Signing your work – Watermarks
(a07-04) Creating a Copyright Watermark from Text; save as a Custom Shape with a Custom Style

- Set Background color to #eeeeee (light gray)
- Create a New document big enough to work in comfortably (for example: 800px X 300px)
- Resolution: 72 dpi
- Background Contents: Background Color
- Set Black as Foreground color
- Choose Horizontal Type tool
- Create desired text, scale and style as desired. (for example: ©copyright 2016 N.Name ) – For best results use a font with a thick stroke. For copyright symbol: Option-G (Mac) for PC >>
- After styling duplicate Text layer
(drag to New Layer icon – bottom left of Layers panel) - Turn off the visibility of the original Text layer
(In the Layer panel click on the “eye” icon to left of Layer name) - Select the Text copy layer
- From the top menu Type>Convert to Shape
- Name as desired – click OK
- On Layers panel, change Fill value of shape to 0%.
- Select Layer Style icon (fx) at bottom of Layers panel
- Click Bevel and Emboss
The following is to establish a starting point, however it will depend on the font chosen as to what settings are best overall.- Style: Inner Bevel
- Technique: Smooth
- Depth: ~ 60%-90%
- Size: ~5-25
- Soften: ~6-10
- Select OK
- Click Bevel and Emboss
Remember to name layers accordingly…
To save Layer Settings and Effects
- Select the newly created customized shape layer on the Layer panel.
- On the Style panel
- Select the New Style button
- Name as desired and click OK
- The newly named style will appear in the Styles panel at the end of list.
To save a Custom Shape
- Select the newly created customized shape layer on the Layer panel.
- Make sure the Path of the shape is visible (slight line around edge of shape)
- You may need to use the Path Selection Tool (Black arrow) to select the shape in the artboard.
Choose Edit>Define Custom Shape
- In the dialog box name as desired and click OK
- The newly named style will appear in the Styles panel at the end of list.
- See fig.a07-04 – Save as PSD
(a07-05) Applying a Custom Shape with a Custom Style in an Image to create a Watermark:
*NOTE: You will need an image which you have either photographed or created to which you own the legal copyright.
- Include a short description of the source of the image used when submitting.
- No artwork that is subject to trademark law.
- No logo or collateral designs.
- No previous assignments.
- No package designs.
Open a qualifying image* to be watermarked .
Resize the image to 72 DPI and ~800px in either dimension. From main menu Image > Image Size… adjust size accordingly.
- From the Tools panel choose the Custom Shape tool
- On the Options bar Select the Shape drop-down menu (small arrow icon)
- In the Custom Shape picker, select the Shape created in a07-04.
- On the Options bar Select the Shape drop-down menu (small arrow icon)
- Hold down the Shift key (to maintain ratio) and Drag at a diagonal in the document window with the Custom Shape tool until symbol is desired size.
- In the Layer panel properly name the new Shape layer
- With the Shape layer still selected, in the Style panel click on the Custom Style created in a07-04.
- In the Layers panel double -click on the Bevel & Emboss sub-layer. In the Layer Style dialog box under Shading, uncheck Use Global Light to ensure the proper Shading (light source) from your Custom Style is applied to your Custom Watermark.
- Remember to Save As… PSD
- Export a copy for web use
- Remember to name layers accordingly…