This is another action that I have from the Visual Reference page that I have received quite a bit of email on asking me when I would post it.  So, here it is, The Water Action. (Funny, nobody ever asked about the Peanut Butter and Crackers Action.  Must not be a big demand for that look, I guess.)  Anyway, there are actual many techniques for doing water and other transparent surfaces, but I found this one the easiest to put into an action.  Again this one uses most of the same stock Photoshop filters and techniques that can be found in many of the actions posted on this site.  This one uses Guassian Blur and Levels to smooth and round out the letters and droplets, Curves to created the shinny look, Plastic Wrap for a few added specular highlights and Pinch to warp the background under the letters.  The letter object is then blended to the background using the Hard Light mode.

A better way to warp the background is to create a duplicate version of your original, blur it quite a bit and save it as a .PSD file.  Then use it as a displacement map for either the Glass or Displace filters.  It creates a nice bend around the letters that emulates the refraction of light you would see with water or shaped glass.  There are detailed instructions for doing this in the Photoshop 5.5 WOW! book.  If you don't own it, I highly recommend it.

To start this one out, you will need to add a few drops and drips to your letters to enhance the final image.  Here is my original.  I just used a round brush to create the water droplets.  You don't have to be too neat, everything will get smoothed out.  If you click on the reduced version of the original at the right, you can view and download the larger version. Use it to try out the action on and make sure you get the same results as above.  When you are finished running the action, you will need to add a few more glares and highlights.  Again, I just used a round brush with white, and topped off a few of the highlights with the sparkle brush from the assorted brushes that came with Photoshop.  There are more details on doing this in the Chrome and Gold Action.  You can also experiment with colors like the one used in the Kool-Aid spill below.  (Having kids, I've seen that one a lot!)

Be sure to experiment with different words, different sizes, different shapes and see how it works.  We hope you enjoy these actions.  Email Us or sign our Guest Book and let us know what you think.  Send us some of your final images.  Have Fun!!

The Usual Disclaimer
These actions are created for 72dpi images only and are only guaranteed to work in Photoshop 5.5.  They were also created on a PC, not a MAC. (Please, no more hate mail from MAC users, I like PCs, I'm sorry!)  If you wish to create these effects for a higher resolution, you will need to tear the action apart and redo the steps.