Get to know glyphs.

This template uses special characters called “glyphs.” You can find them in Type > Panel > Glyphs, where you can explore alternate letters, like the little interlocked Ls in “Well.”

It also utilizes custom type settings including “Faux Italic” and “Faux Bold.” There’s customized kerning (the space between the letters) and leading (the space between line breaks). To tinker with these head to Window > Character.

Tip: The font ITC Avante Garde offers more alt-letter combos in Glyphs than most.

Time for action.

Alter the groovy gradient on this template by clicking the gradient thumbnail in the Gradient Fill 1 layer. You can change the colors and even the direction. The white outline around the letters is a stroke effect. Double click “Stroke” in the Layers panel to experiment with different widths, positions, and colors.This podcast cover art requires a Photoshop action. If you want to replace the text with, say, “Pizza, Pizza, Pizza,” first download the action using the link at the top of the page. Then open the Actions panel (Window > Actions), click the dropdown menu, and select “Load actions.” Locate the “Long Drop Shadow” .atn file, select it, and click “Open” to load it in the Actions panel. After you’ve set the new type, select the text layer, then select the Long Drop Shadow action in the Actions panel, click the play button, and marvel as the effect is applied.

Adjust the gradient.

Alter the groovy gradient on this template by clicking the gradient thumbnail in the Gradient Fill 1 layer. You can change the colors and even the direction. The white outline around the letters is a stroke effect. Double click “Stroke” in the Layers panel to experiment with different widths, positions, and colors.

Bevel and emboss.

It’s easy to replace the “B” with your own initial. Just select the text layer and use the Text tool to type in what you want. To change the color just highlight the text and use the Color Picker to find the perfect shade. You can experiment with different effects in the Layers panel by toggling the eye icon next to “Bevel and Emboss,” “Gradient Overlay,” and “Drop Shadow.” Go nuts.

Replace an image.

To replace the image here, simply right click the image layer and select “replace contents.” Choose your desired image file, then use the Text tool to replace the initial with your own. Double click the “Outer Glow” effect to open the Layer Style dialog box and make adjustments. The possibilities are endless.