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Ice text

by busTa - 13.06.2006

Step 1: Make the base

Start a New document with at least 500 x 200 pixels.
Make a background layer and fill it with black.
Now make a new layer, and type "I C E" with the spaces in size 36 or larger.
Now change the size of the spaces to half your font size, so if you have 36 pts, change the spaces to 18 pts.
You should have something like this.

Step 2: The color adjusting

Now, start a new color balance adjustment layer with the following settings:

Make sure "Preserve Luminosity" is unchecked.
Now move the color adjustment layer to the top, if it's not already at the top.

Step 3: The hard part

Merge the Text layer and the black layer.
Now go to Filters>Pixelate>Crystallize. Set the cell size to 1/5 th your font size, so if you have 36 size font, set it to 7.
Repeat the filter 7 times by pressing Ctrl+F.
You should have something like this.

Now set it to two sizes less than your first setting, so I'll use 5.
Repeat the filter 5 times.
You should get THIS.


Now set the filter to 3, no matter what your font size is.
Repeat that as many times as you want until you get the following effect.


Now you are basically done, but you can use a 2% smudge tool to refine the text so it looks more realistic.
Additional Recommended Effects:
2% smudge tool to get rid of touching parts of the text
1% scattering eraser tool (Define brush and set the scattering to 1000% and both axes) to make the text sort of glow and gives it a texture.
10 radial blur
Glowing edges on a duplicated layer and set it to lighten.
A 30 motion blur faded 50% at 90 degrees.
1% faded twirl at 900 degrees.

This is my final result:

For icicles: Rotate the image 90 degrees CCW, wind from the left, rotate 90 degrees CW.