|
|
|
|
||||
© 1999 by Ramón Bartschat. All Rights Reserved.
|
Neon Signs are usually used at night, that is with a dark background. So we will start with a black 'piece of paper'. And in this tutorial we shall make the neon light blue.
1. Create a new image, Color mode: 24-bit RBG color, Paper color: Black, 500 x 200 pixels at 72 dpi
2. Choose the "Text Tool" and write the word "NEON" (color is unimportant) with Font: Arial Black, Font Size: 150, Bold
3. Center the newly created Object.
4. Create a mask from the text.
5. Delete the text. (We just need the mask)
6. Create a new object (Very Important!!!)
Note: I have certain habits. The method described here is the way I always do it, but at Step 5 you could have just double-clicked the "Eraser Tool" or chosen [Edit] / [Clear] to clear the NEON object without having to delete it or without having to create a new object. (Anyway, the result is the same!)
7. Make 'Blue' your 'Paint' color
8. Select the "Paint Tool" and open the "Tool Settings" roll-up.
9. In the "Tool Settings" roll-up:
-Choose the "Art Brush"
-Reset the brush type to its default settings*. (Just to make sure!)
-Make the "Paint Mode": Divide (Very Important!!!)
* Note: Brush settings don't automatically reset themselves, for example I often find myself painting orbits even though this is not what I had intended. The last time I used the tool, I had orbits enabled! So every once in a while I need to reset the brush to its default settings.
10. Stroke with the "Art Brush" in the middle of the mask border.
Our Neon light is ready!
The Neon light we just created looks just too perfect. In real life the neon tubes are connected so that a single neon tube serves for a whole word.
Let's add a little realistic touch to our Neon light.
Let's go back to Step 10.
BEFORE you stroke the mask in Step 10 do the following:
10. Paint on the mask
11. Connect all the letters with small (white) rectangles using the "Polygon Tool".
12. Toggle the "Paint on Mask" status.
|
Again, we have a script that automates this effect. Download the script now! To learn more about the author, Austin Schibler, you can visit his Web site at http://afreak.webjump.com |
Note: Now here again is a habit of mine. I love to 'Paint on Mask'. Instead of Steps 10, 11 and 12 like described here, you could have just used a "Mask Tool" like the "Freehand Mask Tool" and added to the mask in 'additive mode' and this way achieved the same without having to go to the 'Paint On Mask' mode. I personaly find working with the 'Mask Marquee' a little bit awkward and I prefer to have more visual control while changing masks. This is why I prefer the 'Paint on Mask' mode. I prefer it even over the 'Mask Overlay' mode. Choose any way that suits you the best.
13. Stroke with the "Art Brush" in the middle of the mask border.
Now our Neon light is really ready!
Read more articles by Ramón along with a short bio.
Copyright © 1995–2013 Unleashed Productions, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
