Webcomic Photoshop speech bubbles

[Mirai Gen]

I'm currently working on a project that I'll reveal in time - that is unless Sky Warrior Bob is going to spoil it for me anyway - and I've been working on a few pilot episodes. Using Photoshop 6, acquired legitimately and with completely legally earned funds, I'm curious about how to do decent-looking speech bubbles.

We could start with 8bit as an example and work around Penny Arcade or Control Alt Delete. Anything will do, I'm just stumped.

[Meister]

I found this is best explained with illustrations.

First, type and format your text.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1447/step13ku.png (http://imageshack.us)

Then create a new layer below the text layer and select an area in the desired shape.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7025/step26my.png (http://imageshack.us)

Using the polygonal lasso, modify the shape to give the bubble a pointer. Then fill in with white (for your basic, everyday bubble).
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/426/step33gu.png (http://imageshack.us)

Give the bubble a nice stroke. Then go to Layer > Layer Style > Stroke and give it a graphical stroke.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2253/step42ev.png (http://imageshack.us)

As you can see, the text isn't centered here, but you can easily move the text layer around to do that. This way you don't have to worry about aligning the bubble when you select it.

[Mirai Gen]

Gah, Stroke. How silly of me. I kept on trying to do drop shadow.

Thanks.

[Meister]

I wonder how a consequently applied drop shadow on speech bubbles would look like in a comic.

The Layer Style options are great for speech bubbles. For example, you can use Inner Shadow to give them soft inner contours like in Lich's bubbles (http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040205). Just set the distance to 0.

[Kurosen]

Technically Lich and Vilbert use Inner Glow. But I'm sure it works with Glow or Shadow.

[Arlia Janet]

I suggest you use the stroke function instead of the stroke blending option. The blending option tends to be a lot less smooth. You can also use the pen tool with the "fill" setting on to make connecting lines between bubbles.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah, I read Arlia's post just after I tried the Stroke Blend. Didn't like how it came out. I'll try the Stroke Function instead.