Creating "Photo Letters" in Photoshop

I created the cover page for our Walt Disney World album in Photoshop CS. The layout idea is scraplifted from a two-page layout by Tricia Kennedy that is published in the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of scrapbooks etc. magazine. I loved the clean, simple design and use of "extra" photos to create part of the title.


STEP 1
Open a new layout. Size as desired. Mine is 8"x8" at 300 pixels.

STEP 2
Type the text you would like to change to photo letters. Adjust the font and size as desired.


STEP 3
Change the opacity of the text layer so that you will be able to "see" your images as you locate them.

STEP 4
Create new layers below the text layer for your images. One image per layer will allow you more flexibility it shifting the images.

STEP 5
Open an image you would like to use. Resize it as needed. Copy/paste into one of your image layers in your layout. Use the Move tool to locate the image where you would like it. For example, I shifted the photo of Mike Wazowski so the pupil of his eye would be visible.

STEP 6
After the images are arranged how you want them, merge the image layers together.


STEP 7
Return the opacity on the text layer to 100%. Then, move the image layer above the text layer.


STEP 8
Select the image layer so that it is highlighted. Now, hold down the CTRL key while pressing the G key. You will notice a little bent arrow next to the layer image in the Layers Manager.


This action creates a clipping mask using your text as the mask. This is the result:

Note: I added a black background to the last image for easier viewing. :)