Text - different styles to different letters

I am new and have been doing a bit of searching for this online--can't find anything.

I am trying to create text that uses different styles for each letter.

Basically, I am trying to create a neon-esque feel for text "GET CONNECTED" so that each letter of the text is a different "glow" style. Any help? Please keep in mind this is new for me...

MUCH THANKS!
Rob

One letter per layer.

Change Layer Style attributes for each layer.

Make sure you have Smart Guides and Snap to Guides active.

So, do I have to convert the text to a raster and then how do I move each letter to a different layer? (sorry if this is trivial).

Also, per John, what does having Smart Guides and Snap to Guides naccomplish?

Thanks so much!
Rob

do I have to convert the text to a raster

No.

how do I move each letter to a different layer?

You don't, you type each letter on a new layer.

what does having Smart Guides and Snap to Guides accomplish?

It means you can line each letter up perfectly with the previous one.

I don't want to discourage you from trying this, as doing so is the best way to learn the program, but I think that this effect is one that looks much nicer in your brain before than it will on paper (or a monitor) later.

While the snap to will align characters to a baseline, you are going to have to fudge with the spacing between characters to balance it. (I would suggest typing the entire word on one line, locking that layer, and then lining up the letter-per-layer characters with it.)

Let us know how it all turns out for you.

It's not that tricky, this took about 5 minutes!

<http://imageshack.us>

This is another neon effect:

<http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/NeonArtSM.mov>

Thank you so much for all the replies. One thing I was able to figure out prior to the replies is this (please tell me what you think)

I put the text in, then converted to raster, did the magic wand to each letter and then ctrl-j to new layer. Then applied the style individually. Is that what you were speaking of by making each letter individual?

Thanks,
Rob

Is that what you were speaking of by making each letter individual?

No, but if that gives you what you want, why worry?

The advantage of not rasterising the text is that it remains editable.

I see...and I now see what you mean about the snap to guides. What does the "smart guides" function do?

VERY sorry about all the questions. I've been an avid JASC (now COREL) Paint shop guy--and falling in love with PS - although VERY different from what I'm used to!

Thanks for your help!!!
Rob

What does the "smart guides" function do?

Turns on those little pink lines so you can see what you're snapping to.