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 Fig 1 

1. Create a new image:  
RGB, 100% White background, 300 pixels, 300 dpi



2. Change the Paint colour to 100% Black.
Create a new text object “ICE” using Arial Black at 36 points.
Centre the Text object to the document.
Object > Arrange > Align and Distribute, or , then Center to Document

(Fig 1)


 Fig 2 

3. Apply a sand displacement effect
With the ICE text object still selected, from the menu choose Effects > Distort > Displace, or
Choose sand.pcx from the displacement map
drop down list and change:
Scale Mode = Tile
Scale Horizontal = 4
Scale Vertical = 4
Press OK

(Fig 2)


 Fig 3 

4. Add Noise to the text object
Effects > Noise > Add Noise, or
with the following parameters:
Noise Type = Uniform
Level = 70
Density = 50
Color Mode = Single
Color = white (0% black)

(Fig 3)


 Fig 4 

5. With the ICE text object selected,
toggle Lock Transparency ON
(click the Lock Transparency icon on either the Mask/Objects Toolbar or on the Objects Docker).

6. Apply a Gaussian Blur
Effects > Blur > Gaussian Blur, or
Radius = 8

(Fig 4)


 Fig 5a 


Fig 5b

7. Toggle the object’s
Lock Transparency OFF


8. Apply a Tone Curve to the ICE text object
Image > Adjust > Tone Curve, or

Use the image here to set up your tone curve
or you can download and load the tone curve
I used - click HERE (zipped file).

Figs 5a and 5b


 Fig 6

9. Apply a Wind Effect
Effects > Distort > Wind , or
Strength = 50
Opacity = 100
Angle = 270

(Fig 6)  



 Fig 7 

10. Combine the ICE text object
with the background
CTRL+SHIFT+Down
and then invert the image
Image > Transform > Invert,
CTRL+SHIFT+I or

(Fig 7)
 



 Fig 8 

11. Reapply the wind effect
to the combined background object
using the same parameters as for step 9

(Fig 8)


 Fig 9 

12. Select the Mask Wand tool, ( W or )
change the Color Similarity level
on the Property Bar to 2,
then click on the black background
of the image to select the black background.

13. Force the mask to surround
all black areas using the Similar command
Mask > Mask Outline> Similar (Vers. 11+)
Mask > Shape > Similar (Vers. 8-10), or
then Invert the mask
Mask > Invert, CtrL+SHIFT+I or

Fig 9.


 


14. Copy the selection
Edit > Copy, CTRL+C, or
then Paste it
Edit > Paste > Paste As New Object, CTRL+V, or
to create a new object.
Select the new object in the Object Docker.

15. Remove the Mask
Mask > Remove, CTRL+SHIFT+R, or

 


 Fig 10 

16. Apply an ICE Bump Map
Effects > Custom > Bump Map or
Select Ice from the Style drop down list.

Press the Reset button
to reset any previous changes,
then click on the Lighting Tab
and change the Declination to 60,
deselect the Auto Compute Brightness checkbox
and change the Ambient Light Brightness to 75
Press OK

(Fig 10)


 Fig 11 

17. With the ICE object still selected, adjust the Colour Balance
Image > Adjust > Color Balance, or

Deselect Highlights in the Range section
(so Shadows, Midtones and Preserve luninance are selected),
In the Color Channels section set:
Cyan-Red = -46
Magenta - Green = 0
Yellow - Blue = 53

(Fig 11)


 Fig 12 

18. Adjust the Gamma of the ICE object
Image > Adjust > Gamma, or
Gamma Value = 3.02

(Fig 12)


Now you could actually stop at this point
but here are some more steps to make
the effect even more interesting.


 Fig 13a


Fig 13b


Fig 13c


Fig 13d 

19. With the ICE object selected,
duplicate it (CTRL+D)
and select the duplicate (topmost) object.

20. Apply a Palette Knife Art Stroke
Effects > Art Strokes > Palette Knife, or
Click the Reset button on this dialogue box
then change the angle to 245.

21. Change the Merge Mode and Opacity of the top ICE object:

 

Fig 13 a: Mode = Subtract, Opacity = 40%

Fig 13 b: Mode =If Lighter, Opacity = 100%

Fig 13 c: Mode = Saturation, Opacity = 30%

Fig 13 d: Mode = Screen, Opacity = 90%

 

    


Fig 13e  




Other variations:
(Hints to obtain a white backgrounded object and other variations)

1. Fill the background with white, or
2. Convert the existing background into an object then create a new white-filled background.
3. Play around with the Merge Modes of all objects
4. Shift the positions of overlying objects by several pixels
5. Experiment with drop shadows/white glows around the objects.


Fig 14a 

 

     


Fig 14b 
 


Fig 14c 

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