How to Carve Letters into a Wall

• 1). Open an image of a stone or a brick wall. Double-click on the image in the Layers Palette and rename it "Wall." If the Layers Palette is not visible, click Window > Layers. Depending on your original image, you may have to crop it in order to create a stone or brick small enough to carve. Choose the "Crop" tool from the Toolbar or by clicking "C." Crop the wall so that only a few blocks are visible. Make sure there is one large block in the center of your image. To do this using the "Crop" tool, click on your image and, while holding down the mouse button, drag the arrow diagonally. When you have the approximate size you want, release the mouse button.
  
  
• 2). Fine-tune your selection by clicking and dragging the boundary boxes. Click "Enter" to finalize your cropping. If you're not satisfied with the results, click Control > Z to undo and try again.
  
  
• 3). Duplicate the "Wall" layer by dragging it to the New Layer icon in the Layer Palette. It will automatically be named "Wall Copy 1."
  
  
• 4). Set your foreground color to black by clicking "D." Choose the "Text" tool from the Toolbar or by clicking "T." Choose your text font using the drop-down box at the top of your workplace. Use a large, heavy font. Click on the image and type your text. Resize the text by choosing the "Move" tool from the toolbar or by clicking "M." Drag the corner bounding boxes to resize. Center your text on the block you want to "carve" by clicking on the text. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the text into position.
  
  
• 5). Select your text in the Layer Palette with Control > Click on the "Text" layer. Click on the "eye" on the "Text" layer to hide it. You will see "marching ants" where your text used to be. Invert your selection by clicking Select > Inverse or Shift > Control > I.
  
  
• 6). Click on the "Wall Copy 1" layer in the Layer Palette to make it active. Hit the "Backspace" key to remove all but the letters from the "Wall Copy 1" layer. You won't see anything happen because it is a copy of the layer below it. Click Control > D to deselect.
  
  
• 7). Set your foreground color to "White" by clicking "X." Choose Edit > Stroke (Outline). In dialogue box, set the width to one pixel and "Inside." Click "OK." You'll now see your text outlined on the "Wall Copy 1" layer.
  
  
• 8). Open the "Effects" window by choosing Window > Effects. In drop-down box, choose "Inner Shadow." Choose "Low" and click "Apply." Click Control > L to open the "Levels" dialogue box. Slide the white "Output" arrow to the left until you obtain the look you desire.
  
  
• 9). Click File > Save As. Choose "JPEG" in the dialogue box. Name your image and click "OK."