STAR WARS™ TITLES PHOTOSHOP TUTORIAL

Prerequisite Photoshop skills:

• create, copy, lock and rename layers
• create and rename layer groups
• copy and paste image data
• create, move and rename layers
• work with selections, select and deselect
• use the paint bucket, gradient fill and brush tools
• use HEX color values
• import vector data from Illustrator

Step 1: Set up the Photoshop file

A) Install the Astro SE font software.

B) Create a Photoshop file with the dimensions you need.

C) Using the Paint Bucket tool , fill the background with black (000000).

D) Name and save the file and exit Photoshop.

Step 2: Type the text in Illustrator

A) Open Adobe Illustrator and set up a new file. An 8.5" x 11" file will work fine.

B) Using the Type tool and the Astro SE Solid font at 125 pt., type the word(s) for the inner portion of the logo in black (000000).

C) Use the Type tool create a second text layer. Using the Astro SE Solid font at 40 pt., type the word(s) that will form part of the top frame. While not required, the first and last letters of the "framing words" should end where the letter stroke falls on the baseline. In this example, the "S" and "L" in "Special" adhere to this guideline.

D) Use the Type tool create a third text layer. Using the Astro SE Solid font at 40 pt., type the word(s) that will form part of the bottom frame.

E) As desired, change the font to Astro SE Solid Alternate for selected letters. In this example, the letter "A" in "Astro" and letters "E" and "N" were changed. Note the uppercase and lowercase feature letters of different styles; experiment with this until you get lettering that looks balanced and interesting. In this example the text is actually typed like this: "SpecIAL ASTRO EDITIon."

F) Select all three type layers (Fig. 2) and convert the text to paths (Object: Expand...).

Step 3: Create the frame

A) Using the Rounded Rectangle tool , draw a rectangle (no fill, 6.55 stroke, black) around the main word(s) in the center of the logo. To change the corner radius while dragging, press the Up Arrow key or Down Arrow key. When the corners are the desired roundness, release the key.

B) Using the Direct Selection tool , select words and use the Move tool to adjust their size and/or positions. Do the same with the frame. Be sure that the frame and solid letters are lined up exactly (See Fig. 3).

C) Adjust the size or thickness of individual letters as needed. In this example, the width of the "O" in "ASTRO" was reduced slightly.

Step 4: Join the frame and letters

A) Select the frame and convert the shape to paths (Object: Expand...).

B) Snap two guides to the left and right side of the top word. Then draw a gray rectangle on top of the frame that snaps exactly to each of the guides (see Fig 4a, left frame).

C) Select both the gray rectangle and the frame (see Fig. 4a, center frame).

D) With the Pathfinder window open (Window: Pathfinder), click on the "Minus Front" option:

The rectangle will be subtracted from the frame (Fig. 4a, right frame).

E) Repeat steps 4B-D for the bottom word.

F) Once the frame has been sliced, select all the frame and frame lettering paths (not the letters inside the frame, however). With the Pathfinder window open (Window: Pathfinder), click on the "Unite" option:

This unifies the frame lettering paths.

Step 5: Create the oblique logo

A) Select only the frame paths and set the fill to none (transparent).

B) Apply a 1.38 stroke in black (000000) only to the frame paths.

C) Select all the logo artwork paths. Using the Shear tool , click on the upper right corner, and while holding the shift key down, drag the artwork to create a -4.9° shear.

Your artwork should look similar to Fig. 5.

D) Select only the frame paths and change the fill color to white ( ffffff). Copy only the frame paths to RAM so that they can be pasted in Photoshop. Keep Illustrator open as you will be returning to it later.

Step 6: Add the lettering to Photoshop

You be adding to new layers to Photoshop that you'll use for the creation of the final artwork.

A) Paste the Illustrator data that you just copied into a new layer in Photoshop as a "Smart Object". If it doesn't paste, go back to Illustrator, select the artwork, return to Photoshop and paste.

You now have the logo in Photoshop. Rename this layer "Lettering Outline."

B) Return to Illustrator and select only the center logo lettering. Change the fill color to white (ffffff). Copy this solid text, go back to Photoshop and paste the solid lettering into a new layer and rename the layer "Lettering Fill." Adjust the position of this new layer so that the logo elements are aligned properly. Be sure that the "Lettering Fill" layer is under the outline later (see Fig. 6a).

A) Rasterize both of the Lettering layers (Layer: Rasterize: Smart Object) and lock the transparent pixels of both layers:

C) Quit Illustrator: you won't need it for the remainder of this project (unless you decide to tweak the lettering further, and in that case, be sure to delete all the vector art layers in Photoshop and repeat steps 6D-7A).

Your artwork should look similar to Fig. 6.

Step 7: Create the fill gradient

A) Rasterize both of the Lettering layers (Layer: Rasterize: Smart Object) and lock the transparent pixels of both layers:

B) To prepare for the gradient fill, set the foreground and background colors:

• Foreground:
  Gold (ddb132)
• Background:
  Dark Gold (b57d2f)

C) With the "Lettering Fill" layer active, select all the pixels (Select: All). Then, using the Gradient Fill tool , create a gradient that matches that in Fig. 7.

D) Repeat the process is Step 7C for the "Lettering Outline" layer.

Step 8: Add layer effects

A) Add a layer effect (Bevel and Emboss) to the "Lettering Fill" layer:

• Style: Inner Bevel
• Technique: Smooth
• Depth: 100%
• Direction: Up
• Size: 1-2, Soften: 0
• Angle: 129°, Altitude: 0°
• Highlight Mode: Normal, Color: ffffff, Opacity: 100%
• Shadow Mode: Normal, Color: 000000, Opacity: 15%

B) Add a layer effect (Drop Shadow) to the "Lettering Fill" layer:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Color: 8f6c4a
• Opacity: 75
• Angle 44°
• Distance: 1-3 px, Spread: 0%, Size: 1-3 px

C) Repeat the process in Step 8B for the "Lettering Outline" layer.

For most purposes, your artwork will be completed after the painting of the highlights and shadows. However, if you want to pull out all the stops on this project, you can continue your design journey with the following optional steps.

Step 9: Optional enhancements

While the classic black background is suitable, you might choose a different approach. In our example, a custom painting was created in the style pioneered by movie poster artist Drew Struzan. In addition, a glowing gold center was placed just behind the text.

Custom Background

If you would like to use the custom painting by artist David Occhino, click here for a low-res version which you can use for non-business or commercial purposes. To use the artwork for a business project or commercial project, contact us.

Save your work and enjoy your new creation.