Pixel Text

0) Make a new file (File > New...), with options "Mode: RGB Color" and "Contents: Transparent." I made it 320x240.

1) Fill the layer with black (Paint Bucket Tool).

Method A

2) Make a type mask of the desired text (Horizantal Type Mask Tool). I used Andalus, 96 pt.

3) Fill the type mask with the bright color of your choice (Edit > Fill...). I used 0066FF.

4) Deselect the text (Select > Deselect).


Method B

2) Select a bright color (Set Foreground Color). I used 0066FF.

3) Make a type layer of the desired text (Horizantal Type Mask Tool). I used Andalus, 96 pt.


4) Rasterize the type layer (Layer > Rasterize > Type).

5) Use the Mosaic filter (Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic...) with settings "Cell Size: 4."


6) Use the Find Edges filter (Filter > Stylize > Find Edges).


7) Invert the colors (Image > Adjustments > Invert).


8) And, as always... experiment!

Energy Text

Yes, I number my steps in hex code. Got a problem with that?

0) Make a new file (File > New...), with options "Mode: RGB Color" and "Contents: Transparent." I made it 320x240.

1) Fill the layer with black (Paint Bucket Tool).

2) Make a type mask of the desired text (Horizantal Type Mask Tool). I used Andalus, 96 pt.

3) Fill the type mask with the bright color of your choice (Edit > Fill...). I used 0066FF.

4) Deselect the text (Select > Deselect).



5) Use the Wind filter (Filter > Stylize > Wind...) with settings "Method: Wind" and "Direction: From the Right."

6) Rotate the canvas 90 degrees clockwise (Image > Rotate Canvas > 90 CW).



7) Repeat steps 5 and 6 three times



8) Use the Glowing Edges filter (Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges...) with settings "Edge Width: 1" (or 2 if your text is pariticularly large), "Edge Brightness: 8," and "Smoothness: 6."



9) Make a new layer (Layer > New > Layer...).

A) Fill the new layer with a brighter color than the text. For example, if you used a medium or light blue, like I did, try moving a bit in the direction of cyan.

B) Set the blending mode of this new layer to "Overlay."



C) If you'd like more highlights, repeat steps A and B as desired with progressively brighter colors in the family, and halving the opacity each time.



D) If you want the text and effect on one layer, merge the overlay layer down onto the text layer (Layer > Merge Down).

E) If you want the text layer on top of another layer, make sure you've followed step D, then set the blending mode to "Screen."



F) And, as always... Experiment!