Step One: In this edition of the tutorial section, we show you how to use Adobe PhotoShop to make die cut text. This effect attempts to make the text look as though it is cut out of the top layer. We assume you have a basic knowledge of the application to achieve this effect.

Step Two: Fill your background with a gradient. To do this, pick two or more colors you wish to use, and use the Gradient tool to drag from one point to another. We have only used 2 colors for this example.

Step Three: Now, make a duplicate copy of your gradient layer. You can do this by going into the layer palette and selecting make duplicate layer, or use the keyboard shortcut. On the Mac press Option Command J all at the same time, on the PC, press Control Alt J. This makes a duplicate layer of the one your currently on.

Step Four: Use the text tool, and create some large text. Make sure it is bold enough for the effect to be be visible. In our example, we made the text height 200 points. (This layer will need to be turned off, it is to be used as a mask only).

Step Five: Now we need to use the text as a mask. To do this, simply select the text layer and Command Click on the Mac, or Control Click on the PC. This will load the layer as a selection. Now go back to the duplicate gradient layer and hit the mask icon located on the bottom of the layer palette.

Step Six: Now, it is time to add effects to the duplicate grad layer with the text mask. Go to the Menu, Layer, Effects, and add the following; an inner shadow, bevel and emboss, and lastly a drop shadow, but this needs to be white. Change the transfer mode of the drop to overlay. This will highlight the edge of your text.

Step Seven: We need to create another gradient, this one being a simple black to white gradient. We will once again use our text as a mask layer. Load the text as a selection as previously described. Then, load the selection as a mask using the mask icon on the layers palette of the gradient layer.

Step Eight: Notice our grad layer is now die cut to the text mask, but this is not the effect we want. What we are going to do here, is change the layers transfer mode to Multiply. Multiply only adds dark values, so the white will become transparent and the black will simply darken our text. We also changed the layers opacity to 70 percent so some of the blue comes through the darker areas.

Step Nine: Now our effect is complete. The text appears to be cut out of the gradient layer. We encourage you to try variations on these techniques. You will be amazed at the wonderful things you can create using Adobe PhotoShop.

Step Ten: Here we have the finished effect. We hope you find these tutorials informative and fun.