Every once in a while, late at night, when your sitting in front of your computer and you just finished your 1300th flat text treatment with a drop shadow for a fairly large project, you find yourself in need of something different.  Something that makes no sense at all.  Something so useless, you no you'll never have a need for it in your entire career as a graphic designer.  That's when, at 4:00am, you open up a new document in PhotoShop, slap down the word 'TEST' in some bizarre font that you've never found a practical use for, and start clicking away at every filter you can get your dirty little mouse pointer on.

That's where this action comes in.  It's called The Plaster Action.  Yes, I know it doesn't look like plaster.  I'm not quite sure what it looks like.  But that was the whole point.  The only reason it's even called the plaster action at all, is because it actually uses the plaster filter.  Not a filter you use every day.  It's one of those filters that you see the output of in those PhotoShop books, you know the ones where they run every filter on the same photograph and then proudly display the horrifying results side by side in little thumbnail images spread out on about 30 of the most useless pages of the book, and you think 'Holy Crap!! Why the Hell would I ever want to do that.'  Yep, the plaster filter isn't one that jumps out at you as being very useful.  And for the most part, I've found that it really isn't.  Neither is the ocean ripple or photocopy filters for that matter.  But, I did manage to use all three of them in this one effect.  (Did I mention the fact that I don't sleep much?)  The plaster filter itself is kind of like a shinny cross between the the emboss and lighting effects filters.

Anyway, here is the final result of The Plaster Action.  There are actually a few useful little tidbits in this one.  Distressing type is always good for a laugh when your looking for something different.  Also, the use of the lighting effects filter with a relief channel comes in handy once in a while.  There's a good technique in this one for spreading and choking your alpha channels, (that doesn't sound very good, does it?) to create multiple layer effects.  I also included a quick way to turn a one color (besides black) graphic into a black and white image that can be used as a mask to make clean selections from.  You'll notice my original was a light blue text on a white background.

Again, a few disclaimers before we start.  This is only guaranteed to work in PhotoShop 5.5.  72dpi only.  You will want to use a fairly heavy text.  And, you will want to start out with the same size image I created the action with.  you can always try out different sizes later.  This was created with an 8x5 inch, 72dpi document with a white background.  The type face is Lithograph, bold, about 110 points, crisp anti-aliasing.  Give yourself plenty of room on all sides for that spreading and choking we talked about earlier.

Download the Plaster Action here and load it into your Actions Palette.  Consult that dusty PhotoShop manual under your desk for help on loading actions if you need it.  Highlight Plaster Action from the list of actions and click play.

Try it on some of your more decorative fonts for an interesting effect.  I used one called Jokerman for the indigo image.

As always, Give it a try.  Pick it apart.  Try some different variations of your own.  Email Us or sign our Guest Book and let us know you're thoughts.  Have Fun.  And for God's Sake, Get Some Sleep!!!