Creating Your Own Custom Copyright Brush


If you want a quick way to apply your copyright watermark to an image, check out this trick I learned from portrait photographer (and guru) Todd Morrison. He showed me how to turn your copyright info into a brush, so you're only one click away from applying your mark to any photo. My thanks to Todd for letting me share his ingenious technique.

Step One

Create a new document in the Elements Editor (go to File, under New, and choose Blank File), and then press U until you get the Custom Shape tool (it's in the flyout menu of Shape tools right below the Gradient tool in the Toolbox). Then, press the Enter key to bring up the Custom Shape Picker onscreen, and from the flyout menu in the top-right corner, choose Symbols. Now choose the Copyright symbol from the shapes in the Picker. Press the letter D to set black as your Foreground color and drag out a copyright symbol in the center of your document.

Step Two

Press T to switch to the Type tool, and then type your copyright info. The Type tool will create a Type layer above the copyright Shape layer. (Note: When you set your type, go up to the Options Bar and make sure your justification is set to Center Text [click on the center of the three Align icons].) Then, type a few spaces between the copyright date and the name of your studio. This enables you to put the large copyright symbol in the center of your type.

Step Three

Press M to get the Rectangular Marquee tool, and click-and-drag a selection around your type and your copyright symbol. Then, go under the Edit menu and choose Define Brush from Selection. When the Brush Name dialog appears, name your brush and click OK. This adds your type as a custom brush in your Brush Picker. Note: Don't worrythe preview of the brush that appears in the Brush Name dialog may look squished, but the brush won't be.

Step Four

Press B to get the Brush tool. In the Options Bar, click on the Brush thumbnail and in the resulting Brush Picker, scroll to the bottom of the brushes. The last brush in the set is the custom copyright brush you just created.

Step Five

©SCOTT KELBY

Now that you've created your copyright brush, it's time to put it to use. Open a photo that you want to use as a client proof. Click on the Create a New Layer icon at the top of the Layers palette, and then with the Brush tool, click once where you want your copyright info to appear. Lower the Opacity in the Layers palette so you can see through the copyright. Two things to keep in mind: (1) If the photo is dark, try white as your Foreground color; (2) you can use the Size slider (up in the Options Bar) to change the size of your Brush tool.



The Photoshop Elements 4 Book for Digital Photographers
The Photoshop Elements 4 Book for Digital Photographers
ISBN: 0321384830
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 201
Authors: Scott Kelby

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net