I do believe i have figured out how to make a character pop out from the text - more tests to follow.
In this one i selected the text layer - alpha to select all the text - Edit/Clear - copy the image layer - select the text layer - paste into.
This pastes the color of the image into the cleared text.
Now just select the image layer - duplicate it - alpha to select it - fill with black
Filters/blur/Gausian blur at 16 - set opacity at 100%
Place the black layer behind the image layer - select the image layer again - alpha to select - select the layer you just filled with black and blurred - select/shrink by 3 pixels - select/invert/edit/clear - or delete both work.
Now you have a shadow edge around your image - set the opacity on the image real low just so you still see a small bit of detail.You want most of the detail to be in your text colors, and the shadowed edge.
Now set the shadowed edge layer to an opacity you like.
Results -