Method 1:
The easiest way to apply a pattern/color/gradient to text is to use the Paint Bucket:
1. Select the color or pattern you wish to apply to the text.
2. Click the paint bucket tool.
3. Position the paint bucket over the letter you want to change and click once.
4. Fill one letter at a time.
Method 2:
A painting or scanned image can be applied to text but the method is more complex (this method can also be used to apply color/pattern/gradient to many letters at once):
1. First paint your custom pattern or import your scanned image (make sure the image is large enough to cover all the text).
2. Select the text using the Lasso tool or the Selection Rectangle with the command key (if you press the Command key while dragging the Selection Rectangle, the selection will enclose just the image and none of the surrounding white area).
3. Move the selected text onto the pattern or scanned image.
4. Select the Transform menu and choose Pick Up.
Method 3:
The only problem with the former method is that it will fill letters that have loops (Ex: "O", "P", "Q", etc). The following method is more tedious since it requires you to fill one letter at a time but the results are cleaner:
1. First paint your custom pattern or import your scanned image (make sure the image is large enough to cover all the text).
2. Select the Magic Wand tool.
3. Click on a letter (first try a letter that has a loop in it).
4. Move the selection onto the pattern.
5. Select the Transform menu and choose Pick Up.
6. Move the text away from the pattern.
NOTE: You might also try drawing a line under the text so that it connects the bottoms of all the letters. This way, you won't have to select each letter individually. After you have applied the pattern/color/gradient you want, erase the line.
Method 4:
You can also fill multiple letters by using the Fill command under the Transform menu. To do this:
1. Use the Command-Select with the square selection tool (or the lasso) to select the text that is to be filled.
2. Select the color or gradient that you want to use.
3. Click Fill under the Transform menu.
This will fill in o's,e's,r's etc. in which case use the Magic Wand method previously mentioned.