Clouds Text Effect

Clouds Text Effect

Learn to create a heavenly text effect using the clouds brush preset in Pixelmator.

Layers, Type Tool, Brush Tool, and Blur filter is used in this tutorial.

Step 1

Create a new image in Pixelmator. Feel free to use any size, however, to achieve a result similar to that shown in the tutorial, use a size of 1920×1200 pixels.

Step 2

Place any image of a sky on the composition. It’s recommended to use one with a clear background, so that the text would stand out.

Step 3

Click to select the Type Tool (T) in the Tools palette. Choose View > Show Fonts. To achieve a result similar to that shown in the tutorial, use 300 pixels size Cooper Std Black font. Set main color to white. Click anywhere on the image and type any word you like. If necessary, use the Move Tool (V) to position the text in the middle.

Step 4

Click to select the Brush Tool (B) in the Tools palette. In the Brushes palette (View > Show Brushes) click the “Action” button and choose the Smoke brushes collection. Double-click on the first brush preset to open settings. Set the values to: Diameter to 70, Spacing to 94, Flow to 99, Size to 18, Stroke to 14, so that the brush would look like clouds and click OK.

Step 5

Create a background for a cloudy text:

1. Make a selection of a text by holding down the Command key on your keyboard and clicking on the thumbnail image of the text layer in the Layers palette.
2. Then deselect layer’s check-box in the Layers palette to make it invisible.
3. Click the Add button (+) to add a new layer in the Layers palette.
4. Click to select the Brush Tool (B). In the Tool Options palette (View > Show Tool Options) change the Blending to Screen and the Opacity to 50-60%.
5. Select the previously edited cloud brush, set main color to white and using the Brush Tool paint within the selection.

Step 6

To soften the cloudy text choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set Radius to 6 pixels and click OK.

Step 7

Click the Add button (+) to add another new layer in the Layers palette. Using the same Brush Tool settings, paint on the layer, this time particularly over the edges of the text, in order to make edges less visible.

Step 8

Click to add another new layer. Repeat the previous step to highlight any particular areas (use the example in the image below as a reference). In the Layers palette reduce the Opacity to 40-60%.

Step 9

In order to add a warm, vintage look to the image, first click to add another new layer above the other layers. Change Blending to Overlay and set the Opacity to 30-40%. Fill (Edit > Fill) the layer with a dark yellow color.

© Pixelmator Team Ltd.