How do you edit a standard font to suit your needs? I have a idea! This will be a step by step tutorial, and the first Tutorial I write here on d3signated.com. I used this simple technique on my logo text, so its fast and easy for me to use this as an example. Im sure you will be done with this Tutorial in a matter of minutes. None the less I hope you will take the time to get to know this little trick on: "How to edit the path of a font". since it has proven rather usefull to me on several occations, especially when working with logos.

Hope you enjoy.

Now in simple steps we will learn to manipulate regular fonts, and give them our own unique expression. In this Tutorial, I will assume you are familiar with the text tool.

I started by finding a nice font on dafont called Harabara. But any font will do.

Now open up Photoshop, and write some text. Then decide where to split the text into two! I decided on splitting up d3signated, between the letters g and n. The easiest way to do this is to create 2 text layers.
Your final result should look like the image below, the usual background layer and 2 layers with text.
As you can see, Ive moved one of my layers a bit up. To do this, select the Move Tool (V). And simply drag your element on stage. You can also use your arrows on the keyboard. (If you Hold down shift you move 10px instead of 1px)

Right Click on the top text layer, and select from the appearing menu: "Creat Work Path". You will se a light path around your text on stage.


Now locate your toolbox and find the Pen Tool (P). Click and hold on this Icon, and select from the appearing menu: "Convert Point Tool" wich is the last option.



The Pen Tool is the working tool for Paths. So we should now be able to select individual points in our text Path. To do this simply click on the Path, on the letter you wish to edit.


Now select the Point of intrest, and while holding Crtl down to Move, and Shift down for straight angles, you should be able to drag the point down.

(Ctrl + select point, to start dragging the point, then if you cannot get it straight, try holding Shift aswell)

To make this little font tweak perfect, we select the second point of intrest, indicated by the red line. Now only hold down Shift this time, then select the point, and move your cursor. You should be able to get it to look quite similar to this.

Next, we click on stage and a menu will appear, then choose: "Make selection". A popup, will appear, simply accept, with no changes.

We now have a selection, you could also have made it a mask or shape!

Make a new layer, and fill the selection with a color! 

Then delete the original text layer. And press Ctrl + D to Deselect.


Final image, with a simple gradient layer style. To achive the "3D" effect I copied the layer, gave it a black overlay color. And moved it below the other layer, then moved it 1px to the left and 1px down.

Having trouble? Please let me know!

Also, if you did the tutorial, please leave a review ;)

Care to share?