[center]This tutorial will show you how to make your text fit to an uneven surface using the Displace filter.

Here's a screenshot of our final output.



Note, that the text actually looks like it was part of the original surface prior to being "crumpled."

When it comes to the Displace filter, I'm an absolute newbie. So, I won't even pretend to baffle you with my "knowledge"; however, I can tell you that the displace filter uses a layer (a.k.a Displacement Map) to move (displace) pixels on another layer based on color. From what I've read, black, white, and gray images work best as displacement maps, but you can utilize color. This will give our images an appearance of depth....similar to the Bump Map filter.

For this example, I will be utilizing this image, which was created using Sonmica's "Making Crumpled Paper" tutorial, which can be found here: http://www.gimptalk.com/topic.php?a=v&t=2140&f=14



Noclayto also has a similar tutorial on "Foil Paper" here: http://www.gimptalk.com/topic.php?a=v&t=329&f=8

I recommend you that make your own surface to follow along with. But, if you don't have time (or are just really lazy :w:) you can download my blank image and open it in GIMP.

The first thing we need to do is add a text layer:

[*]Double-click your text tool (looks like a large capital "T").
[*]Set the font color to black (you can use other colors, but until you get used to the technique, please stick with black)
[*]Click anywhere on the crumpled paper image and add your text.
[*]Use your "Move Layers & Selections" tool (4-headed arrow) to position the text as you want it.

This is my result:



Notice that there is a dashed box around your text. This is the current size of your text layer. For the Displace" filter to work, we have to make it the same size as the background layer. This is very important. If you don't do this step, the "Displace" filter will not work.

[*]To resize, go to Layer | Layer to Image Size.... menu option. Here's a graphic to assist you:



Here's where the magic begins!

[*]Go to Filters | Map | Displace



[*]Make sure you set the dropdowns in both the X Displacement / Y Displacement sections to the paper layer. In our example, the background is the Displacement Map. For the purposes of this example, my background is called "crumpled_paperStep1.jpg/Background copy - 393". Yours will not have the same name. Choose the appropriate background layer
[*]Notice my X / Y Displacement settings are 0 (zero) & 5, respectively. This is what happens to work for my tastes in this particular example. Try my settings for now and then experiment on your own later.



[*]Now, set your text layer blend mode like so:



Again, these settings are what looks good to me. You could easily set your blend mode to normal and lower the opacity as you want, but this is what I'm using for the example. I also used a blend mode to accentuate how the text fits to the surface. Ink probably wouldn't show the paper behind it, but you get the idea.

Here's my final result:


How did you do?

You can use the displace filter to move things other than text, but I just wanted to get our feet wet with some lettering!

Suggestions, comments and criticisms are always welcome. Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Keep on GIMPing![/center]

Art

Excellent havent seen any one do a tut for this yet.
Thanks!

Very well designed tut!

awesome ! definitely trying this when i get home xD

thanks for the tut i tried to use displace before and couldn't work out how to work it

yaaay ...

My finished product!

Though i followed instructions on the foil paper tutorial it still doesnt look right to me, though that could be because of how old my monitor is (10 years of age) but heres how mine turned out (yes i added a white lining which can be done by clicking the text layer and select alpha to selection and do another layer and fill it with desired color and then merge the font layer down and then grow the selection by 1px and then ctrl+i, ctrl+k, ctrl+shift+a) only added the white lining because i couldnt really see my font so well o.O:



Edit: this image was done for a tutorial i made that can be found here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/25694269/

sorry to double post but heres another one i did not intending to do a foil look:


Edit: Btw I really liked the effect that both these tuts have, its alot better then using the filter in PS to make your drawling look like that in my opinion...cant remember what the filter is called o.O

when i tried it it wouldnt let me swich to the background layer when i was displacing it

Please slow down and reread the tutorial. There's a very important step that's highlighted that you skipped right over.

ok sry bout that it worked great this time

fencepost is it ok if i post this tutorial on my site? ill give you full credit and put a link back here

Sure, but if you plan on using my images, please download and save them to your own site first and link to those images instead. That will help reduce the drag on my bandwidth. Thanks for asking. :w:

Art

ok ill make sure i do that

Hey Fencepost,
Awesome tut! I love the way it works and ease of use.

Thanx Again!!!

Greg

No, problem. When I figured out what was actually going on, it immediately became one of my favorite filters! Really gives things an added realism, doesn't it?! :l: Unfortunately, these types of tutorials get passed right over because they generally aren't part of the "IN" thing.

I can't say that it taught me anything new, but I can say that it's given me a GREAT idea!

See, this can be used for anything, and I think it'd look great - particularly with the grain merge layer settings - with a faded watercolour on the crinkled paper.

Cheers.

Well, not everyone is as advanced as you are and for those of us that aren't it's all about sharing ideas. I learned something one day and shared it with the group.

I'm trying to use this technique to make crinkled paper. So what I've done is made the "foil" layer and I have another layer that resembles lined paper. Both of the layers are "Layered to Image Size". This is where I start to have problems. Can anyone help please? I've been trying to do it with the "Displace" filter.

Thanks,
-Ir0n

Wow, awesome tutorial. Especially because it's so easy and gives such a delicious result. Here's mine:

umm fencepost I can't see any hihglighted text or anything that is highlighted so whats the important spep iam missing?and I am having the same problem.