Distressed text: photoshop like effects in LaTeX tikz?

Question

Is it possible to create a "distressed" look using TikZ? For example:

Note that it is akin to a filter over the text/image, as each letter looks different.

Answer 1

Here's an example of what I meant in the comments with fadings. To do it properly, one should use a more random pattern than I do, so it's a proof-of-concept rather than an actual method.

Code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[svgnames]{xcolor}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzfadingfrompicture}[name=distress]
\node[text=transparent!0] {\Huge \textbf{Distressed Text}};
\end{tikzfadingfrompicture}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\fill[preaction={fill},pattern color=DarkRed,pattern=crosshatch dots] (-4,-1) rectangle (4,1);
\fill[pattern color=IndianRed,
  pattern=crosshatch,
  path fading=distress,
  fit fading=false
] (-3.5,-1) rectangle (3.5,1);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Result: