Symmetry painting is a lot of fun, but it can sometimes be a challenge to keep under control. The November issue of Photoshop Proving Ground shows you how to create custom brushes from text, and how to lay out a unique set of guides to keep your text flowing as a smooth graphical element.

This fun tutorial helps you create spiral shaped holiday graphics with your favorite greetings or a special message. Add a few layers and some themed gradients, and you have a text-based snowflake effect that is extremely flexible and highly customizable.