Tutorial: Wire Words
by Meryl Bartho

Screenshots are Photoshop CS.

Wire Words are always an attractive addition to a scrapbook page, and really are so easy to make.

The first task is to find a good font to use - we usually use a font where the letters “join up” although why not experiment and try some others? CK Cursive is always my favourite, I’ve seen CK Script mentioned as good too.

My favourite way of making wire words is with Layer Styles in Photoshop, they can also be made using Eye Candy – as far as I know 3.1 is available as a free download on the Internet.

I will do as a layer style – the advantages of using a layer style:
• Your text remains editable – if you want to correct spelling, go in and make another word, it is as easy as retyping the word.
• Once the style is saved it is simply a one click to apply it to any future projects you may have in mind – why stop at words for wire? Wire elements like dragonflies are so popular – easy to make your own.

1. Make a new document with a white background – this can be any size you like but for now make it 10 in wide x 5 ins deep.

2. Click on the Type tool, select your font, font size & colour in the Options bar (see screenshot) and type a word you would like to make into wire– why not practice with your first name?
I have used:
Font: CK Cursive
Size: 72 (if you make it big you can always reduce in size)
Anti-aliasing: Smooth (you can experiment with the other settings depending on your type)
Colour: Grey (R: 125 G: 125 B: 125 #808080)

3. Double click on the layer to access the layer Styles Palette click on each in turn:
Drop Shadow
Leave all the settings as default except:
Distance: 7 px
Size: 6px

Bevel & Emboss
Leave all the settings as default except:
Depth 120%

Colour Overlay
Leave all the settings as default except:
Colour – set this to a pale grey (I used R:212 G:210 B: 212 # D4D2D2)
Blend Mode: Overlay

Gradient Overlay
Leave all the settings as default except:
Blend Mode: Screen

And there you are – your wire word name is complete! At this stage it is a good idea to save this style so that you have it ready next time you want to do a wire word. After it is saved, depending on the font you have chosen you may like to go back & tweak the settings a bit to get exactly the effect you are after.