Adobe Photoshop has some effective tools for working with type and to a degree can be used to put full graphical documents together - including formatted text and images.
This particular task is just using type very simply - as a 'mask' for images to create a graphic effect:
When c reating a new blank image, you should try and work out what your final image requirements will be, bearing in mind that you can alter the overall image size later. Use the menu command FILE > NEW to open the New image dialogue.
For this image
you will need to start with the following parameters:
Width 1800 pixels, Height 500 pixels, resolution 200 pixels per inch, background White.
Use the 'Name' box to put a meaningful name in for your image (i.e. 'Family') - this will be helpful when you save it.
The rest of this task follows a series of similar steps as follows:
First, type the first character to use for the montage. Click on the Type tool (T) and then set the text parameters you want to use. for this task choose a 'chunky' typeface (i.e. Arial Black, Franklin Gothic Heavy), set the point size to around 210 and make sure the text colour is going to be black (check the 'swatch' on the properties toolbar).
Click on the left of the image and type a capital T.
Once you have the letter, you can move it using the Move tool.
Now you need to open the frst image. Click here for the image and download in the usual way.
The 'mask' for the letter shape has to be created manually:
First use the Magic Wand tool on the type layer, which will select the white pixels, then use the 'SELECT > INVERSE' command to get the letter shape. Turn OFF the type layer and add a new layer.
Then copy the first image (use SELECT > SELECT ALL then EDIT > COPY).
Now return to your montage and with the new layer selected, use the command EDIT > PASTE INTO.This will put the image into the letter 'shape'. Use the Move tool to fine tune the placing.
The rest of the montage is now built up by repeating the following sequence of actions:
Make sure you are on the topmost layer. Select the type tool and type the next letter. (Photoshop remembers the type settings).
Use the magic wand to select the letter shape. Use Inverse to get the shape only. Note that with the 'A' you are going to have to 'remove' the inside of the letter (arrowed) by using the Magic wand tool again, making sure that the 'subtract from selection' button (circled) is selected. Add a new layer
Open the next image, copy it and use Paste Into to put it inside the shape. Adjust.
The rest of the Family images can be downloaded from these links:
Family Two, Family Three, Family Four, Family Five, Family Six
The resources for this montage have been preprepared to work well in terms of images sizes, resolutions andson on. If you are planning your own montages you should give careful consideration to:
The physical dimensions of the final image you are aiming to produce, then:
Creating or resizing your resources images to a suitable size before starting the final montage. That way there will be less work involved trying to create the finished item.