So for this Instructable, we will be making text that looks like someone beat it around, shot it, dragged it, and just plain treated it like a red-headed step child (I can say that because I am a red-headed step child haha....) The good thing about this "effect" is that it's not limited to just text, you can use it on almost anything you create in photoshop!

For this Instructable you will need the following:

- 1 pair of hands

- Photoshop (preferably CS2 or higher.)

and thats basically it!

P.S. - Below are some examples of the finished product.

Step 1: Create Your Canvas

For the first step, just create a random canvas, doesn't have to be any certain size, text or whatever you want has to be able to fit in it though. Oh, and also make sure it's RGB (but if you want grey-scale or anything else instead it's okay.)

Step 2: Pick Your Text and Font, Then Rasterize.

Okay, so now that you have your canvas open and whatnot, go ahead and just generate your text, mine is going to be Instructables, but yours could be lolcats, photoshop, a band name, a business name, anything YOU want. P.S. It can also be any size (as long as it's not too small...) and any font. I will be typing Instructables in 87.85 Arial Black. But before we go any further RASTERIZE your font. To do this, right click the layer, then go to rasterize, and of course............click it!

Step 3: Choose a Blending Style

This step is probably the easiest (and is optional.) For this step all you need to do is mess around with the blending style how you like it. The reason I added this in here is because I don't think this effect looks really good with just plain text. But that's just me. If you want to recreate the blending style I did, just take a look at the pictures. But now, on to the next step!

Step 4: Do the Grunge Effect!

Alright, now that you've got your font, and your layer style on your font, we can start the actual effect itself. Select your lasso tool (not your polygonal lasso, not your magnetic lasso, just your lasso!) Now zoom in on the canvas a little (Ctrl-+) Take your lasso to where you want to make the letter look deteriorated, and in a small little spot on the letter, just spaz out! Just make tight little squiggles all over really close (without releasing the lasso.) then delete that area. (See the picture for more details.) Now you're finished! Of course, this effect only really looks good in like grunge type stuff, but at least you know how to do it now. Plus, there is some examples right here for you to look at too.

- IAmTheCreator