Photoshop text editing question

I got Photoshop CS3 and I have two questions:

Can anybody tell me how to get the text to be editable and formable, so you can make like graffiti and stuff?

And how do you get text to be like a mask over a picture, so you can see the picture trough the writing?

I knew how to do these two but I forgot...

The trick about masking also works at Photoshop CS(1). DeFlanko explained it well.

Graffiting? Do you want the text to become a vector art so that you can drag each of the points and change the letters? I'm seeing a way. Using the pen tool to draw over the letters and create vectorial shapes that cover the letters. then you can delete the letters and now you have full control.

Another idea: You can select the edges of the letters by doing Control+click at the T layer. And then you may transform your selection: channels tab - make work path from selection.

Or did you mean, graffiti fonts? You can get lots of them at places like www.dafont.com

Thank very much for the help. I appreciate it.

I believe CS3 actually has a tool somewhere to convert text directly to a vector mask. Even if that wasn't possible, you could simply select the text (ctr+click on the layer preview) and stroke it with a line, then vector that.

How would you convert the stroke into a vector?

I could not get you as regarding Graffiti and stuff. What do you want actually, something like this?

If so then I can answer you. But, first be specific. Smile

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