Photoshop Tutorial: How to Digitize Your Hand Lettering

Learn how to transform your analog hand lettering into digital works of art in this free beginner's tutorial with Rich Tu

There are many different ways to create beautiful hand lettering, whether it’s through digital or analog means. But certain effects can only be achieved when you combine both.

Rich Tu (@richtu) is an award-winning Filipino-American artist based in New York. He has worked for both MTV and Nike, as well as collaborating with big brands such as The New Yorker, Coca-Cola, and Adidas, to name a few. His bright and colorful illustrations often contain bold lettering styles that create eye-catching images.

In this tutorial, Rich will teach you how to take your lettering from the page to the screen using Photoshop. Check out the video below...

1. Transfer your photos to Photoshop

Firstly, write out your lettering on paper. Make a variety of marks, shapes, and lettering styles. Then, using a camera (this can be a mobile phone camera) take photos of the words, letters, and marks, and upload them to Photoshop.

2. Arrange your words and letters

Use the Lasso tool to cut the words and marks you like, putting each mark into a new file. Then, creating a new layer, lay out your words and marks as if you were going to scan them.

3. Make your letters and marks black and white

Use the Eyedropper tool and make the entire page as similar color as possible to the paper the marks are written on. Once you have done that, go to Image > Mode > Grayscale > Discard Color Information.

Then, go to your levels and contrast the letters as dramatically as possible. Using the Masking tool, select the marks and letters you would like to use for your final lettering project, and add these to a new layer.

4. Arrange your lettering and edit

Make sure your letters and marks are converted into Smart Objects so you can move them about easily, and then start arranging your designs.

You can edit the shape of your letters by using the Warp Tool. Play around with colors, layers, and effects, until you're happy with the final design.

Did you enjoy this tutorial? If you want to learn how to create bold, colorful lettering through a variety of special effects, check out Rich Tu’s course, Vibrant Lettering: Find Your Style Through Pop Culture.

Learn more about lettering and design

Explore all of Domestika's online lettering courses, and read on for more brilliant resources to improve your lettering projects...

1. Learn everything from the basics of your first pen strokes to ideas for experimenting with different styles with these free lettering and calligraphy tutorials for beginners.

2. Find the perfect app to turn your tablet into a blank page and learn the art of calligraphy and hand-lettering with these must-try calligraphy and lettering apps for iPad.

3. Whether you're a lettering artist or a designer, take practical steps to incorporate good habits into your creative routine and unlock the secret to motivation with these ten tips to become a successful creative .