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Metacreation's Painter 5.5 is arguably the most overlooked and under used application around. It is an amazing creative tool. You can paint, transform images and it has powerful animation capabilities. The first time you open Painter you can become intimidated.
Painter is a very deep program that offers customizability and great flexibility. All of these choices can be overwhelming at first. However, once you understand the way Painter works you will discover that Painter is easy to use and very enjoyable. Over the next several months we are going to explore Painter in-depth. First, learning the basics of Painter that will be needed to get the most out of Painter.
Creating 3D type in Painter is both easy and adjustable. Begin by opening an image or background that you wish to use. Select the Type tool from the Tools palette and click the image. A blinking cursor will appear. If the cursor isn't in the place that you want the type simple click the Type tool on the image until it is in the place you want your type to begin.
Open the Controls palette. If it isn't in the lower left hand corner go to Windows>Show Controls. (Command +5 for the Mac or Control +5 for PC) In the Controls palette select the font (in our case, Maiandra GD) and font size. Begin typing on the image. If you make an error, you can backspace and retype. Once you deselect the type tool, the type becomes shapes.
 Select the Floater selection tool and move the selected letters into place. This will allow you to move to move individual letters so your type can be vertical, horizontal or stair steps.
Open the Objects palette (Command +4 For the Mac or Control +4 for the PC) and click on the Floater List icon. With all of the letters selected, click the Group button from the Floater drop down list. Once the letters are grouped, select the Collapse button from the Floater drop down list. This allows you to create effects to all of the letters at once.
 Now fill the type with a gradient at 90 degrees. This is done by clicking on the Grad button in the Art Materials palette and moving the red ball around until you reach 90 degrees.
Now go to Surface Control>Apply Surface Texture. This brings up the Apply Surface Texture window. Under Using select Group Mask 1 and adjust the Softness to 4.0. Change the Amount, Picture, and Shine to 100 percent.
Go to Effects>Objects>Drop Shadow. Change the Opacity to 80 percent, click OK and you are finished.
Now that you have the basics, begin experimenting with the different fonts and settings in the Apply Surface Texture window and Drop Shadow window.
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