How to Make SE7EN

The effect is commonly a mix of a simple type face, blurred, distorted and mangled.

In this tutorial we are going to cover the basics, clearly the point of this style is that no two sections should appear the same, so each time you use this sequence you need to do it slightly differently.

Step 1:

1. Create a new image, 500 x 300, 64M colours. This is quite large, but we need a reasonable work area. We will shrink it down when we get to the end. All the examples here have already been shrunk to 50% of the original size
2. Fill the background with black.
3. Set the foreground colour to white.
4. Create a new layer and call it text.
5. Select the text tool, you want a fairly clear and bold font, in this example I have used Verdana. It needs to be fairly large, this is 48pt.
6. Don't forget, for that truly authentic look, swap the V for a 7. Actually, this was a really brilliant stroke of genius, subtle yet brilliantly effective. I wish I could have ideas like that.
7. Deselect the text (Ctrl-D) and you have a two layer image, black on the background and white text on the foreground.
   

Step 2:

1. Now, the text layer selected, copy the layer (Ctrl-C), repaste this layer as three new layers (Ctrl-L three times).
2. Now we are going to work from the bottom layer upwards positioning each layer.
3. Start with the bottom layer and move it down and to the left.
4. Then the second layer needs to move up and right.
5. The final two layers need to be positioned directly over each other.
6. Doesn't look much yet I know...

Step 3:

1. Now, select the lower most text layer (text is bottom left).
2. Select motion blur, apply it with 216 degree angle strength 28
3. Then, select the next layer (text is top right).
4. Apply motion blur again, only at 106 degrees, strength 20.

Step 4:

1. Now, select the next layer up, text is centred here.
2. Select motion blur, apply it with 90 degree angle, strength 40.
3. You may well want to apply this more than once, I've applied it four times in this example.
4. We're getting closer, but now we need to do a little more finishing.

Step 5:

1. Firstly, I want to change the position of some of the text and I also want to deform it a little more.
2. Using the Deformation tool I can reposition and shape at the same time
3. By holding down the Control key when I move the mouse over a corner I can apply a perspective deform. If I hold down the Shift key, I can apply a shear deform. I use a little of both on the text top right and also drop it down a little so it sits behind the main text.
4. It is now a little strong and bright against the main text, so I apply a strong Gaussian Blur (strength 4.0) and fade the opacity of the layer down to 70%
5. On the text lower left I just drop the opacity to 80%.
6. These shifts in opacity lend some depth to image also.
7. Finally, on the blurred, but centred text, I apply the same gaussian blur

Step 6:

1. We are very nearly there, but we need to add a little bit of "distress" to it.
2. Add a new layer to work in.
3. First we will add a few horizontal lines (they must be thin, white and parallel). Use the shift key while drawing lines to ensure the lines are constrained and parallel.
4. Then I've added a sort of scratch and a little circle.
5. Finally I've applied blur - you can vary this to taste.
6. When all is done, crop and resize to the size and shape you want. Don't worry if you cut off part of the text, that is part of the look.

Variations

1. Choice of font can be quite crucial here
2. Our first variation above uses the font "Hackers".
3. Second variation is using the font Typographers Upright, being a more precise font I have not pushed the "grunginess". I have also applied a orange layer above all the text and set the layer mode to "colour" to give the golden glow effect.