How to get flat textureless letters with Text Effects?

[Cosmic Voyager]

Greetings,

I am trying to get flat letters without the detailed textures on them. For example, flat shiny metal. It always puts some kind of distortion in it.

I want the "dripping metal" text without the dripping. Just the flat metal unerneath. Or the "icicle" text without the icicles on it. Or the "shiny metallic balloon" without the wrinkles in it.

Anyone know what to type to get this?

Thanks

[Monika Gause]

That is probably something you would do in a layout or photo editing application. Find a photo of the kind of texture you want to have and apply the text as a clipping mask