Channel Emboss

Channel Emboss

Using Channels To Emboss
Skill level: Basic
Programs used: Photoshop 6

In this tutorial, you will be shown how to custom emboss objects to make great buttons. This is useful for when the embossing filter can't get the height or bevel that you want.

First, you will need to create a new canvas:

1. Create a new canvas, 250 x 250, and make the background layer white and create a new layer by pressing the "new layer" button .

2. Using the "rectangular marquee" tool select a portion in the middle of the new layer.

3. Now we need to create a nice smooth-cornered selection by clicking the "select>modify>smooth" menu command, and putting in a value of 10.

4. Now that we have a pill-like shape, we need to fill this with a grey color by using the paint bucket tool

. An RGB value of (153, 153, 153) is recommended.

5. Next, click on the channel tab situated next to the layers tab, and you should see the different colour channels all selected.

6. Click on the "save selection" button down the bottom of the channels pallete, it's the second one from the left. Now select the new channel you just made called "Alpha 1" and you should see a black and white image of your selection.

7. Keep your white object selected and now we have to create a black and white embossing effect by using the gaussian blur filter. Select "filter>blur>gaussian blur" and enter a value of 4.

8. Now keep the selection and use the gaussian blur twice more, these times using values of 2 and 1 instead of 4. Now deselect the selection by using the "select>deselect" menu command or pressing "CTRL + D" and use the gaussian blur filter one last time to get rid of any pixelation, a value of 0.5 usually does it, but if you can still see pixelation, try a value of 1 instead.

9. Now we need to go back to our original grey object. Click on the "layers" tab to show the layers pallete, and left-click on the layer with the grey object on there to bring up your original image. Make a perfect selection of your object by holding down the "CTRL" button on your keyboard and left-clicking on the layer with the grey object.

10 Almost there! The next thing we need to do is to apply the embossing effect to our object. Do this by selecting the "filter>render>lighting effects" menu command and use these settings:

Style: default

Light Type: directional
Intensity: 35
Make sure the "On" box is ticked

Properties:
Gloss: -8
Material: 89
Exposure: -44
Ambience: 25

Texture Channel: Alpha 1 (the channel you just made)
Height: 30

If you want your button to pop out of the page, have the "White is high" box ticked. If you would rather your button having the carved in look, make sure the "White is high" box is unticked.

Now look in the preview, and you will see a line with a black and white dot on either end. Leave the white dot on the center of the object, but left-click on the black dot and drag it to a position similar to this one:

Now press ok, and your button should be there.

11. Now the last touch is to add some color. Make sure you are on layer with the button, and then select the "image>adjust>hue/saturation" menu command. Click the "colorize" box so it is ticked, then adjust the hue, saturation and lightness settings till you find a color which suits your needs.

Your button should be colored now. You can create many buttons this way, or even change the colors to create flashing buttons.

Using Channels To Emboss Skill level: Basic Programs used: Photoshop 6

Using Channels To Emboss
Skill level: Basic
Programs used: Photoshop 6