This is a super fun, fast, and easy technique for beginners and pros alike!

Scan a pencil sketch of your hand lettering and, like magic, turn it into realistic looking chalk lettering using Adobe Photoshop. Neither chalk nor previous Adobe Photoshop knowledge is required. (I promise that it looks so much like real chalk that people won't believe it's just pencil!)

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+ Skills & Topics Covered:

Tips for pencil sketching hand lettering to optimize it for this faux chalk effect
Using Photoshop's Smart Filters to give it a chalk lettering look
Changing the brightness, darkness, and color of your chalkboard background and faux chalk lettering
Exporting your art for print and web

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+ Tools Required:

Hand lettering supplies:
- A good ol' trusty art pencil. I prefer a dull 12B pencil, because it makes such thick, soft strokes, but any pencil as soft as a 6B will work
- Tracing or layout bond paper. In the video, I use Borden & Riley #37 Layout Bond.
Software:
- Adobe Photoshop (I'm teaching with Photoshop CC but you can follow along with older versions too; no previous experience is required)
Hardware:
- A computer, obviously! I am teaching on an iMac but you can follow on a PC, too
- A scanner (best option) or a scanner app like CamScanner (second best option)

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+ Chalkboard Background Textures:

60 High Resolution Chalkboard Textures by Studio Denmark (highly recommended: great resolution and real texture)
Digital Chalkboard Papers on Etsy
Chalkboard Backgrounds on Shutterstock
Free Chalkboard Texture Backgrounds on AllFreeDesigns.com

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+ Follow my Instagram and tag me in your projects: @mollysuberthorpe

+ Visit Calligrafile.com, my free online resource guide for lettering artists and creative freelancers, with 1,000+ recommended supplies, books, online classes, and helpful links.

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Rachel Meadows

Calligrapher & Lettering Artist

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