Letters Collage

Text

Start with a PS document size 1400 x 700px.

Select the Text tool. Click to add text (2-3 letters). Click off to set the text. You should then see what you’ve typed as the layer name.

Double-click on the “T” for the text layer, then go to the Options Bar and change the font type to something thick that you like.

Then select the layer and CTRL+T to make it bigger, filling the canvas. Unlock the transform tool so you can stretch/squish the letters…

Double-click on the text layer thumbnail “T” again and change the font color to red.

  1. Select the Background layer
  2. Add an adjustment layer Solid Color … set it to any light color for now.
  3. Delete the Background layer.

Lines

Select the Line tool and set it to the same light color as the background; set the thickness to 10-15 px.

Add 2-3 lines from outside the edge to outside the other edge of a letter so you have 5-6 chunks/pieces for photos.

You should have 2-3 lines in your Layers panel…

Merged Copy

CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to create a merged copy. Rename the layer.

Hide all the other layers you have and have the merged layer active…

Select the Wand tool and click on the white area on this layer…

Delete

Then CTRL+D to get rid of the selection.

Photos Folder

  1. Make sure no layers are selected/active (click in empty area of the Layers panel).
  2. Then click on the group icon to add a folder at the top.
  3. Rename it “photos”.
  1. CTRL+click on the layer thumbnail for the merged layer – this will select everything in the merged layer.
  1. Make sure the photos folder is active and add a layer mask

First Photo

Step 1: Paste Picture

Have the photo folder layer active, then paste in a photo. Rename the photo to something appropriate.

Step 2: Resize & Position

With the photo layer active, CTRL+T to resize/move it so it’s in one of the sections. Relink the transform tool so the photos stay proportional.

Step 3: Select Area on Merged Layer

Select the Wand Tool.

Make the merged layer active and click on the area you want to have that photo showing…

Step 4: Add Mask on Photo Layer

Make the photo layer active and add layer mask.

You should now see the photo only in that area.

Next Photo

  1. Add another photo. Rename the layer.
  1. CTRL+T and move it into a section area.
  1. Then select the merged layer, click in the area with the Magic Wand tool.
  1. Select the photo layer again and add a layer mask.

More Photos

Repeat these steps for more photos:

  1. Paste in a picture – rename the layer
  2. CTRL+T to resize/position
  3. Make the merged layer active and select the area with the Wand Tool.
  4. Select the photo layer and add layer mask.

When you’re done, collapse the photos folder…

Hide the merged layer (then you will no longer see the little bit of original text).

Layer Styles

Make the photo folder layer active and add layer style…

Choose Drop Shadow.

  1. Reset to default
  2. Opacity: increase to about 70%
  3. Distance: increase to about 20 px
  4. Size: increase to about 20 px
  1. Don’t close the window, go up and check/select Inner Shadow.
  2. Set to default.
  3. Then click OK to close the window.

Your photos folder should now look like this…

And your letters should look something like this…

Paper Texture

Click on the paper photo below and copy the full-size image.

Paste it in and CTRL+T to resize it to fill the canvas. Rename the layer to “paper”

Change the layer blend mode to Multiply, reduce opacity to 50%.

You should now have something like this…

Photos used in example…