Stitched Name

I own the intellectual copyright for the written tutorial.  What you make is yours, but please do not take my tutorial.  Share only my link.

This tutorial is intended for a beginner to learn how to stitch a name in Photoshop.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

To do this tutorial you will also need Photoshop CS3 - CS4.  You may download a free trial at Adobe.

Remember to save as a .psd file often!

1.  Open a new, transparent image, size 500 x 500 pixels.

2.  Choose a somewhat-thick font.  I chose Sylfaen, and set it to 200 px.

3.  Type your name.  If your name doesn't fit in the 500 pixels, shrink the size of the font.  It doesn't matter what color you make your name.

4.  Right-click on the text layer and choose Create Work Path

5.  Layer > New > Layer

6.  In the Layer Palette, click on the top layer.  Then choose the PATHS tab.

7.  Choose the paintbrush tool

8.  Open up the Brush Palette.  Windows > Brushes.  Click on the words Brush Tip Shape.  Choose a round brush, set to 19 pixels, roundness = 30% (to flatten the circle), Spacing = 404% (to add some gaps between the brush)

9.  In the Brush Palette, Click on the WORDS Shape Dynamics.  Set everything to 0%, Set Angle Control = Direction  (Direction means that the brush will follow the direction of the path)

10.  Go back to the Layer palette.  PATHS tab chosen.  Right-click on the blue part and choose Stroke Path.  A box will come up and choose paintbrush.

The path will be "filled" with the paint brush tip that we made!

11.  Right-click and choose delete Path.  Click back on the LAYERS tab.

12.  on the Layers tab, right-click on the text layer and choose Delete Layer.  Now all you will see is the stitching. 

13.  Let's add some depth.  Right-click on the layer and choose Blending Options.  Click on the WORDS  Drop Shadow.  Blend Mode = normal, color = black, opacity = 75%, angle = 120, distance & spread = 0, size = 3

14.  ok, now we're going to add a background.  Layer > New > Layer.  Fill it with your background, and drag the layer to the bottom.

15.  Let's add some stitching to the background layer.  Choose the Rectangle SHAPE tool  (not the selection but the SHAPE tool)

16.  In the shape toolbar at the top, choose Paths. 

17.  Layer > New > Layer

18.  Draw a rectangle around the edge of the background.

19.  In the Layer Palette, click on the PATHS tab.  Right-click on the work path layer, and choose Stroke Path.  Choose the paintbrush tip again.

20.  Right-click and choose Delete Path.  Now you have a stitched border!

21.  Click on the LAYERS tab.

22.  I want the same shadow as the stitching in my name.  So right-click on the letters FX in the stitched name layer (Layer 1), and choose Copy  Layer Style

23.  Then click on the stitched border layer (Layer 3), right-click and choose Paste Layer Style.

24.  Save this as a JPEG.  File > Save As

 Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.