Text effects in Photoshop using Kai's Power Tools

by Elizabeth Brown Lawler

Kai's Power Tools, by HSC Software, is a powerful set of over 33 filters for Photoshop. It includes Gradient Designer and Texture Exporer as well as some neat tricks for spheres and page curls.

But art directors often think Kai's Power Tools is just some neat toy... Well, used intelligently, KPT can create special type effects for ad headlines with KPT Gradient Designer and Texture Explorer.

  1. Simply type a headline in Photoshop in your favorite color (or import from Illustrator).
  2. While the type is selected, go to the Filter menu and choose Kai's Power Tools Gradient Designer.
  3. In the Gradient Designer interface, choose the preset style called: Transparency Masks: Black to White Linear.
  4. Then in the upper left-hand box, choose Circular Shapeburst.
  5. In the second box, choose direction B to A, so black is on the outside and white is on the inside.
  6. In the Options menu, in the upper right corner, choose Procedural Blend if you've used a dark color on your type, or Multiply if you've used a light color.
  7. Click OK.
You should now see a 3D effect on your type. Now it's time to add some texture.
  1. With the type still selected, choose Kai's Power Tools Texture Explorer.
  2. Make sure that Procedural Blend is chosen in the Options menu, in the upper right, and that Current Selection is chosen for the preview.
  3. When the interface comes up, simply choose different textures until you find one you like.
  4. Click OK.

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