Embossed Text
This effect tends works best on wide text.
Create a new image set to 16 million colors OR work with an existing image.
Add a new layer and flood fill the new layer with white.
Using the text tool, enter some text light grey in color:
Red: 192
Green: 192
Blue: 192
Check 'Floating', and keep the text selected.
Save your text selection to an Alpha Channel (Selections|Save to Alpha Channel).
Deselect text and emboss. (Effects|Texture|Emboss)
Variation:
For a softer embossed effect, apply a Gaussian Blur at .5 after the emboss.
Load your selection from the Alpha Channel (Selections|Load from Alpha Channel).
Expand your selection by 1 (Selections|Modify|Expand), or experiment with no expanding the selection.
Invert your selection (Selections|Invert), then hit the delete key.
Invert your selection again.
Contract your selection by 2 if you didn't expand the selection in step 7, or 3 if you did. (Selections|Modify|Contract)
Flood fill the inverted selection with your text color or pattern.
Source:
Web Graphics On A Budget