How to Make a Text Portrait in Photoshop

Photo and Text Effects in Photoshop

There are many different types of text portrait effects you can create with Photoshop. We've already shown you how to use displacement maps with very long text to make a calligram. Today, you'll learn how to make another type of text portrait effect that will look great with a quote or full sentence.​

Before we begin, and if you want to follow this tutorial exactly as described, please download the following image from Unsplash: Download

What you'll be creating.

Step 1

Open the girl image in Photoshop.

Step 2

Using your preferred method make a selection of the girl. In this case I will use the Quick Selection Tool (W) because it is a simple selection.

Step 3

With the selection active go to Edit > Copy and then to Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place. Rename this layer to “Subject”.

Step 4

Again, go to Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place and rename this layer to “Sentence”.

Step 5

Place a guide in the middle of the document by dragging a guide from the vertical ruler to the middle of the document.
Note: if you do not have the rules visible, simply press Ctrl+R on your keyboard.

Step 6

Select the Type Tool (T). Click and drag to set a text box from the far left side of the subject to the center of the document.

Step 7

Choose your font family, set the text size, be sure to set the text alignment to the right and type your text.
Note: try to follow as close as possible the subject shape when typing your text.

Step 8

Hide the Text layer by clicking on the eye icon next to the layer’s name.

Step 9

Select the Background Layer and go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color. Name this layer as “Background Color” and click OK.

Step 10

Set the color of the “Background Color” layer to #7c817e.

Step 11

With the “Background Color” layer selected go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color. Name this layer as “Details” and click OK.

Step 12

Set the color of the “Details” layer to #ffffff and bring down the opacity to 45%

Step 13

Click on the “Subject” layer to make it the active layer and draw a rectangle using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) covering all the image from the right side to the middle of the document where we placed the guide.

Step 14

With the selection active click on the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel.

Step 15

Click on the “Sentence” layer to make it the active layer. Hold the Ctrl key and click on the “T” icon of the text layer.

Step 16

With the selection active click on the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel.

Step 17

Click on the “Details” layer to make it the active layer. Hold the Ctrl key and click on the “T” icon of the text layer.

Step 18

With the selection active click on the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel to finish the text portrait.

Some Final Notes

Depending on your image and the sentence you use, you may have to change a bit the colors to make the text readable, but that will be a very easy task because we have used Color Fill layers. Simply change the Background Color to your liking, and if you wish, also change the Details layer color and opacity for the final details.