep! 

Thanks for the tut bro, here is what i did with it. Click here Maybe it doesnt fit the sig...But atleast there is another pic for people to look at for examples..

Avarra,

Welcome to the board. You could also try http://www.blambot.com for some free fonts.