Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS2 with Mac OS X.

There are so many cool fonts available that can really add the perfect touch to your layouts. I am going to show you how to use brushes to customize your fonts for even more variety.

The first technique uses the Eraser Tool to create a pattern inside of the text.

Start by choosing the font you would like to use and type the text on your layout. I chose to use a thick and bold font called Haettenschweiler so that I could create a pattern inside of the text.

Next, you need to rasterize your font by going to Layer> Rasterize> Type. Your type layer should no longer have the “T” inside of the box which indicates a font.

Now, select your Eraser Tool from the Tools Palette and go up to the Brushes Palette at the top of your window. Click on the arrow at the top right of the Brushes Palette and choose “Load Brushes” to browse for the brush you would like to use. I chose to use Textile Brush Set 2.

It’s a good idea to duplicate your type layer so that you can go back to the original if necessary. Now, with your Eraser Tool selected, choose a brush from the Brushes Palette and make sure your rasterized type layer is highlighted in the Layers Palette. Just click inside the text area with your Eraser Tool to create a pattern. I chose to fill the duplicate type layer with a semi-transparent white so that the background color of my digital scrapbooking paper would not show through, but you can leave that layer alone if you like the color of your background paired with your text color.

This example uses the Haettenshweiler Font and the Textile Brush Set 2.

The next two techniques show how to embellish a font with flourish brushes. I chose the Ribbons Brush Set and the Oodles of Doodles: Flourishes Brush Set.

Choose your font and type your text in the same way you did the first technique. Rasterize and make a copy of the type layer just as you did before.

This time, you will choose your Brush Tool from the Tools Palette. Go to the Brushes Palette at the top of your window and click on the arrow at the top right to load your brushes the same way you did above.

Choose the color you would like to use and create a new layer in the Layers Palette for your brushwork by clicking on the New Layer button at the bottom. Drag the layer for your brushwork below the rasterized type layer. (You may want to keep the brushwork layer above your type layer depending on where you would like the designs to be.)

Brush around the text with the Brush Tool, periodically changing the orientation of the brush by going to the Brushes Palette and clicking on “Brush Tip Shape” at the top left. There, you can rotate the brush axis by clicking on one of the arrows and dragging it around the circle.

This example uses the AMC Sketchy Solid Font and the Ribbons Brush Set.

This example uses the LDE Inclination Font and the Oodles Of Doodles Flourishes Brush Set.

Layout by Keri Schueller
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	Note: Commercial license versions of Ribbons Brush Set, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Darling Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Old Photo Frames Biggie and AMC_Sketchy Solid Font are also available.

Tutorial written by Keri Schueller