Photoshop Brick Pattern

[Jim Brennan]

I am running photoshop 6 on my mac. I went to the texture filter looking for a brick pattern, and there wasn't one. So I went to the adobe site and downloaded both a .atn brick file and a .atc brick file. I tried to open them after download, but when I click on them, it just brings up Photoshop, but nothing opens. Are these plug-ins? I've never done anything like this before. I want it to be a photoshop generated layer so that the text I put over it will follow the contours of the brick.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

[milksac]

.atn files are Photoshop actions. Actions are macros that run a series of events to speed up processing. For example you can use an action to generate a frame around your image. Open the actions palette (windows menu), load your action and play the action. Sit back and watch Photoshop make something out of bricks for you. Regarding .atc, I have no idea what an atc does.

I want it to be a photoshop generated layer so that the text I put over it will follow the contours of the brick.
I would find a decent brick image from iStock or go out and shoot it. And use displacement mapping to composite the text.
Here's a tutorial on displacement mapping:
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/dispmap/dispmap.htm

[mikkowilson]

Regarding .atc, I have no idea what an atc does.
http://www.otterfx.com/pics/fyeoatac.jpg
ATAC?


- Mikko

[Jim Brennan]

Okay, so once I figured out I had to hit the "play" button, that was very cool.

My next question is how do I make text a transparency? I know I can do it in motion by changing the alpha channel. I am doing a spray-painted stencil effect on the bricks, and I want the text to be the negative space, looking like the bricks., with the spray paint surrounding it.

[Capt Quirk]

I believe you will want to rasterize the text layer, then in the properties panel you will choose "overlay", to make it blend with the brick layer and adjust the transparency to taste.

[milksac]

Ctrl click on the text layer this will create a selection (marching ants) from your text. Invert the selection. Then paint around the edges of the selection on the brick layer with a brush. This should end up looking like the stencil and spray can traetment you're going for. Adjust the characteristics of the brush as needed and be sure to save a clean copy of the bricks.

[Jim Brennan]

I can get the marching ants, but how do I invert the selection?

Thanks

[milksac]

It's in the select menu at the top of the screen or hit Shift+Ctrl+I.
I forgot to mention turn off the text layer before you start painting.
good luck.

[Jim Brennan]

That did it! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.