Our First Trowel Strokes

Our first strokes with the trowel will give our title some depth. We are going to use the Emboss filter for this:

1. Duplicate the Text layer, then call this new layer Text Copy and place it above the Mortar layer.
   
   
2. Select Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and apply a Radius of 3 pixels.
   
   
3. Select Filter > Stylize > Emboss and apply the following settings: Angle 135°, Height 3, Amount 90.
   
   


Figure 2: The Emboss filter, to give some depth to your text.


4. Set the Text Copy layer mode to Hard Light.
   
   
5. Select Layer > Merge Down.
   
   


Figure 3: The mortar is starting to take shape.

Your title is starting to gain depth. The next step is the creation of the mortar between the text bricks, which will give your text its form.