Place A Photo Or Image Inside Text In Photoshop

Place An Image In Text In Photoshop

Learn Photoshop With Text Effects Tutorials At Photoshop Essentials.com

Step 11: Drag The Text Layer Below "Layer 1"

Now that we have our text the way we want it, we need to move the type layer below the text in the Layers palette. Click on the text layer, then simply drag it down below "Layer 1". You'll see a thick black line appear between "Layer 1" and "Layer 2":

Dragging the type layer down below 'Layer 1' in the Layers palette. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: Drag the type layer below "Layer 1".

Release your mouse button when the black line appears to drop the type layer into place between "Layer 1" and "Layer 2":

The type layer now appears below 'Layer 1' in the Layers palette.  Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: The type layer now appears between "Layer 1" and "Layer 2".

Step 12: Select "Layer 1" Again

Click once again on "Layer 1" in the Layers palette to select it:

Selecting 'Layer 1' in the Layers palette. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: The type layer now appears between "Layer 1" and "Layer 2".

The text will temporarily disappear inside the document window now that the image on "Layer 1" is blocking it from view.

Step 13: Create A Clipping Mask

To create the illusion that the photo is inside the text, we need to use a clipping mask. This will "clip" the photo on "Layer 1" to the text on the layer directly below it. Any areas of the photo that appear directly above the letters will remain visible in the document. The rest of the photo will disappear from view.

With "Layer 1" selected in the Layers palette, go up to the Layer menu at the top of the screen and choose Create Clipping Mask:

Creating a clipping mask in Photoshop.  Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: Go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask.

If we look in the document window, we can see that the photo now appears to be inside the text:

The photo now appears inside the text in Photoshop. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: The photo now appears inside the letters.

Step 14: Add A Drop Shadow (Optional)

To complete my effect, I'm going to add a drop shadow to the letters. If you want to follow along, first select the type layer in the Layers palette, then click on the Layer Styles icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:

Clicking on the Layer Styles icon in Photoshop. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: Select the type layer, then click on the Layer Styles icon.

Select Drop Shadow from the list of layer styles that appears:

Selecting a drop shadow layer style in Photoshop. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: Select the Drop Shadow layer style.

This brings up Photoshop's Layer Style dialog box set to the Drop Shadow options in the middle column. I'm going to leave most of the options alone, but I'll lower the Opacity of the drop shadow down to about 60% so it's not quite so intense, and I'll set the Angle of the drop shadow to 120°:

The Drop Shadow options in the Layer Style dialog box in Photoshop. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: The Layer Style dialog box displaying the options for the Drop Shadow.

Click OK when you're done to apply the drop shadow an exit out of the Layer Style dialog box. Here is my final "image in text" effect:

Photoshop image in text effect. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Photoshop Image In Text: The final "image in text" effect.

And there we have it!

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