This is part 2 of the tutorial on how to create pop art typography with Gimp. Part 1 focused on creating the outline text with dots, and in this section we'll create the other two text layers and give them a 3d effect. We'll then finish by creating a background to match the text.
Creating The Second Text Layer
1/ After completing the outline text we created in part 1, delete any layers that aren't needed. This should leave the outline text layer, two more text layers, the layer filled with grey, and the background layer.
The text we're now going to work on is going to be blue, so click on the lightest blue in the colour palette so it becomes the active foreground colour.
2/ Make sure the text layer second from the top is the active layer, then right click on it and from the drop down list select Alpha to Selection.
3/ Add a transparent layer below the top most layer and make it the active layer. Using the Paint tool fill the selection so it becomes blue text.
The text layer below this can now be deleted.
4/ The blue text needs to match the perspective of the outline text, so select the Unified Transform tool from the Tools panel.
5/ Drag the right vertical handle of the transform bounding box upwards, then drag the top horizontal handle to the right, so the text matches the slope of the outline text exactly.
A full explanation of this step is given in Part 1 of this tutorial, under the subheading, Adding Perspective To The Text Layer.
6/ When you're ready hit Transform in the Unified Transform window.
7/ Now that we have another text layer that matches the perspective of the outline text layer, duplicate it, then hide the lower blue text layer. Also hide the grey layer.
Select the darker blue from the palette so it becomes the active foreground colour. Make sure the top blue text layer is the active layer.
Adding A 3d Effect To The Text
1/ A quick and easy way of adding a 3d appearance to text in Gimp is to use the Long Shadow tool. To open this hit Filters > Light and Shadow > Long Shadow.
2/ This window will open.
3/ Dragging the Angle slider will change the angle of the shadow, or in this case, the angle of the depth of the text. Here 136 has been selected. We need to remember this angle for when the Long Shadow effect is applied to the other text layers.
Dragging the Length slider will change the length of the text depth.
The Color option shows the darker blue from the colour palette because we selected it as the foreground colour in step 7, above.
When you're ready, hit OK.
4/ The text now has a cool 3d appearance.
Creating The Third Text Layer
1/ To start creating the third text layer, hide the blue 3d text layer, and make the layer below that the active layer.
Select the mid tone red from the colour palette to make it the active foreground colour.
2/ The red text in the finished design is larger than the other text. To create this from the lower blue text layer, right click on it and select Alpha to Selection.
Now hit Select > Grow.
3/ Because the text should be quite a bit bigger than the other text, 36 has been entered in the Grow Selection window. Now hit OK.
4/ The text will now have an enlarged selection around it.
5/ Create a transparent layer and make it the active layer. With the Paint tool fill the selection with the foreground colour.
Add another transparent layer above this layer.
6/ Select the pink from the colour palette to make it the active foreground colour. With the transparent layer active, use the Paint tool to fill the selection.
There should now be one red layer and on pink layer.
7/ The pink layer will be used to create a border for the red layer. With the pink layer active hit Select > Shrink.
In the Shrink Selection window 10 has been entered. Hit OK.
8/ Hit Delete on the keyboard.
9/ The pink layer will now be an oultine of 10 pixels.
10/ With the pink layer still active, right click on it in the Layers panel and from the drop down list select Merge Down.
11/ Now select Layer > Crop to Content.
Adding A 3D Effect To The Red Text Layer
1/ Click the dark red in the colour palette so it becomes the active foreground colour. Make sure the red text layer is the active layer.
2/ Select Filters > Light and Shadow > Long Shadow.
3/ Depth is added to this text in the same way it was added to the blue text. The angle needs to be the same for both layers so the 3d effect is consistent. In this case 136 is the angle used.
The length setting is whatever looks good to you. Here 50 has been used.
When you're ready hit OK.
4/ The red text now has the feel of being 3d.
5/ Unhiding the blue text layer gives an idea of what the final design will look like. Use the move tool to place the blue text so it looks correct.
6/ Adding the 3d effect to the outline text layer is done in the same way as the other two layers. This layer was left to last because the depth of the text needs to be quite slim, and its easier to judge against the other text layers.
The colour used for the depth of the outline text was the grey from the colour palette. The angle setting again needed to be the same as the other text layers, so 136 was used.
Adding Shadow to the Red and Blue Text Layers
1/ Adding subtle shadows to the blue and red text layers adds to the sense of being 3d. No Shadow was added to the outline text because the shadow would have been too complicated and would have ruined the look of the design.
To create the shadow, select the red text layer, then hit Filter > Light and Shadow > Drop Shadow.
2/ The above window will open. Click on the link icon to the right of the X and Y sliders, so each slider can be moved seperately.
Now drag each slider so the shadow for the red text looks natural. The Grow radius and Opacity sliders can also be adjusted.
When you're ready hit OK.
Repeat this for the blue text layer.
Creating A Background
1/ We're now going to create a dotted pattern for the background. With the grey filled layer active, select Filters > Distorts > Newsprint.
2/ The above window will open.
3/ White on Black has been selected from the Color Model drop down menu.
The period for the dots is around 30, and the angle is 45. Play with these setting to get the look you want.
Click OK.
4/ Select Colors > Invert.
5/ The dots will now look as above.
6/ Select Colors > Color to Alpha.
7/ The above window will appear. Hit OK.
8/ The dots will now have a transparent background. Right click on the dots layer in the Layers panel, and from the drop down menu select Alpha to Selection.
Now hit Select > grow.
9/ The Grow Selection window will open. We want the dots to be 1 pixel larger, so enter 1, then hit OK.
10/ Add a transparent layer above the dots layer and make sure its the active layer. Select the darker yellow from the color palette.
11/ With the Paint tool set to a large size, sweep the cursor over the canvas window to fill all the dots with the dark yellow.
12/ Create another transparent layer under the yellow dots layer, then using the Bucket Fill tool, fill it with the lighter yellow from the colour palette.
Merge the two background layers into one layer.
Position each of the text layers so you're happy with them, then if you want merge them to one layer.
Alternatively, hide all layers except for the text layers. Right click on one, and from the drop down menu select New from Visible. This will create one new layer containing all the text, but will keep the original layers.
Now all that needs to be done is to position the text against the background and if needed crop the image.
There are a lot of steps to creating this pop art typography design, but ultimately its worth all the effort.
We hope you've enjoyed following this two part tutorial, and will soon be creating your own eye catching pop art text. If you've found it useful fee free to follow and like our Facebook page.
