Articles : Tutorials - Digital

Making your Own Digital Alphabets

Making your own Alphabets can be really fun, you can get the exact colors, shape, font, and look YOU want with just a  little effort. 

1. Open a blank file.  Whatever size you choose is fine, but also set the resolution to 300 ppi and choose a transparent background.
2. Choose a font you would like to make your alphabet out of.  I chose the font called Pharmacy for mine.  Type the letter you want to start with in the first layer.  Make sure you select the color you want the alphabet to be in.  I chose black for viewing ease, but you can choose any color.
   
3. Add a new layer.
4. Then in layer 2 select the paint brush tool and select the size of pixels you want (these will make our polka dots).  You may also select new color(s) for the polka dots.  Then using the paint brush tool as a stamp click it over the letter where you want the polka dots to appear.  Make sure to have some hanging over the edge. (We will make the edges clean in the next step.)  When you have added just the right amount of dots, you are ready to proceed.
   
5. Make sure layer 2 is highlighted and press Ctrl+G to group the layers.  You will see the polka dots merge onto the letter, making the edges clean.
6. Now go back to layer one and give the alpha letter a beveled edge by selecting "bevels" from your layer styles on the right hand side.  I chose "simple inner bevel"
   
7. Click on that small circle inside layer one to adjust the bevel to the level you want it.  When you on the little circle (which indicates layer style) click on it and a box like this should pop up. You can adjust the angle and bevel size, play around with the settings until you see something you like.  I chose a bevel size of 8 pixels.
   
8. The select Layer and  "Merge Visible"  or Shift+Ctrl+E.  Congratulations! You now have made your first polka dotted alphabet letter!
   
9. Make sure to select FILE and "Save As" or Shift+Ctrl+S  to save your individual letters and select PNG. files as your format so you can use them on future layouts!  This keeps the transparent background and allows the file to be read by almostt any software program on Macs and PCs. 
10. Here is my finished alphabet letter:
    

About the author ...
Janell Nugent (janello) has a passion for all things scrappy, but especially DIGITAL! She loves to be challenged by new techniques and thinks digital scrapping is both FUN and extremely useful! She is a mom to two great boys, one darling little girl, and wife to one awesome husband. She has been a member of the ACOT Digital Creative Team since May of 2007.

Submitted by janello