6.0 Letterhead
page threeTake a black, felt tip pen and write something witty, or relevant to the person you might send a letter to. Use white paper with no lines. Try and write in a straight line; I wasn't able to, and it was murder getting a straight scan.
Scan your handwritten line into Photoshop at 300 dpi, and a width of 7.8 inches. If you have good scanner software, try and increase the constrast to make the white background pure white, and the black text max black. Don't worry if you can't.
Save the document. If your handwriting and paper look grayish, instead of black and white, choose Image > Adjust > Brightness/Contrast. Make sure Preview is selected in the dialog box that opens. Move the Contrast slider to the right to increase the contrast between the paper, and your handwriting. Don't overdo it. Add just enough contrast to make the paper white. Click OK.
Select the magic wand in the toolbox. Click on the white portion of your image. Choose Select >Inverse. Then choose Select > Grow. Then choose Layer > New > Layer via Cut.
Deselect the handwriting by choosing Select > Deselect, or by pressing Ctrl + D.
The handwriting has been moved to a new layer. You won't be able to see any change because it's precisely above where it was. If you like, go to the Layers palette, and click the eye next to the Background layer. You will see the handwriting left on a checkerboard (transparent) background.
Select the new layer by clicking on it in the Layers palette. It will have the default name of Layer 1. Click the little arrow in the top right corner of the Layers palette, and choose Layer Properties from the menu. In the dialog box that appears, and which is shown below, name the layer, and pick a color. Click OK.
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Go back to the image with the handwriting. In the Layers palette, click on the name of the layer with the handwriting. Place your cursor on the layer and drag it onto the new white document. It doesn't matter what tool is currently selected. Layers can be dragged at any time. In the new document, it will automatically be placed on a new layer.
Once you have dropped it onto the new document, you'll need to select the move tool from the toolbox to move it into place at the top of the page. Make sure the new layer is selected.
Name the layer, as we did before by clicking on the arrow in the upper right corner of the Layers palette, and choosing Layer Properties. I named mine ‘meanwhile’ and colored it yellow.
Next, select the rectangular marquee tool in the toolbox. Make sure it's set for New Selection, and its Style is set for Normal. Drag a square selection around one, meaningful word in your sentence. I chose the word ‘back’ from my sentence, ‘Meanwhile, back at the ranch...’
With the word selected, choose Layer > New > Layer via Cut. Again, name, and color your new layer. With that layer selected, go to the Styles palette, and try clicking various buttons. Different styles should appear on the single word. If you'd like to see more styles, click on the little arrow in the top right corner of the Styles palette, and choose a new palette. I chose TextEffects.asl. Once you click on a new palette, you will see the alert box shown below. Pick Append if you'd like to have the new styles added to the current ones, instead of replacing them.
I applied one style to the word, shown at the bottom of this page, and then decided I'd rather try substituting a typed word for that one. I'll show you how to do that, next.
Continue on page four
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Copyright © 2000 by Jay Arraich.
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All photographs copyright ©2000 by Jay Arraich
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