• Andy's Photoshop Tip #12 - Simple Emboss

  	Start with any background texture or color.
  	Click on the Channels Palette and create a new channel . In that new channel, create your image or type your text.
  	Once you have your image, click on the channel that you just made (#4) and drag it to the new channel icon . This will create a new channel. Now on the new channel, select all (CTRL +A) and using your arrow keys, move your selection over 1 pixel & down 1 pixel (You can also use 2 pixels if you want a deeper effect). Now repeat the last step by dragging that channel to the new channel icon. A third image will appear. Now select all and move that selection down and over like the last one.
  	Click on the RGB channel and go back to your background. Press (CTRL+ALT+5) to load your middle channel. Copy it (CTRL+C). Press (CTRL+ALT+6) to load your bottom channel and fill (SHIFT+F5) with 70% black (or any other color you want). Now press (CTRL+ALT+4) to load the top channel and fill with 70% white.
  	Now paste (CTRL+V) you middle section on top of the shadows. You may want to hide your selection (CTRL+H) to make sure it is exactly between the highlight & shadow. If it is not, use your arrow keys to move it to the right position.
  	If you want to create a more realistic emboss, while your selection is still floating go to IMAGE/ADJUST/LEVELS and move the white slider towards the middle and hit OK.
  	To create a carved look, follow this exactly except in step #4 fill the first selection with white and the second with black. In step #6, move the black slider towards the middle to make the selection darker instead of lighter. There you go!