A movie poster doesn't live on its image alone, but above all on its typography. With the right fonts, suitable tracking and a few targeted layer masks, a simple portrait becomes a poster with real cinematic character. That's exactly what I'll show you in this tutorial, using an image in the style of "The Punisher" as an example. You'll learn where to find free fonts, how to use them in Photoshop and which settings to use to combine text and image.
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This tutorial assumes that your image has already been cut out and opened in Photoshop. All steps can be followed directly, and you don't need any prior knowledge of typography.
Key Takeaways
- You can find free fonts on defont.com. With the "100% free" filter, you only see fonts that you can use without license fees.
- A sample text helps you realistically assess a font before using it.
- Increased tracking gives the lettering the typical movie poster character.
- With an inverted layer mask, you can make text disappear behind hair or people and thus create depth.
- Negative tracking makes letters run into each other. However, you should always base the values on legibility.
- Slightly darkening the font color and a splash of color with a brush give the final, dark finishing touch.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Find Free Fonts on Defont
The starting point is the website defont.com. There you'll find a large selection of fonts that are ideal for movie posters. Many of them are free, while others cost money or may only be used privately. You can see the license on the right edge of each font. To make sure you really don't have to pay anything, open the filter options and select "100% free". After that, only fonts that you may use without fees will be displayed.
Step 2: Test the Font with a Sample Text
Before you decide on a font, enter your own sample text in the preview, for example the title of your poster. Only in this view can you tell whether the letter shapes fit your image. Some fonts look interesting at first glance but are too playful in the context of a movie poster. Take your time comparing several categories until you've found a font that matches your image style.
Step 3: Choose and Install a Suitable Font
Once you've found a font that fits your image well, download it and install it on your computer. In this example, the choice fell on the font "DCC Ash". It looks angular and strong and brings exactly the mood that a dark action poster needs. As soon as the font is installed, it is available in Photoshop's font selection menu.
Step 4: Create a Text Group and Insert the Name
First create a new group and name it, for example, "Text". This way you keep all text layers neatly in one place. Then select the Type tool, drag out a text frame and write the name of the lead actor in it. In this example, the name is "Thomas Buschcamp". Set the font color to pure white and reduce the font size to about 40 pt so that the line doesn't look too dominant relative to the image. You can readjust at any time later.
Step 5: Adjust Tracking and Align Position
The most important lever for the movie poster look is tracking. Increase it until the letters are spaced far apart and the line looks wide and generous. With wide tracking, the lettering gets the distinctive look of classic movie posters. Make sure the spacing between the letters looks even. Guides help you place the text centered and cleanly in the upper area of the image. With Ctrl or Command plus comma, you hide the guides again afterwards.
Before you continue, check the spelling. Mistakes creep in quickly, especially with names.
Step 6: Place the Text Behind the Person
So that the name doesn't lie over the face or the hair, you work with a selection and a layer mask. Hold down the Command key and click on the thumbnail of the person's mask to load the selection. Then select the text layer, create a new layer mask via the mask icon and then invert it with Ctrl or Command plus I. The text now disappears in the places where the person is in the image and thus appears to be behind them. Make sure the link between layer and mask is released while moving, so that you can edit text and mask separately.
Step 7: Place the second text at the bottom
In the lower third of the poster, you add a second lettering, for example "Back to Hell". To do this, duplicate the existing text layer, remove the mask, and move the copy to the lower area. Since the lower part of the image is often darkened, it is well suited for an additional title. Enlarge the font significantly so that it carries the visual impact, and reset the tracking to zero for now. This gives you a clean starting point for the next adjustments.
Step 8: Merge letters with negative tracking
Now comes the effect that makes the text especially striking. Gradually set the tracking to negative values so that the letters blend into one another. A value around -10 is often a good starting point, while extreme values like -50 quickly become illegible. You can also adjust the tracking only for individual letter pairs, for example between "b" and "a". To do this, place the cursor between the letters and change the value only for that spacing. Try out different values and always make sure the word remains legible. An area that feels tight can certainly be spaced a bit wider.
Step 9: Improve legibility with tracking
If the lower title becomes hard to read due to the strong merging, increase the tracking a bit again. A value around 50 may already be enough to separate the word shapes more clearly. After each change, evaluate the overall picture and decide whether legibility outweighs the desired effect. Adjusting the edges of the line is optional and should only be done if it really improves the composition.
Step 10: Darken the color and add the finishing touches
Pure white looks too harsh on many posters. Therefore, subtly darken the font color so that it appears slightly grayer. Reduced opacity is usually not a good solution here, because the background would then shimmer through the letters. If you want more gloom, create a color fill above the text using the red tone from your image and apply it to the text as a clipping mask. Then invert the mask so that only targeted areas are colored.
Step 11: Add a paint splatter with a brush
For the final accent, you can use a splatter brush. You can find such brushes on DeviantArt, for example. Use it to place a red paint splatter in the mask and move it to a spot that guides the eye. A dot near a particularly expressive letter, such as the "L" in "Hell", often has an especially strong effect. Reduce the intensity of the red if it looks too strong, and darken it a bit if needed. You can also add several splatters, but they should not distract from the image.
Step 12: Save the image
Once the text, mask, and color accents suit you, save your poster. Before that, check once more that all layers are named correctly and the masks are in the right place. Then your movie poster is finished.
Summary ??? Designing movie poster fonts in Photoshop
You have seen how to find free fonts on defont.com using the "100% free" filter and test them with a sample text. With the font DCC Ash, wide tracking, and an inverted mask, you bring text and image into a convincing interplay. Negative tracking, a darkened font color, and a paint splatter with a brush provide the final movie poster character. With this approach, you can turn any cut-out image into your own film poster.
FAQ
Do I need prior knowledge of Photoshop for this tutorial?Basic knowledge of working with layers, masks, and the text tool is helpful. However, the individual steps are described in such a way that you can follow them even as a beginner.
Are all fonts on defont.com free to use?No. The "100% free" filter only shows you fonts that may be used without fees. Other fonts can only be used privately or for a fee.
Why should I enter a sample text?With your own sample text, you can immediately see whether a font suits your image and your title. The font preview alone is often not sufficient for this.
Which tracking value is the right one?There is no fixed value. A value around -10 is often a good starting point; with stronger merging, you should keep an eye on legibility and readjust.
How do I get the text behind the person?Load the selection of the person, create a layer mask on the text layer, and then invert it. This makes the text disappear where the person is standing.
Where can I get brushes for paint splatters?You can find splatter brushes on DeviantArt, for example. Make sure that the brushes' license allows your use.
