Image+Filled+Text



Using an image to make up the letters of your text in lieu of a gradient of single color is a very cool effect. Here are 3 different ways to accomplish this task in GIMP.


 * Technique # 1**

I’ve included a copy of my image, just in case you want to experiment with it.



1. Open the picture above or one of your choice. (File | Open…) 2. Right-click on the image you’ve just opened and, if the “Add Alpha Channel” is grayed out, continue on to Step 3. If the “Add Alpha Channel” is available to be activated, select it. This will allow your image to have transparency added to it, so your text will have a transparent background. Continue with Step 3. 3. Select the font you want to use and start typing. (I’m using a font called Coolsville) Color does not matter, as we are only concerned with the text’s outline. Also, wider fonts work best, as more of the picture will show through. 4. Once finished with typing, use the move tool (4-headed arrow) to position the text where you want it. 5. Right-click on the text layer in the layer dialog window and selection “Alpha to Selection.” 6. Click the “eye” symbol next to the font layer name to turn off the text layer.



7. Activate (highlight) your image layer. 8. Currently, everything within the outline of the text is selected. We need to get rid of everything on the outside of the text. To do this, Invert your selection by using the Ctrl+i keystroke (or Select menu | Invert). Everything outside of the text is now selected. You should now see the animated outline along the outer edge of the layer. This animated outline is also referred to as “marching ants. 9. Now, delete everything outside of the text by using the Ctrl+K keystroke (or Edit menu | Clear).

Here’s what my text looks like:



Very nice, huh?!


 * Technique #2**

In this method, I won’t be using screenshots, but the steps are pretty straightforward.

1. Open the picture above or one of your choosing. Again, make sure it has an Alpha Channel (Right-click | Add Alpha Channel). 2. Add the text and position it where you want it to be. 3. Select the outline of your text (Right-click | Alpha to Selection). 4. Turn off the text layer (Deselect the “eye” next to the text layer). 5. Activate (highlight) your image layer. 6. Copy (Ctrl+C) the selection and Paste (Ctrl+V) the selection into the document. 7. The selected portion will show up as a “Floating Selection” at the top of the layer dialog window. Anchor it to a new layer by clicking on the new layer button at the bottom of the layer dialog window or going to the Layer Menu | New Layer. 8. Turn off or delete your background layer and you are finished.


 * Technique #3**

Complete steps 1-5 of Technique #2 Right-click on the image layer and select “Add Layer Mask.” Under the “Initialize Layer Mask To…” dialog window, choose “Selection.”

You are finished.

Now, add a drop shadow or two (Script-FU > Shadow > Drop Shadow...), a bevel (Script-FU > Decor > Add Bevel...), and a reflection (http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/topic/Reflections-484-1.html) and you have some pretty sweet looking text!